SkyTeam Lounge Access Exception For Aerolineas Argentinas & Delta Elite Plus Members

SkyTeam announced changes to lounge access policies on Monday that are in place from April 1, 2025 (read more here).

The changes are mostly positive, as soon many SkyTeam Elite Plus members are officially eligible for lounge access on domestic itineraries, as this has not been an alliance-wide benefit, but only with select airlines.

You can access SkyTeam here.

SkyTeam Lounge Access Rule Changes:

SkyTeam Allows Select Lounge Access On Domestic Itineraries Effective April 1, 2025 + Other Changes

SkyTeam lounges eligible for domestic access:

SkyTeam has the following exclusions:

* Separate domestic lounge access policies may apply to members of Aerolineas Argentinas’ Aerolineas Plus and Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles programs.

The situation in the United States when it comes to lounge access is quite interesting because it is a paid product (cash or having specific co-branded cards).

Alaska, American, and United lounges have welcomed eligible elite members from alliance programs outside of the US to lounges on domestic itineraries, and elite members of these three airlines can (sometimes) access partner lounges of non-US airlines in the US even when flying domestically (confusing, right?).

So, I wanted to know what are these exclusion with Aerolineas Argentinas and Delta, and received the following clarifying statement from the SkyTeam:

Aerolineas Plus Elite Plus members will not be eligible for domestic lounge access for routes operated by SkyTeam members worldwide (outside of Argentina) when flying economy.

AND

Delta SkyMiles Elite Plus members will not be eligible for domestic lounge access for routes operated in the U.S. when flying economy.

So, Aerolineas Argentinas Elite Plus members are not eligible for lounge access on domestic itineraries when members from other programs do.

Delta Elite Plus and higher Medallion members can access these eligible lounges on domestic itineraries, but not in the US.

If I have read this right, Elite Plus members of all airlines other than Delta have access to these US lounges listed above when they are flying on Delta (but Delta Medallion members are not)t.

Conclusion

So, Aerolineas Argentinas members don’t have domestic lounge access when flying on domestic itineraries, but Delta Medallions do, excluding flights within the US.

It is clear that Delta prefers it this way to keep selling its lounge product and get fliers to sign up for cobranded cards with Amex.

Overall, these changes are welcomed and bring SkyTeam Elite Plus access rules in line with what Oneworld and Star Alliance offer.

Source