Delta launches stunning, upgraded Sky Way premium check-in lounge in Los Angeles

You don’t have to be a celebrity to experience the latest premium experience at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Just make sure you’re signed up Delta One Business Classand you’ll have access to a luxurious new check-in lounge that is sure to impress even the most discerning travellers.

The opening of the new Delta One check-in area on June 1 is just one part of the airline’s infrastructure investment in the LAX hub, which is currently home to 27 1.2 million-foot gates. square. Sky Way Station Complex.

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Most of the $2.3 billion Sky Way has opened in the past yearbut there are some more upgrades available to Los Angeles-based Delta flyers.

This includes an expanded headhouse area (also opening June 1), a much-needed aircraft bridge to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (coming later this summer) and a brand new business class lounge (opening first quarter of next year). year).

“We’re not just building a home. We’re building a place where customers can come and enjoy a really nice environment,” said Scott Santoro, Delta’s vice president of global sales. with TPG.

This is the latest.

Each major U.S. airline operates a hub in Los Angeles, and competition for the local market is fierce.

Delta advertises itself as LA’s “premium global airline”, and for all the airline’s investment in a premium experience, Delta’s claims are not meaningless.

The latest upgrade to the premium experience dramatically simplifies the curb-to-gateway journey. It starts on the arrivals floor of Terminal 3. (Delta specially built the facility on this floor so you don’t have to worry about traffic congestion on the departures floor.)

That’s where you’ll find the new Delta One-specific check-in facility, open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Delta One confirmed passengers on long-haul or transit routes can use the facility prior to departure, as well as Delta 360 Medallion members who are only invited to travel in any class of service any.

After confirming that you are eligible for access, an Elite Service agent will place you in this one-of-a-kind facility.

Delta used to offer a small business-class check-in area in its old LAX terminal, but it has never had such an impressive facility in Los Angeles.

From the moment you step inside, your eyes can be mesmerized by the luxurious design. Between the bright lights, yellow couches, and wall art, you’ll quickly realize you’ve entered a very special establishment.

After verifying that you have access, you will enter the 4,200 square foot Delta One registration facility.

The first thing you’ll see is a small seating area decorated with couches, individual chairs, and a buffet along the perimeter with refreshments – think packaged snacks and snacks like cakes croissants and danish bread.

The fridge was stocked with Coke-branded soft drinks, and there were even a few bottles of Veuve Du Vernay Brut waiting in the fridge. Or you can enjoy coffee or tea at this entrance.

After taking a bite, the next stop is the actual check-in experience, conducted at one of three staffed counters. There are no baggage scales here — all checked baggage is promptly transported from the premises to the baggage system located behind closed doors.

Don’t forget to enjoy hot or cold towels — they’ll be provided during the check-in experience.

After you drop off your checked baggage, you’ll head straight to a private TSA security lane — the first of its kind for a US airline.

Along the way, you might even stop at one of two gorgeous bathrooms for both men and women.

There is a single TSA lane in the check-in lounge and it supports both regular passengers and TSA PreCheck.

Those with PreCheck will go through a metal detector and those without it will use a full-body scanner.

After going through security, you’ll go straight to one of the 2 private elevators to the Sky Club, where you’ll only need to take a few steps to get inside. Beautiful new Sky Club now has nearly 100 more seats than when it opened. (Delta is expanding the club a bit because nearby construction is complete.)

After the Delta One Lounge opens at LAX in the first quarter of next year, these elevators will take you directly to the lounge entrance — without any interaction with the hoi polloi in the common terminal area .

This new Delta offering is part of a broader strategy to attract those with big wallets and big expense accounts.

This segment is extremely important to Delta – perhaps more than any other US airline – especially as it revenue insurance premium for Comfort+, Premium Select, First Class and Delta One fares.

“Our premium is here in Los Angeles and we’re super excited about that,” Santoro said. With so many celebrities, executives, and high-profile leisure travelers based in LA, Delta hopes this offer will be reason enough to choose the airline.

Sure, it’s not PS – own station in a completely separate area airport transfers cost about $1,000 per turn – but this Delta One check-in facility is pretty impressive for a domestic airline at a US airport. (Americans also run a Flagship’s first check-in facility in Los Angeles, but that one is much less beautiful, nor does it provide privacy.)

Better yet, Delta is also expected to open something similar in New York in the coming months.

The 2nd headquarters is open

In addition to Delta One’s new check-in lobby, Delta will also open a new so-called West Headhouse in Terminal 3.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINT

The facility expands the terminal’s capacity by opening a new escalator and elevator row, as well as new self-service bag drop machines at a security level. (This will be digital ID technology later this summer, so you won’t even need to interact with an agent once that functionality is enabled.)

The West Headhouse will also be home to dedicated TSA PreCheck and Clear security lanes, helping to ease some of the congestion in the existing security zone that opened last year.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINT

More improvements are coming

While Delta’s LAX redevelopment is nearing completion, there are a few important milestones coming up shortly.

Later this summer, the airline will open the much-awaited airside bridge between Terminal 3 and Tom Bradley International Terminal.

This will eliminate the need to use a bus — a huge improvement to the passenger experience for those connecting to long-haul flights. In addition, this connector will be located on the departure floor and there will be multiple passageways, Santoro said.

“It’s going to be on the same level, not up and down. It’s going to be a pedestrian escalator. It’s going to be secured, which is going to be a wonderful thing that we’re not used to here in Los Angeles,” he said. more .

Once the connector opens, Delta’s last major milestone will be the opening dedicated Delta One club, It is expected to welcome its first guests in March 2024.

The 10,000 square foot space will be adjacent to the new Sky Club. It will have a year-round Sky Deck, but – for now – Santoro has stopped providing any other details.

Delta plans more than 150 peak-day flights to 52 destinations worldwide from LAX this summer. This figure includes some of the top lines that have recently opened, including the new line between Los Angeles and Tahiti and resumption of flights between Los Angeles and both London and Paris.

The airline is also preparing for the launch First service to New Zealand (from Los Angeles) on October 28.

Other new and continuing domestic routes include Dallas Love Field (DAL)premieres June 5 and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Vail, Colorado, starting December 16.

“We’re Los Angeles’ flagship airline, I’m happy to say we’re the biggest airline right now and I wouldn’t have said that five years ago,” Santoro said.

Delta is clearly hoping that its growing network and modern terminal facilities will add to the list of reasons to choose Delta for flights to and from Los Angeles.

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