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  4. I went inside Delta's new LAX Sky Club and found a luxurious space full of passenger-friendly touches — take a tour

I went inside Delta's new LAX Sky Club and found a luxurious space full of passenger-friendly touches take a tour

Brady MacDonald   

I went inside Delta's new LAX Sky Club and found a luxurious space full of passenger-friendly touches — take a tour
Delta Sky Club at Los Angeles International Airport.Brady MacDonald/Insider
  • A new 30,000-square-foot Delta Sky Club opened in the spring at LAX.

A new 30,000-square-foot Delta Sky Club opened in the spring at Los Angeles International Airport on the departures level between T2 and T3 as part of a $2.3 billion Delta Sky Way expansion slated for completion in 2023.

A new 30,000-square-foot Delta Sky Club opened in the spring at Los Angeles International Airport on the departures level between T2 and T3 as part of a $2.3 billion Delta Sky Way expansion slated for completion in 2023.
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The LAX lounge's reign as Delta's largest Sky Club was short-lived. LaGuardia's 35,000-square-foot Sky Club stole the crown when the NYC-area airport lounge opened this summer.

The LAX lounge
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The highlight of the new LAX club is the Sky Deck all-weather outdoor terrace that offers complimentary cocktails and panoramic views of the flight line with downtown LA and the Hollywood Hills in the distance.

The highlight of the new LAX club is the Sky Deck all-weather outdoor terrace that offers complimentary cocktails and panoramic views of the flight line with downtown LA and the Hollywood Hills in the distance.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The warm year-round climate makes LAX the ideal spot for an outdoor airport lounge. Delta also has outdoor lounges at LaGuardia, JFK, and ATL – which get much chillier in the winter than SoCal.

The warm year-round climate makes LAX the ideal spot for an outdoor airport lounge. Delta also has outdoor lounges at LaGuardia, JFK, and ATL – which get much chillier in the winter than SoCal.
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Delta kept the bigger of the two Sky Clubs in Terminal 2 open -- giving the airline capacity for up to 800 passengers at a time at the two lounges. Delta closed its converted Virgin airport lounge in LAX's Terminal 2 after outgrowing the space.

Delta kept the bigger of the two Sky Clubs in Terminal 2 open -- giving the airline capacity for up to 800 passengers at a time at the two lounges. Delta closed its converted Virgin airport lounge in LAX
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Delta's new Sky Club at LAX looked luxe from the moment I stepped inside.

Delta
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The place was massive and seemed to go on forever.

The place was massive and seemed to go on forever.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Travelers check-in at five self-service kiosks in the lower Sky Club lobby…

Travelers check-in at five self-service kiosks in the lower Sky Club lobby…
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

…before ascending a staircase beneath an ocean waves-themed ceiling fixture.

…before ascending a staircase beneath an ocean waves-themed ceiling fixture.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The go-to spot in the mega lounge was an outdoor bar overlooking the constant coming and going of LAX’s 1,500 daily arrivals and departures.

The go-to spot in the mega lounge was an outdoor bar overlooking the constant coming and going of LAX’s 1,500 daily arrivals and departures.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The refreshing spot lets passengers feel fresh air on their skin after a day of being cooped up in a vacuum-sealed airplane or stuck in an airtight airport.

The refreshing spot lets passengers feel fresh air on their skin after a day of being cooped up in a vacuum-sealed airplane or stuck in an airtight airport.
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The low whir of jet engines and distant whoosh of landing planes could be heard over the near silence of a bar where nobody knows your name and everybody has their head buried in a smartphone. A retractable roof provided cover should it ever rain in LA.

The low whir of jet engines and distant whoosh of landing planes could be heard over the near silence of a bar where nobody knows your name and everybody has their head buried in a smartphone. A retractable roof provided cover should it ever rain in LA.
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The best place to hang out in the entire Sky Club: The low-slung tables surrounded by even lower-slung beach chairs on the outdoor patio.

The best place to hang out in the entire Sky Club: The low-slung tables surrounded by even lower-slung beach chairs on the outdoor patio.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The adorable pop-up installation – which changes on a regular basis – was accented with candles, incense, and succulents.

The adorable pop-up installation – which changes on a regular basis – was accented with candles, incense, and succulents.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

It was delightful to see adventurous travelers in business suits lounging in the beach chairs with laptops on their knees and colorful cocktails in their hands.

It was delightful to see adventurous travelers in business suits lounging in the beach chairs with laptops on their knees and colorful cocktails in their hands.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Inside, the new club offers tons of primo spots along the windows…

Inside, the new club offers tons of primo spots along the windows…
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

…with panoramic views of Delta jets landing, taxiing, and parked at the T2 and T3 jetways.

…with panoramic views of Delta jets landing, taxiing, and parked at the T2 and T3 jetways.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

A big screen TV viewing area with theater-style seating was pretty spectacular – streaming four channels simultaneously playing ESPN, NASCAR, golf, and CNN.

