Delta Sky Club Honolulu

After our visit at the American Airlines Admirals Club at Honolulu, we moved over to the Delta Sky Club lounge. Delta relocated this lounge two years ago to the current location. Previously the location was downstairs in the garden area of the main overseas terminal. The new location is just down the front hall from the American Admirals Club. After entering the main Oversea Terminal hall, turn left towards the Diamond Concourse and 15 seconds later you’re at the Delta Sky Club. The entrance doors are a rich dark stained wood and it’s marked by the bright red Delta Sky Club sign.

Introduction: Honolulu for Spring Break
Review: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
Review: The Club at SJC
Review: Alaska Airlines Hawaiian Islands Coach San Jose to Honolulu (and back)
Review: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa
Thoughts on Honolulu
Review: American Airlines Admirals Club / JAL Sakura Lounge – Honolulu
Review: Delta Sky Club Honolulu

Reception desk

The associate quickly checked our party in and we entered the club. For entry I used my Executive Membership for the Delta Sky Club, which allows you to guest your immediate family or 2 additional persons. I could have also used the American Express’s Delta Reserve card or the American Express Platinum Card for myself, but neither of those cards have guesting privileges. I picked up my Executive Membership by redeeming it with 160,000 Sky Bonus points from the small company Sky Bonus program that Delta offers. This program has really been watered down during the last couple years, and sadly Delta has also pulled this redemption (Executive Membership) option from their menu of rewards.

This was the first time I had used the new location so I was excited to see how the club design stacked up. Upon entering the lounge its main area is a long rectangular space that you enter in the center. Against the back wall the main seating is broken up into three or four areas or sections. To the left are a couple of the seating sections with a business area against the front wall. The backside of the reception desk is large periodical display area with all sorts of magazines and newspapers.

From an interiors point there is a lot going on in this space. The club finishes are a mixture of the dark finished woods contrasted against bright white wall segments and ceiling. It’s a bold design that I think works well in a Hawaiian airport. The seats are black leather with dark wood accents and there is a fair amount of brushed aluminum finishes in the light fixtures and such. The obvious issue with the space is there is no, and I mean absolutely no, daylighting to speak of. No windows, no skylights, nada outdoor light. To address this issue the designers used indirect light troches to brighten the ceiling space. It mostly works.

Looking back into the right side of the space

One of the back wall main seating sections

Business work area

Open desk area

Small TV area right side

Periodical shelves

In right section looking back into left

Dark wood, charcoal carpet, black leather seats, white walls and wood shutters, brushed aluminum fixtures make this a modern and yet Hawaiian space

Going left from the reception area is more seating followed by the main dining space. After that is a large TV room with extra seating. In the far back left corner is the hallways that lead to the restrooms.  The dining space is large and offers the traditional Delta food fare; which has really gotten good over the years. Unlike Minneapolis Saint Paul and Salt Lake City this club was never busy during our visit and Delta seems to have sized the club correctly in proportions to the Airport. Alaska Airlines and Delta have also ended their reciprocal lounge agreements, and with all the Alaska Airline flights to Hawaii, I would imagine this has been a positive influence on the lounges occupancy levels.

Looking back down to right side from dining

Caffeine

Caffeine enhancements

 Soda machine

Juice

Small bar area

Snacks

Crackers

Veggies

Hot Soup

Salads

Dessert

Dining area

Large TV space

Restroom hall

Men’s room

Open seating area looking left

Smaller seating areas on left side

Back up to reception

In Summary:

Our visit to the newer Delta Sky Club Honolulu was very favorable. The space has plenty of seating and the quality of the food was great, especially in comparison to the American’s Admirals Club were we had just visited. The club staff, like most Delta employees, really are focused on service, and they treated us very well on our visit.

The Delta Sky Honolulu is an enclosed space with no natural daylight. Despite this location’s shortcoming the designers have make the club feel like a calm relaxing lounge that is tucked away inside a corner of the Overseas Terminal. If you have an American Express Platinum card and are by yourself this is a great spot to hang out. If you have guests accompanying you, I’m not sure I would pay the $29.00 extra – this most likely depends on what you value.

I’ll continue to visit this location whenever transitioning Honolulu.