SkyTeam Elite Plus at DTW: where to go

SkyTeam Elite Plus members get five Delta Sky Clubs in Detroit's McNamara Terminal. Four are on Concourse A, which is long enough to have its own tram. One sits at the B/C entrance. The ratings spread is wide.

Ranked, with locations#

• Delta Sky Club (A, central), gate level across from A38 by the Express Tram link. Rated 4.6 across 14 metrics. Four showers; the only club at DTW with any. Open 04:15 to 22:30.
• Delta Sky Club (C), at the entrance to Concourses B and C between gates B2 and C9. Rated 4.2 across 13 metrics. Open 06:00 to 21:00.
• Delta Sky Club (A43), gate level across from A43. Rated 4.1 across 14 metrics. Open 07:00 to 21:00.
• Delta Sky Club (A, south), level 2 at the tram south station across from A18. Rated 4.0 across 14 metrics. Open sun-fri 06:00-21:00, sat 06:30-12:30.
• Delta Sky Club (A, north), level 2 at the tram north station across from A68. Rated 3.8 across 13 metrics. Same hours as south.

What I'd weigh before walking over#

The central club is the one to aim for. It is the flagship, it has the showers, and it opens earliest. The tram stops right there. The north and south clubs close at 12:30 on Saturdays, so do not count on them for a Saturday afternoon.

The C club is a solid second and the right choice if your gate is on B or C. Reaching it from A means the tunnel under the taxiway.

Entry#

Elite Plus status with a same-day SkyTeam boarding pass. Guest rules follow Delta's: two guests at $50 each or immediate family for members and eligible cardholders. Delta One passengers enter without guests.

Scores follow our methodology. See the DTW airport page and the 5 best lounges at DTW.

Putting this into practice#

The names I'd check against the actual boarding pass include Delta Sky Club (A, central), Delta Sky Club (C). I would start with the terminal and the time available after security. That turns a directory into a realistic shortlist. A lounge can be excellent and still be a poor choice for this departure if reaching it uses most of the waiting time. The location notes above should do as much work as the overall score.

The access check comes next. I'd identify the exact card, membership, status or ticket being used and read the conditions for that route into the lounge. A lounge appearing on a card's map is a starting point for that check. It is not a reason to assume every fare, guest or departure will qualify in the same way.

I would decide what I want from the stop before comparing amenities. For a meal, the food available during the actual visit matters. For work, I'd look for a suitable seat and power. For a short connection, simply finding a comfortable place near the gate may be the better result. There is little value in an amenity I cannot use.

The trade-offs I would check#

Traveling with someone else changes the calculation. I'd check the party's eligibility together, including any guest charge, rather than discover at reception that only one person is covered. A paid visit needs to make sense for the whole group and the time left. I would compare that total with a meal or a quieter seat elsewhere in the terminal.

Related reading#

• Star Alliance Gold vs oneworld Sapphire vs SkyTeam Elite Plus: the lounge rules compared