Delta Sky Club, Los Angeles Terminal 2

Welcome to Los Angeles, where Delta offers two Sky Club lounges. The Sky Club in Terminal 3 is the larger and newer of the two, complete with an outdoor terrace and a private TSA checkpoint for eligible travellers. The other LA lounge is here in Terminal 2. It doesn’t have quite as many bells and whistles, but it’s still quite pleasant.

This Terminal 2 Sky Club was refurbished around five years ago – and it still feels reasonably fresh. Tarmac-facing windows run the length of the lounge, and they really help with the sense of space.

While Delta doesn’t make the formal distinction, this is a little more of a ‘standard domestic lounge’ in style, with T3 a little closer to the ‘premium’ lounge space. The access list is mirrored across both lounges, so it doesn’t actually matter where you’re flying to, provided you qualify for entry. But if you were to place the same lounges in Australia, it’s fair to say, that’s how many Aussie travellers would describe it.

Looking for the Sky Club at LAX T2? Head upstairs.

You can also take the lift up one level.

Inside, the lounge has an open and airy feeling, largely thanks to the windows running along the side.

Get some work done, or relax and settle in.

This is a great spot to set up with a laptop.

The back right corner offers comfortable seating with power points in easy reach.

This area is better for working if the planes in the background are a distraction for you.

Here in Terminal 2, the lounge is easy to find. Just look for a large staircase in the middle of the terminal, or keep your eyes peeled for a lime green lift to the upper level. LA’s T2 Sky Club opens from 10 am to 9 pm six days per week (closed Saturdays).

Flying on a Saturday, or have more time up your sleeve? You might prefer to wander over to the Terminal 3 Sky Club instead. Terminals 2 and 3 are now directly linked airside, thanks to the recent Sky Way construction at LAX. There’s no longer a need to take a shuttle bus between these terminals – you can simply walk.

Seating

There’s a good amount of choice over where to sit in Delta’s Los Angeles T2 Sky Club. You enter near the centre of the space, housing chairs suited to shorter stays. Turn left at reception for more of a ‘lounge’ vibe, with comfy power-equipped seats in simple straight lines.

In search of a meeting space? You’ll also find one here on the left with a long boardroom-style table. Stools also line a bench against the wall, with seats also positioned to take in the views.

With the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse having closed down at LAX, this is Terminal 2’s only lounge.

Furniture runs the length of the lounge, but there’s still plenty of space to zip on through.

Most of the cocktail tables here have power points at the front.

More comfort, or more space. Decisions, decisions…

You can tell the designer thought this lounge would get quite busy, from the way these seats are lined up.

Have an impromptu meeting or just work in a bustling environment (on a busier day, anyway).

There are power outlets dotted along the lower trim of the desk.

From Terminal 2, you can glance over to Terminal 3.

The other end of the lounge is a little more relaxed. Seating bays allow for kicking back and again, taking in those airport views.

Food and beverage in the Delta Sky Club, Los Angeles Terminal 2

I take the chance to visit Delta’s T2 Sky Club after spending some time over at LAX Terminal 3. It’s pleasing to see that for the most part, the food and beverage selections are the same in both lounges. This includes a candy bar for a quick snack, and a well-stocked substantial buffet.

Competitors like American Airlines and United Airlines generally go quite light in terms of hot food in their respective entry-level lounges. Delta, on the other hand, is a bit more comprehensive. Hot options include beef ribs, macaroni and cheese, fried rice, vegetables and soup.

The salad bar stocks a range of individual ingredients to mix and match as desired. There are also pre-made sliders and wraps ready to take.

Help yourself to sweets, or ‘candy’, as they’d say here!

The bites here are a little more substantial than some other US lounges.

At the Delta Sky Club, you don’t need to pay for hot food. It’s gratis from the buffet.

Just help yourself.

Selections here largely mirror what I observe in the Terminal 3 lounge on the same day.

Go for something pre-made or assemble something else that takes your fancy.

You definitely won’t leave this lounge hungry.

Start or finish your meal with meat and cheese.

For those with a sweet tooth.

Cocktails are gratis on the menu, but you’ll pay extra for premium spirits.

Help yourself to soft drinks, water and coffee.

Refreshments are stationed throughout the lounge.

Selections continue with cheese and charcuterie, along with premium accompaniments like olives which I don’t often see served in lounges. Absent is a taco station – I spotted this in the T3 lounge on the same day – but there isn’t really enough space here for that.

On the beverage front, help yourself to machine-made coffee or soft drinks from the fountain. There are also non-alcoholic refreshments at various stations throughout the lounge. A bar can found right down the end on the left-hand side. Most choices are complimentary, with premium picks attracting an extra charge.

