Effective April 1, 2025, the alliance has updated several aspects of its SkyTeam lounge access policies. Let’s go through each item one-by-one.

SkyTeam lounge access is now available on domestic itineraries

Somewhat confusingly, SkyTeam is the oddball alliance when it comes to when elites have lounge access and when they do not. Prior to April 1, 2025, SkyTeam Elite Plus members did not have access to SkyTeam lounges when flying a purely domestic itinerary. By contrast, both Star Alliance and oneworld have mostly allowed the practice. This change gets us marginally closer to alignment, but not fully there.

Starting April 1, 2025, certain SkyTeam lounges will grant access to SkyTeam Elite Plus members. The rules vary by airport, but will grant both the elite member and a guest access.

The lounge list

There is an initial list of lounges, but I think it’s easiest to view this by country:

• China
  • Xiamen Airlines First Class Lounge at Fuzhou FOC
  • Xiamen Airlines First Class Lounge at Hangzhou HGH
  • Xiamen Airlines First Class Lounge at Jinjiang JJN
  • Xiamen Airlines First Class Lounge at Shanghai SHA
  • V28 China Eastern Lounge at Shanghai SHA
  • V23 China Eastern Lounge at Shanghai SHA
  • V2 Shanghai Airlines Lounge at Shanghai SHA
  • No. 35 Lounge at Shanghai PVG
  • Xiamen Airlines First Class Lounge at Tianjin TSN
  • Xiamen Airlines First Class Lounge at Xiamen XMN
• Denmark
  • SAS Lounge (Schengen) at Copenhagen CPH
• France
  • Air France Lounge Terminal 2F at Paris CDG
  • Air France Lounge Terminal 2G at Paris CDG
  • Air France Lounge at Paris ORY
  • Air France Lounge at Bordeaux BOD
• Indonesia
  • Garuda Indonesia Lounge at Jakarta CGK
  • Garuda Indonesia Lounge at Bali DPS
• Kenya
  • Msafiri Lounge at Nairobi NBO
• Norway
  • SAS Domestic Lounge at Oslo OSL
• Saudi Arabia
  • Alfursan Domestic Lounge at Jeddah JED
  • Alfursan Domestic Lounge at Riyadh RUH
• Sweden
  • SAS Lounge (Schengen) at Stockholm ARN
  • SAS Lounge at Gothenburg GOT
• Switzerland
  • Air France Lounge at Geneva GVA
• United States
  • Air France Lounge at Boston BOS
  • SAS Lounge at Chicago ORD
  • Air France Lounge at Houston IAH
  • KLM Crown Lounge at Houston IAH
  • Air France Lounge at Los Angeles LAX
  • Air France Lounge at New York JFK
  • SAS Lounge at Newark EWR
  • Air France Lounge at San Francisco SFO
  • Air France Lounge at Washington Dulles IAD
• Vietnam
  • Lotus Lounge at Hanoi HAN

But there’s a catch…

There’s a carveout in the announcement for both Delta SkyMiles and Aerolineas Argentinas Aerolineas Plus members. The sad truth is that access will be restricted for these members:

• Delta Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and 360° members will not receive SkyTeam lounge access on domestic itineraries within the United States.
• Aerolineas Argentinas SkyTeam Elite Plus members will not receive SkyTeam lounge access on domestic itineraries anywhere.

I don’t think it’s a surprise for Delta elites to not have lounge access on purely domestic itineraries within the United States. After all, that’s how it’s handled for United (with Star Alliance lounges) and American (with oneworld lounges) today. The pay-to-play business with charging big annual fees for access to lounges is too big within the United States. And this announcement wasn’t going to change that moneymaker.

However, if you are a SkyTeam Elite Plus member with a different program, suddenly you have options when previously you didn’t.

The other catch is that the list of eligible lounges will change over time. SkyTeam has noted themselves within their notes. Of course, they mention the list will “expand”, but that doesn’t mean access can’t be removed at some point. It’s unclear if an announcement will follow with every lounge addition or subtraction, so it’s up to you to keep track (and push back if you get denied entry).