A big screen TV viewing area with theater-style seating was pretty spectacular – streaming four channels simultaneously playing ESPN, NASCAR, golf, and CNN.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Six clever and popular phone booth soundproof cubicles were always busy but never full.

Six clever and popular phone booth soundproof cubicles were always busy but never full.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

On the minus side, I did notice some tables were dirty and trash was strewn on the floor. It's likely hard to keep a place this big clean with two-thirds of the seats filled and the continuing staffing shortages in the service industry.

On the minus side, I did notice some tables were dirty and trash was strewn on the floor. It
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Another negative: The comfy seats were stuffed tightly together throughout the lounge — another symptom of the crush of VIP passengers traveling on LAX’s #1 airline.

Another negative: The comfy seats were stuffed tightly together throughout the lounge — another symptom of the crush of VIP passengers traveling on LAX’s #1 airline.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The never-ending tide of people forced Delta to squeeze every available inch out of the expansive yet limited space.

The never-ending tide of people forced Delta to squeeze every available inch out of the expansive yet limited space.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The worst sin of all: The awful draft beer selection of Michelob Ultra, Golden Road Wolf Pup Session IPA, Angel City IPA, and Firestone Walker 805 was pedestrian even by airport bar standards.

The worst sin of all: The awful draft beer selection of Michelob Ultra, Golden Road Wolf Pup Session IPA, Angel City IPA, and Firestone Walker 805 was pedestrian even by airport bar standards.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

A premium lounge can afford to have at least one tap of great beer – especially in California.

A premium lounge can afford to have at least one tap of great beer – especially in California.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

There were playful design touches throughout the lounge.

There were playful design touches throughout the lounge.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Whimsical light fixtures added sparkle over the cocktail bars, communal tables, and marquee seating areas.

Whimsical light fixtures added sparkle over the cocktail bars, communal tables, and marquee seating areas.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

A luminescent Italian-imported mosaic mural alcove lined with glass tiles that pays homage to the glamorous age of Hollywood’s Golden Age shimmered like dancing spotlights at a movie premiere.

A luminescent Italian-imported mosaic mural alcove lined with glass tiles that pays homage to the glamorous age of Hollywood’s Golden Age shimmered like dancing spotlights at a movie premiere.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Local art added a hip edge to the cavernous space that could have otherwise felt like a soulless utilitarian space.

Local art added a hip edge to the cavernous space that could have otherwise felt like a soulless utilitarian space.
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

A 6-foot-tall melting rainbow popsicle sculpture next to a candy counter brimming with Smarties, Pez, and Starburst was an inspired touch.

A 6-foot-tall melting rainbow popsicle sculpture next to a candy counter brimming with Smarties, Pez, and Starburst was an inspired touch.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Food buffets throughout the lounge offered seasonal menu items for dine-in meals or grab-and-go snacks. Delta's Fresh Farm farmer's market-style pop-ups within the lounge regularly feature food and drinks created by local restaurants and artisans.

Food buffets throughout the lounge offered seasonal menu items for dine-in meals or grab-and-go snacks. Delta
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

During my visit, both buffets were filled with complementary sandwiches, meat and cheese spreads, pasta bars, and desserts.

During my visit, both buffets were filled with complementary sandwiches, meat and cheese spreads, pasta bars, and desserts.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Pro tip: Head to the buffet at the back of the club for similar fare with sparser crowds. At both stations, there were fresh juices on tap, espresso machines, Coke Freestyle dispensers, and regular and decaf Starbucks.

Pro tip: Head to the buffet at the back of the club for similar fare with sparser crowds. At both stations, there were fresh juices on tap, espresso machines, Coke Freestyle dispensers, and regular and decaf Starbucks.
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The food at Delta's LAX Sky Club wasn't premium, but it was plentiful, filling, and delicious – which is more than you can say about typical airline food.

The food at Delta
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Sky Club's Local Flavor program brings emerging local chefs into the lounge on a rotating basis to showcase their most popular dishes. Michelin Star chef Akira Back from the Beverly Hills-adjacent AB Steak Korean steakhouse and barbecue was the first featured Local Flavor chef at the new LAX Delta Sky Club.

Sky Club
Delta Sky Club      Brady MacDonald/Insider

Easily a quarter of the new Delta Sky Club at LAX was dedicated to an expansive restroom area, including eight showers that passengers can book via a virtual queuing system.

Easily a quarter of the new Delta Sky Club at LAX was dedicated to an expansive restroom area, including eight showers that passengers can book via a virtual queuing system.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

The showers were immaculately spotless and well-appointed – the perfect refresher after a long flight or during an extended layover. Nursing rooms were also available for newborn mothers.

The showers were immaculately spotless and well-appointed – the perfect refresher after a long flight or during an extended layover. Nursing rooms were also available for newborn mothers.
Delta Sky Club at LAX.      Brady MacDonald/Insider

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