I order an Old Fashioned: one of the cocktails available at no charge. It’s drinkable, but the Old Forester 86 bourbon used in the mix gives the drink a slightly sweeter taste than I’m accustomed to. It’s particularly strong on citrus and vanilla, and a little thin. Perhaps, it’s a hint that I should pay the ‘upgrade fee’ (typically US$7.50 to $15) to use a more premium spirit next time.

Tipping the bartender is customary all the same. From me, that’s typically US$2 on a mixed drink like this (small notes or ‘bills’ are handy for this).

Amenities in the Delta Sky Club, LAX Terminal 2

Delta’s LAX T2 Sky Club has a few final features that come in handy. There’s a small selection of reading material available for your perusal. Just look for the Los Angeles traffic sign, which points downward towards the magazines and snacks.

The space is also filled with photographs and artwork suited to its location. Some visuals represent LA, while others hint on the atmosphere itself. One piece, captioned ‘darling, you know I only travel First Class!’, is an old favourite of mine.

Grab a magazine to help pass the time.

Technically, with a US domestic First Class ticket on its own, you wouldn’t get into this lounge. Better book Delta One!

Shower suites are available here, but they seem to close before the lounge itself shuts its doors. I ask to use one around 45 minutes before the lounge closes and I’m told they’re no longer available today. Fortunately, a walk back to T3 finds a shower suite available within three minutes. Crisis averted. Zippy Wi-Fi completes the experience.

Accessing the Delta Sky Club, Los Angeles T2

Airport lounge policies are complicated in the US. In fact, if the character I mentioned above only ever flies ‘First Class’ – rather than ‘Delta One’ – she may not actually qualify for this lounge. Omitting some of the rules that mainly affect US-based travellers, and guest policies which add more complications, here’s how Aussies would typically gain entry to Delta’s LAX T2 Sky Club.

• By class of travel:
  • Travellers booked in Delta One on a domestic or international flight. This includes when connecting to or from an international Delta One flight.
  • International Business Class and First Class passengers of other SkyTeam airlines, along with China Southern, LATAM and WestJet.
• By frequent flyer status:
  • SkyTeam Elite Plus members with a same-day international SkyTeam flight (including Delta Basic Economy, but excluding travel to the Caribbean). Access is also available when connecting to or from an eligible same-day international flight.
  • For Delta’s own elite frequent flyers, more restrictive policies apply, and Basic Economy flights are excluded.
  • Only when flying with China Southern, Sky Pearl Club Silver, Gold or Platinum members.
  • LATAM Pass Platinum, Black and Black Signature members with a same-day international flight on Delta or LATAM.
  • WestJet Rewards Gold and Platinum members, but only before transborder flights operated by Delta or WestJet.
• By eligible charge card:
  • American Express Platinum Card, Platinum Business Card and (by-invitation) Centurion Members – including those from Australia. Must be travelling on a flight operated by Delta (domestic or international) or on a Delta-marketed flight operated by WestJet. Basic Economy flights are excluded from access.
  • Other US-issued card products also grant access – refer to the Delta website.
• By lounge membership:
  • Delta Sky Club members travelling on Delta (except on Basic Economy) and with eligible partner airlines – including those outside of SkyTeam. Access when flying Hawaiian Airlines is only available when booked on a Delta (DL) codeshare flight number.

The verdict

For a period of time, Delta’s Terminal 2 Sky Club was the airline’s better lounge in Los Angeles. At least, that was true while Terminal 3 was being refurbished. With T3 now designed as more of a flagship, T2 takes on the role of being more of a ‘standard’ lounge.

This difference in positioning – while technically unofficial – nonetheless mirrors the way that Delta typically assigns gates for its flights. Terminal 2 is home to more of the airline’s domestic flights, including to its Atlanta hub. By comparison, Terminal 3 has more long-haul services, including the airline’s flights to Sydney.

That’s the general approach, anyway. One big advantage of the massive Sky Way construction at LAX is the newly developed ability to stroll directly between Delta’s terminals. There’s no need to hop on a bus in between, or to clear security twice if you need to migrate. In fact, the T2/T3 complex also links in with the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), which Delta also uses as needed.

In other words, whether you’re taking a one-hour hop to San Francisco or a much longer flight to Australia, LAX is open for exploration. You might decide to visit Delta’s more flagship-style T3 Sky Club. Or perhaps, hop on over to T2 for somewhere quieter. Depending on how you qualify, TBIT is also home to a lounge operated by Korean Air (a SkyTeam carrier) and an American Express Centurion lounge, welcoming many of the same Card Members.

Take your pick or take time to explore. For me, I’d choose Delta’s T2 Sky Club if seeking a quieter place to work before jetting off. But then, the outdoor terrace in T3 is great for multitasking with some plane spotting. Decisions, decisions…

Also reviewed: Delta Air Lines Airbus A350 Delta One (Los Angeles – Sydney)

All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled as a guest of Delta Air Lines.