Why We Can’t Get Enough of the New Delta Lounge in Minneapolis

Delta’s latest lounge features a unique element: an all-season Sky Deck, accommodating up to 110 guests at once who can work at open-air tables beside a living plant wall showcasing seasonal greenery. Guests can order cocktails from an indoor-outdoor bar while enjoying fresh air without ever leaving the airport. Surprisingly, this is all located at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) in Minnesota, where the average January low hovers around 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

In April, Delta introduced its new 21,000-square-foot lounge, marking its third and largest space at MSP. One standout feature is the innovative Sky Deck, which includes an area with retractable glass walls and skylights that can be heated during colder months, along with two rooms that are always open to the elements. But the impressive offerings don’t stop there; the lounge also boasts stunning design details, two bars, a menu crafted by local chefs, soundproof workspaces, a locally-curated art collection, and expansive views of the airfield and concourse.

Here’s a glimpse of what awaits inside the new Delta Sky Lounge in Minneapolis.

Art and Design

The expansive lounge features multiple distinct areas for guests to enjoy. In the bar section, visitors will discover high-top stools and café-style seating, accented by emerald-hued leather chairs and burnt-orange booths flanking round two-person tables.

Additionally, there’s a dedicated business zone equipped with rows of individual cubicles, a collaborative table, and three soundproof phone booths for private calls. Adjacent to this is a more relaxed area featuring red leather sofas and blue suede chairs, conveniently placed near power outlets.

Next to the lounge, you'll find the buffet and a self-service drink station offering non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a dining area with a variety of high and low-top tables.

On the aforementioned Sky Deck, there’s a selection of patio-style seating and sofas, including a semi-circular couch reminiscent of a Tilt-a-Whirl—a playful tribute to the carnival ride that originated in Minnesota.

Known as the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes,' Minnesota's landscape inspires the lounge's design, according to Claude Roussel, the managing director of Delta Sky Club. He explains that 'The Club’s rich color scheme—earthy tones like sage green combined with warm copper and amber shades—is intended to evoke the natural greenery and summer sunsets by the lake,' Roussel shares with Dinogo.

This theme is further reflected in the lounge's artwork, all created by local artists, including a mosaic in the main area illustrating birch and poplar trees in autumn (by Rebecca Campbell, titled November Morning II) and a series of nature-inspired prints displayed behind the Ambassador desk (by artist Charles S. Anderson, titled Up North Camp).

One of the most prominent artworks, located in the buffet area, is a mixed media piece titled Seagulls Have No Use for Satellites by artist Danny Saathoff. He explains to Dinogo that the work focuses on the Great Lakes, employing numbers and circles to symbolize navigating the waters by compass.

Roussel states, 'Our aim was to design a space that embodies the natural beauty of the Great Lakes region, inspiring and transporting customers through the Club's aesthetics while providing a comprehensive range of amenities and our signature hospitality.'

Culinary Offerings

Alongside a standard menu featuring lounge favorites such as cheese, salads, nuts, and light desserts, the new lounge will showcase dishes from various local chefs every quarter as part of Delta Sky Club’s 'Local Flavor' initiative. Currently, Justin Sutherland, a Top Chef alum and executive chef at Handsome Hog, a contemporary Southern eatery in Saint Paul, curates the menu, including his interpretations of chicken and andouille gumbo, shrimp and grits, and banana pudding. After July 19, a new chef from the Twin Cities will take charge.

Accessing Delta’s New Minneapolis Sky Club

The Delta Sky Club in Minneapolis is situated in Concourse G, nestled between gates 17 and 18. It operates daily from 4:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. Entry is granted to individuals with Delta Sky Club privileges, including Sky Club members, Delta One or SkyTeam Premium Cabin passengers, as well as Delta Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members, plus American Express Centurion Card and Platinum Card holders (provided they are flying with Delta that day).

More New Delta Lounges

In early May 2023, Delta introduced two new grab-and-go options at its busiest U.S.-based lounges, allowing guests to pick up prepackaged sandwiches, salads, snacks, desserts, and beverages for their journeys. These offerings are located within the lobby areas of the Sky Clubs at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Concourse B) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (Terminal 4, Concourse B).

Later this year, Delta is set to launch new Sky Club lounges at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, with the first opening at JFK sometime this summer.