Salt Lake City Airport has been undergoing significant construction over the past few years. The airport demolished an old concourse to build a new one in its place from scratch. Impressively, the airport continued to operate even during this extensive construction.
The first newly constructed concourse opened here during the pandemic. As I passed through the airport, I had the opportunity to the newest SkyClub at Delta’s primary domestic west coast hub.
Check-in and First Impressions
The Salt Lake terminal is wide, bright, and airy. Even as passenger volumes were increasing during my visit in June 2021, it never felt packed or claustrophobic. Unfortunately, that feeling ended in the entryway of the club. Getting inside required going up a steep staircase or taking an elevator since the lounge is perched above the main concourse. If you’ve visited any of the domestic SkyClubs in Atlanta, you’ll know the slightly unwelcoming feeling I’m referring to. (As a side note, many clubs are placed like this above the terminal, but I find it more welcoming to check in on the terminal level, such as the H/K Admiral’s Club in Chicago, which gives you confidence that you’re in the right place.)
When I got to the check-in counter, there was no line and I scanned my boarding pass. The agent seemed confused that I was entering on arrival, but eventually allowed me into the club.
Past the entryway, the rest of the space was much more impressive. It was bright and airy with assorted types of seats surrounding a large center fireplace. The fireplace felt out of place on a humid June day when I was already sweating, but I imagine the ambiance is unbeatable when snow is falling through the giant floor to ceiling windows.
Food and Beverage
This SkyClub had already returned to standard buffet service during my visit and was the first club I’ve visited that didn’t feature either simple pre-wrapped items or an employee doing the serving work.
I visited around 1:00, firmly during lunch, and there were plenty of options available. There were several types of salad, sliders, sandwiches, and fruit.
Delta’s remodeled clubs (since about 2017) use a decent catering program. They typically offer several hot food options with significantly more choice and higher quality than most Admiral’s Clubs or United Clubs. (Of course, Delta still can’t compete with those airlines’ dedicated business class lounges, Flagship Clubs and Polaris Lounges.) In addition to the modern catering program, this club felt more upscale based on the presentation. It felt similar to Delta’s other new flagship lounge in Seattle in appearance, though is significantly smaller. The buffet overall still felt correctly proportioned to the size of the club, however.
This SkyClub also featured a full bar and staffed bartender, like most of Delta’s new flagship clubs.
Amenities
The SLC SkyClub offered a number of different seating configurations for eating, working, or lounging. Interestingly, it also offered a number of dedicated “phone booths” which are prefect for taking a phone call or a work meeting. I’ve only ever seen an offering like this previously in Centurion Clubs, so it was a nice amenity here.
This SkyClub also has space for showers, but they were still closed when I visited, likely due to the pandemic.
Bottom line
The less quantifiable and often underrated amenity that was also offered here: serenity. This club is large enough that there are plenty of quiet nooks and crannies, making it easy to find a space to relax and spend lounge time however you prefer. A lounge most fundamentally should be a respite from the terminal, and the SLC SkyClub delivers admirably.
