Loyal Delta flyers with Sky Club access have been waiting for years for the airline to open a much-needed new Delta Sky Club in Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP). The wait is almost over – and by the looks of it, it'll have been worth it.
The brand new Sky Club in Minneapolis is scheduled to open on Wednesday, April 19, Delta confirmed to Thrifty Traveler on Wednesday. It'll be the airline's third and biggest lounge yet in Minneapolis, setting a new benchmark for lounges at one of the airline's biggest and most important hubs.
Located down the airport's recently expanded G concourse, the new lounge will clock in at roughly 21,000 square feet – dwarfing the current flagship Delta lounge with its footprint of 12,000 square feet in the airport's main concourse. The new Sky Club includes a 3,000-square-foot space with protection from Minnesota's cold winter temperatures, views of the tarmac, and an indoor-outdoor bar.
Renderings previously provided to Thrifty Traveler show sharp, high-quality finishes that should match recent Sky Club openings in Los Angeles (LAX) and Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) – easily some of the best Sky Clubs in Delta's network. Look at this.
Want to get in? Read our guide on how to get Delta Sky Club access!
The new Sky Club will be located near gate G17 in the airport's G concourse, where many Delta flights come and go. It's on the second level, perched above a new, soaring rotunda that floods the concourse with natural light. Delta says there will be space for 450 passengers, including 110 people on the outdoor Sky Deck.
Construction on the new lounge has been in progress for more than a year. And while delays are common for lounges and all airport construction, Delta originally targeted April 2023 for its opening. Now, the airline is saying it'll open for travelers on April 19 – two weeks from today.
This third Delta lounge is desperately needed for Minneapolis flyers with Sky Club access – and a long time coming. The airline first laid out its plans for another new Sky Club way back in early 2020, but the timeline hit a snag as the pandemic decimated travel. Fortunately, it's back on track.
As Delta Sky Clubs nationwide see long lines and even turn away travelers, this third lounge will more than double the airline's lounge footprint in Minneapolis. Delta's current primary lounge near the F and G concourse entrances is out of date and regularly overcrowded, even after repeatedly cracking down on who can get into these lounges. A smaller lounge in the airport's C concourse is a relic from Northwest Airlines.
Renderings of the new space make clear this new lounge will be a massive step up.
The airline has said it will keep its other two existing lounges open. Before the pandemic, Delta initially also planned to renovate both lounges, though it's unclear if those plans are still moving ahead.
Delta has been otherwise tight-lipped about what's in store at the new MSP Sky Club, but it's clear that travelers are in for a treat. In addition to renderings provided by Delta, images posted at the construction site show a long bar with plenty of seating, soft overhead lighting, classy accents throughout the space, and chic marble bathrooms.
Beyond that, flyers can safely expect this new Sky Club will be a big step up from their existing options, matching the elevated experience Delta has introduced at other recent SkyClub additions in Los Angeles, New York City-LaGuardia (LGA), Salt Lake City (SLC), New Orleans (MSY), and other airports. That includes some local design flair, better food options, and additional amenities like dedicated private phone booths and maybe even shower suites.
Minneapolis is just the next in a slew of airports set to get new Sky Clubs as Delta ramps up its lounge network. The airline is planning to open additional lounges in Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR), and New York City (JFK) in addition to expanding existing clubs in Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Atlanta (ATL) later this year. Delta is also working to build exclusive Delta One lounges for business class passengers departing from New York City (JFK) and Los Angeles.
Bottom Line
At long last, it's coming: The long-awaited new Sky Club at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) is set to open two weeks from today on Wednesday, April 19.
Our entire team is based in Minneapolis, so we're just a tad biased. But if this third Sky Club at MSP is half as good as the renderings look, we're all in for a treat. Stay tuned, as we're set to get a sneak peek before the lounge opens to show travelers exactly what's in store.