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SkyTeam improves its lounge access rules – many domestic flights now included

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SkyTeam has announced a number of changes to the way that you will receive lounge access if you have elite status.

This is especially relevant at the moment as both Flying Blue and Virgin Flying Club are matching British Airways Executive Club status. The Flying Blue deal is superior, especially if you only have BA Silver status.

On the whole it’s a mixed bag, with some improvements and some restrictions, but most people will be better off.

SkyTeam improves its lounge access rules

Here is what is changing on 1st April:

Get lounge access on domestic flights

For the first time, SkyTeam will offer lounge access to Elite Plus (eg Virgin Flying Club Gold) passengers travelling on domestic flights.

To be honest, you may (like me) be surprised to find out that this was previously banned! With Virgin Atlantic not running any domestic flights it wasn’t an issue for anyone flying from the UK.

This is will initially only be available at selected lounges with the goal of adding more later. AWe have the full list below.

Guesting rules are tightened (slightly)

Elite Plus passengers will continue to be able to guest one person into the lounge, but this passenger must now be travelling on the same flight. You were previously able to guest someone travelling on a different SkyTeam flight.

More lounges will impose a time limit

‘More’ lounges will limit access to three hours before departure for Elite Plus, business and first class passengers. Elite Plus customers connecting between two SkyTeam flights will continue to have 24-hour access during their stopover, but not at their point of departure.

SkyTeam improves its lounge access rules

Which lounges will offer access to domestic passengers?

Loyalty Lobby published the following list of lounges taking part in the domestic flight access scheme.

This only kicks in from 1st April 2025.

You’ll note that Delta Air Lines is not allowing SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers into its lounges when flying domestically, although there are a good number of US airports where Delta elites will be welcomed at other lounges.

AirportLounge Provider
Paris Charles de GaulleAir France
Paris OrlyAir France
BordeauxAir France
GenevaAir France
BostonAir France
Washington D.C. (Dulles)Air France
Houston (IAH)Air France
New York (JFK)Air France
San FranciscoAir France
Los AngelesAir France
JakartaGaruda Indonesia
Bali (Denpasar)Garuda Indonesia
NairobiKenya Airways
Shanghai PudongChina Eastern
Shanghai HongqiaoChina Eastern
Stockholm (Arlanda)Scandinavian Airlines
CopenhagenScandinavian Airlines
NewarkScandinavian Airlines
GothenburgScandinavian Airlines
OsloScandinavian Airlines
ChicagoScandinavian Airlines
JeddahSaudia
RiyadhSaudia
HanoiVietnam Airlines

The lack of blanket domestic access rules does mean it a lucky dip as to whether you’ll get access or not – there are so many exclusions that it will be hard to know when and where you can get in. It would be useful if SkyTeam updated its Lounge Finder tool with the relevant information.

Conclusion

I suspect that, for the majority of customers, these changes are neutral to good. Most people do not turn up at the airport more than three hours prior to departure, so limiting access is unlikely to have a huge effect. Equally, I suspect the amount of passengers guesting people in on other SkyTeam flights is probably relatively small.

The big change is opening up access to lounges on domestic flights. This is a benefit I would have enjoyed last year when I had a domestic Vietnam Airlines flight from Hanoi and had to opt for a third party lounge via Priority Pass instead.


Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (February 2025)

Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Comments (22)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Chris D says:

    I’ve definitely used SkyTeam Elite Plus for domestic lounge access in economy class on AeroMexico before. This was quite a few years ago, so not sure if that was a mistake, if it changed since then, or if this announcement marks a change!

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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