Time limits on SkyTeam lounge access

Hidden within the details of the domestic lounge update is a change to the terms of access (emphasis mine):

Regardless of travel class, eligible Elite Plus members¹ traveling on a same-day international flight² operated by a SkyTeam member airline or with same-day transfers between flights (domestic or international) operated by two SkyTeam members have access to a lounge.

Elite Plus customers can enjoy access to the lounge at the departure airport at least 3 hours prior to their flight’s scheduled departure time.

Elite Plus customers connecting between two SkyTeam-operated flights will continue to enjoy access at the point of transfer. Lounge access will be provided at departure and transfer airports only and not on arrival at destination. 

Customers traveling on domestic flights must have an itinerary comprising a transfer from a domestic flight to an international flight or a domestic flight to another domestic flight, followed by a transfer to an international flight.

Present your boarding passes and a valid Elite Plus membership card to the lounge agent for validation prior to admission. 

It’s a bit unfortunate that you can only access your flight no more than three hours before your first flight (no time limit on connecting itineraries). However, I’m assuming this is because they’re expecting a big influx of members due to the expanded domestic lounge access. Of course, it would be nice for them to remove the restriction at some point, but I’m not holding my breath.

Guests now also have reduced SkyTeam lounge access

One more update to the terms includes the following line (emphasis mine):

SkyTeam Elite Plus members can invite one guest who must be traveling on the same SkyTeam member-operated flight, irrespective of their preceding and any onward flight. Simply present your guest’s boarding pass to the lounge agent for validation and admission.

The guest now must be traveling on the same flight as the SkyTeam Elite Plus member. Whether that’s a big restriction to you depends on how often you might take trips where your friends or family take a separate flight home.

So how do you take advantage of the changes?

The obvious answer is if you’re already a SkyTeam Elite Plus member because now you have expanded access to lounges before your flights–except for Delta and Aerolineas Argentinas elites. So what if you’re with either program and want to take advantage? Well, perhaps it’s time to consider a loyalty switch.

If you wanted to change to a program that offers an easier trip to SkyTeam Elite Plus, what programs would you consider?

Air France-KLM Flying Blue Gold status

If you’re in the United States, you can consider signing up for the Flying Blue credit card when there is a promotion that earns you Silver status. From there, you just need to earn 180 XP to level up to Gold status, which would give you access to some SkyTeam lounges when flying domestically.

Earning 180 XP flying Delta within the United States would take a while for you to earn, as economy flights will only earn you 2 XP per segment and domestic first class (not Delta One) would earn you 6 XP per segment. Instead, you’d want to consider flying Delta (or Aeromexico) on international journeys (like to Canada or Mexico). Obviously, higher cabins will earn you more XP and make it easier for you.

Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles Platinum status

Consider this a temporary approach. What you’ll want to do first is obtain the Southwest Companion Pass. Sometimes there are promotions to quickly earn the Companion Pass (like via opening a credit card). Then you’ll want to initiate a status match to Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles Platinum status. The “catch” is that there is a fee to do this status match ($299). But once you get Platinum status, that will translate over to SkyTeam Elite Plus.

Garuda Indonesia Platinum status

You’ll want to hit Platinum status with Garuda Indonesia if you’re interested in an easy pathway to elite status. Their website is a bit outdated, as it still references the pandemic-era reductions in tier miles needed for status. But, go figure, they updated the lounge terms on this site as of April 1, 2025. So it’s either 30,000 tier miles to earn Platinum status or it’s 50,000. Since 30,000 appears more prominently, my assumption is that’s the number to target. Would love someone with experience to chime in.

Once you reach Platinum status, it’s 5,000 fewer tier miles to requalify, but if you’re one who travels on Delta frequently, maybe that’s not a challenge?

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold status

As with Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic will (at least from time to time) offer up a status match to Gold status. This one won’t cost you a direct fee to apply for the status, but you’re going to need top tier elite status with an eligible non-SkyTeam airline (Southwest won’t cut it). On top of that, you’re going to need to book a Premium or Upper Class flight to show your loyalty to the company. If you cancel that flight, there’s a good chance they revoke that status from you.

You’re eligible to take part in a status match with Virgin Atlantic once every five years.

Suggested reading:

• Review: Air France Business Class Lounge CDG Terminal 2E Hall K
• Review: Delta Sky Club LAX
• Why I Always Check a Bag with Delta