Background
This 836 sqm lounge opened in May 2020 and is part of the airport’s expanded concourse, a US$350 million project which was completed in 2019 – this saw the addition of nine new gates and over 15,000 sqm to the terminal, featuring multilevel design and new restaurants and retail areas.
Where is it?
On the mezzanine level of the airport’s Barbara Jordan terminal, conveniently located just above Delta gates 1 and 2, with elevator and stair access. It is open from 0415 until 1930 daily, with entry permitted three hours prior to departure time.
I had access to the lounge as I was flying with Virgin Atlantic in its Upper Class cabin. For a full list of its entrance policies, see the Delta website.
See our flight review: Virgin Atlantic B787 Dreamliner Upper Class London-Austin.
What's it like?
It all feels very new and glossy, which is a nice change from some worn-down lounges, with plush furnishings, warm walnut wood and metal finishes as well as a variety of seating areas which suit different interests.
To the left of the entrance is the dining area with small tables, while the right takes you to a circular room with a shiny bar at its centre, surrounded by comfy sofas, banquettes and more private alcoves.
Beyond this is another room, which has a more business-like atmosphere with people working and catching up on emails.
There is plenty of natural light throughout the three spaces, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows either offering views of the terminal below or the tarmac.
Central to the design is eye-catching artwork, which adds some flair to the rooms. Displays include cowboy boots, a graffiti-style Keep Austin Weird artwork, and the ‘Mirror Fields’ installation by Dutch artist Constant Dullaart – a mirror wall covered in SIM cards.
I worked at the end of the business centre lounge, which had tarmac-facing tables allowing you to spot helicopters come into the airport. It felt fairly private, with a wooden divider behind the row of seats.
The wifi was a little temperamental at first but then worked fine, and there are plenty of plug sockets throughout the lounge (including at the bar). There are also magazines available for those that want some reading material.
The lounge has a covered outdoor space, known as the Sky Deck, with both lounge-like seating and high-top tables overlooking the tarmac as well as a self-service bar with non-alcoholic drinks.
There are plenty of contactless features – the bathrooms, for instance, have a waving mechanism to open the doors.
Staff at reception are very friendly and helpful with questions regarding flight departure times.
Food and drink
There is a small buffet area to the left of the entrance, with Tex Mex-style hot food options – during my visit there were chicken asado tortillas – along with salad options and desserts such as cookies and rocky road brownies.
The jazzy bar area has a drinks menu split into two sections, with a selection of complimentary alcoholic drinks and then the ‘premium’ beverages and cocktails which you can purchase using cash or miles by the glass or bottle (depending on the label). For instance, the Sauvignon Blanc, Comtesse De Malet Roquefort cost $9 or 600 miles per glass.
As you follow the bend, there’s a temperature-controlled glass tower filled with bottles, along with soft drinks on tap, coffee and tea (both iced and hot), and citrus-infused water.
Verdict
The Delta Sky Club lounge at Austin airport is a great space for travellers to relax, get some work done or enjoy a glass of wine before departing the Texan city.
The design is stylish, with nods to its location, there is plenty of space and it is conveniently located near the gates so that Delta passengers can spend as much time as possible within the exclusive space.
