SkyTeam Allows Select Lounge Access On Domestic Itineraries Effective April 1, 2025 + Other Changes
SkyTeam has announced changes to its lounge access rules, which affect business, first-class, and Elite Plus members. Lounge access on entirely domestic itineraries has not previously been a SkyTeam Elite Plus benefit, unlike with Oneworld and Star Alliance, but this will change on April 1, […]
SkyTeam has announced changes to its lounge access rules, which affect business, first-class, and Elite Plus members.
Lounge access on entirely domestic itineraries has not previously been a SkyTeam Elite Plus benefit, unlike with Oneworld and Star Alliance, but this will change on April 1, 2025.
You can access SkyTeam’s page for their lounges here.
Elite Plus members on domestic itineraries can access select lounges from April 1, 2025, and more lounges will be eligible in the future.
The new rules state that the SkyTeam Elite Plus member’s guest must be traveling on the same flight previously wasn’t in the rules.
There is now a 3-hour limit before the scheduled departure time for accessing the lounge. Note that this doesn’t affect connecting itineraries.
Lounges Eligible for Domestic Access:
| Airport Name | IATA Code | Lounge Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Charles de Gaulle | CDG | Air France |
| Paris Orly | ORY | Air France |
| Bordeaux | BOD | Air France |
| Geneva | GVA | Air France |
| Boston | BOS | Air France |
| Washington D.C. (Dulles) | IAD | Air France |
| Houston (IAH) | IAH | Air France |
| New York (JFK) | JFK | Air France |
| San Francisco | SFO | Air France |
| Los Angeles | LAX | Air France |
| Jakarta | CGK | Garuda Indonesia |
| Bali (Denpasar) | DPS | Garuda Indonesia |
| Nairobi | NBO | Kenya Airways |
| Shanghai Pudong | PVG | China Eastern |
| Shanghai Hongqiao | SHA | China Eastern |
| Stockholm (Arlanda) | ARN | Scandinavian Airlines |
| Copenhagen | CPH | Scandinavian Airlines |
| Newark | EWR | Scandinavian Airlines |
| Gothenburg | GOT | Scandinavian Airlines |
| Oslo | OSL | Scandinavian Airlines |
| Chicago | ORD | Scandinavian Airlines |
| Jeddah | JED | Saudia |
| Riyadh | RUH | Saudia |
| Hanoi | HAN | Vietnam Airlines |
SkyTeam’s Press Release:
Changes to SkyTeam Lounge Access Policy
AMSTERDAM, 20 January 2025 – As part of our commitment to enhancing the airport experience, effective 1 April 2025, SkyTeam is making some changes to the lounge access policy for our Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers. We thank you for your understanding as we work to make the travel experience smoother for you and all our customers.
Domestic lounge access
For the very first time, SkyTeam will offer lounge access to Elite Plus customers* traveling on domestic flights as an additional benefit. Domestic lounge access will initially be available at selected lounges of Air France, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, SAS, Saudia, and Vietnam Airlines.
SkyTeam and its members plan to gradually widen domestic lounge access to more lounges in the future**.
Elite Plus Guest changes
Elite Plus customers are entitled to bring one guest into the lounge with them. All guests must be traveling on the same SkyTeam-operated flight as the Elite Plus customer.
3-hour lounge access on departure
To help deliver a more relaxing pre-flight experience for eligible Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers on departure, a 3-hour lounge access will be introduced at more lounges. Elite Plus customers transferring between two SkyTeam-operated flights will continue to enjoy same-day/24-hour access at the point of connection.
* Separate domestic lounge access policies may apply to members of Aerolineas Argentinas’ Aerolineas Plus and Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles programs.
** Access for Elite Plus customers traveling on domestic flights will not be available at all SkyTeam member lounges.
Conclusion
The previous SkyTeam lounge access rules have been more restrictive than those of Oneworld or Star Alliance, where domestic lounge access has always been granted, excluding American Airlines, Alaska, and United frequent flier access to their own lounges (partner lounges have been ok) on itineraries that these airlines deem “domestic.”
I have been hit with these rules a few times when flying on Garuda Indonesia between Bali and Jakarta, although they granted me access last time (I’m not sure why).
The allowed lounge list as of April 1st still includes interesting exclusions. For example, lounge access is not included in Ho Chi Minh City, but Hanoi is okay.
Let’s see if these lounge access rules will expand network-wide and include Delta’s lounges in the future for Elite Plus members from other than their SkyMiles program, as is the case with their US competitors.
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