Nick Morales used to view Delta Sky Clubs as an oasis that provided free food and drink along with a quieter, plusher atmosphere away from the bustle of the airport.
"In the old days, it was getting away from the chaos around the gates," said Morales, 54, who travels for his jobs in IT and for Ironman competitions. "But now, you have chaos at the clubs. So it's a wash."
Frequent fliers formerly flocked to the two Delta Sky Clubs at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. But increasing access to them via credit cards, memberships and day passes led to frustration from travelers queuing to enter, then struggling to find seats.
The Atlanta-based carrier will open a third 21,000-square-foot Delta Sky Club Wednesday on Concourse G at MSP, one of its largest hubs. The aim is to improve capacity and boost the premium experience after several policy changes earlier this year limited entry.
"We have right-sized the business in Minneapolis," said Claude Roussel, Delta Sky Club managing director.
The new club is twice the size of its main mall lounge, and Delta's three MSP clubs now have a total of 900 seats.
Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, calls the long lines he's witnessed outside Delta Sky Clubs in the past year "an American Express problem."
"Delta and American Express have an incredibly lucrative relationship," he said. "It generates billions and billions of dollars a year for Delta."