Don’t miss! Baggage brouhaha brewing as one airline opts out
Arriving at Delta’s exclusive new T5 lobby at LAX (Photo: Delta)
Delta unveiled the completion of the three-year, $229 million facelift of its Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport today.
While the entire terminal got a nip and tuck, Delta is making the most noise about the addition of a new private check-in lounge for Delta ONE (first class) customers.
Delta says that customers flying Delta ONE will arrive by car at a “dedicated curbside entrance, leading to a private, modern check-in lounge with personalized luggage check, high-design atmosphere, and a refreshment bar. Customers also access a dedicated security checkpoint directly from the Delta ONE at LAX lounge.” See below for details on who gets in…and who does not.
In addition to the new check in area, renovations are finally complete on Delta’s Sky Club– there are 100 new seats, new showers, renovated bathrooms, an updated food area and all new furnishings and fixtures.
Explainer: What in the world is Delta ONE?
The lounge area of Delta One at LAX is where you can chill while ticketing details are worked out. (Photo: Delta)
For anyone who is not a Delta ONE customer or a Sky Club member, Delta says that,”new restaurants and shops in Terminal 5 feature celebrity chefs and retail brand names that reflect the cuisine, culture and lifestyle of Los Angeles…Other Terminal 5 enhancements include new jet bridges; a renovated Sky Priority lobby; an expanded ticketing lobby and four additional security screening checkpoints; and new baggage carousels and international baggage recheck facilities.”
This reminds us of: United’s Global Services check in lounge at SFO
Who gets to use that fancy new private Delta ONE entrance, lounge and dedicated security line? Here’s Delta’s fine print:
Access to and use of Delta ONE at LAX are reserved for customers traveling on a nonstop Delta One ticket to New York-JFK; a nonstop Delta One ticket on a long-haul international flight that is 6.5 or more hours; a domestic Delta ticket in any class connecting to a same-day Delta One ticket on a long-haul international Delta flight that is 6.5 or more hours; or travel in international* First/Business Class on a SkyTeam-operated flight. First and/or Business Class tickets on Delta marketed- and operated-flights are not eligible. Customers must be confirmed in Delta One or SkyTeam premium cabin for the international segment of their itinerary. Only companions in the same reservation are eligible to access the Delta ONE at LAX check-in. International travel includes travel between Los Angeles-LAX and Europe, Asia, southern South America and Africa.
Click to read how Delta used an old DC-9 tail to make a check in desk at LAX T5 (Images: Delta blog)
The refurbishment of Delta’s T5 is part of LA’s much needed $8 billion overhaul of LAX.
More details and Delta’s new LAXtoLUX.com digital campaign about T5 and LAX.
Anyone who has flow through LAX recently has had to deal with the construction noise, dust, tarps and walls. Whaddya think? Please leave your comments below.
NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Big red tail back at SFO + Bumped out of first class by air marshall? + Newest Centurion Lounge + My favorite travel pants
Also, terminal 5 is still way short on the amount of bathroom space for that many passengers. Always a line.
The remodled Sky Priority check in area for those not traveling on Delta One looks a little bit nicer, but is not really any different than it looked during the renovation. when you go through security TSA Pre-Check and Sky Priority funnel through one opening so several flyers after going through Sky Priority just backed over to the Pre-Check screening lane so they did not after to remove computer, shoes, etc. Sounds nice if you ar eon Delta One, but LAX to ATL does not qualify and the food options in terminal 5 are no different than they were a year ago.
It figures that the service is only available for customers traveling internationally or first class/business to JFK. The other premium cabin flyers (like me who regularly travels first class/business between LAX-ATL) receive no added benefits. Hopefully the restaurants are better than what was offered in the old terminal 5.
Delta ONE is business class, not first
Southwest Airlines is renovating Terminal 1, which is rumored to be a future crew base.
Australia is not included??