Imagine sitting on the edge of the tarmac in Los Angeles. From a distance, you can see a white cloud of smoke billowing up from the tires of the airplane that just landed. But, you could probably do without the jet fuel. 

Delta’s Los Angeles Sky Club at LAX in Terminal 3 is just to the right after you exit security. Yes, to the right of the airplane-flight leaderboard. You’ll find it’s a convenient way to spend a few hours. I definitely did.

First Things: How long is the line to enter Delta’s Sky Club? If you arrive at peak hours, expect peak waiting times. I don’t wait. If the line is super long and I’m a short layover–I skip the Sky Club.

Check-In & Access

After you’ve waited in line or didn’t wait, proceed to the check-in kiosk where you scan your boarding pass. You will also have to insert your credit card to determine your eligibility.

As an American Express Platinum holder with Delta this is an included bonus. If you are coming with a +1 you will have to pay a fee for them to enter. However, this can be waived with the Amex Platinum’s $200 Airline Fee Credit which you get back each calendar year.  

Proceed up the escalator. Bam! You’ve entered the Sky Club.

You will notice the concierge on your left (as you step off the escalator), in case you need help with re-booking or other options.

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Lounge Layout & Seating Zones

There are roughly what I would call six main open seating areas (including the outside Sky Deck). There are also six pods near the entrance where you can do your remote work in peace and make sure you don’t get any distractions on your zoom call. 

Note: The internet speed is 104.60 Mbps for Download and 103.68 Mbps for upload. It looks like its provided by Google Fiber 

From several spaces, a central bar acts as a focal point where travelers can congregate. 

Outdoor Patio: Noise, Views, and Vibes

It’s called the Delta Sky Deck. It’s the outside, open space configuration that faces the tarmac. It sits opposite of the central bar. It’s here where you can be immersed in the tarmac experience–jet fuel, sound of engine’s spooling up, and all. 

If you’re an AV Geek or you just like planes, this is the place to be. You can easily see airline ground crew operations and watch aircraft taking off and landing. I mean for a moment you’d think you’re in the original Top Gun movie–at the beginning–where you have the shimmering heat haze coming out the F-14 Tomcat on the aircraft carrier deck.

Well that’s what it’s like here. You will find everyone trying to snatch seats and tables closest to the windows that open up to the tarmac. Then you have me who wants to be close but not that close and runs to snap a shot of airplanes landing or about to take off. 

No matter where you are on this deck, you can smell the jet fuel and the scent of rain wafting through.

I found being in the elements rather comforting. There are less dog owners around that have their animals cramped in their animal pet carry-ons (which seemed popular here) and less annoying conversations. You won’t have any of those distractions here. The noise of the aircraft and jet engines block out that incessant cellphone chatter and loud conversations. 

I find the aircraft noise quite soothing and actually made it easy to get good work done (like writing this blog post). 

Sound check: With jets constantly running, your ears will be exposed to around 71 dB—about the same as standing on a quiet city street. Inside the seating areas, the sound drops to around 56 dB, similar to the ambient noise of a quiet home or office.

And that central bar I mentioned earlier in the post? It also extends to the outside so you can also be outside and get your drinks too.

Dining Options: Two Identical Buffets

There are two buffets. One at the entrance and one at the rear of the Skyclub that are serving the same meals. It’s just a matter of preference of which one is less busy or close to where you’d want to be if you wanted to get seconds.

 

Bathroom & Shower Facilities

Trying to stay fresh from a long haul flight from Delta’s longer flights–like Brisbane, Australia or Auckland, New Zealand? Yep, there’s showers for that.

Or maybe you got food poisoning and you need to go number two in private (don’t ask). Yep, you can have a private bathroom and near floor-to-ceiling doors to offer that extra set of privacy. 

TLDR: Delta’s LAX Sky Club bathrooms are clean and modern with Grown Alchemist soap

Lounge Comparison: LAX vs CDG vs ICN

How does this Delta LAX Sky Club compare to the busiest SkyTeam lounges when they’re compared against each other?

Feature	CDG – Air France (Hall L)	LAX – Delta Sky Club (T3)	ICN – Korean Air Prestige (T2)
Outdoor deck	No	Yes – Sky Deck	No
Free guest w/ Delta Gold+	Yes	No (fee)	Yes
Food wow factor	🥐 French nibbles and small snacks	🍲 Twin buffets	🍜 Korean buffet + Cass beer
Ambience	Calm, business	Lively, plane-spotting	Bright, sterile
Wi-Fi speed	50 Mbps	100 Mbps+	70 Mbps
Unique perk	Martinique rum	Runway selfie heaven	DIY bibimbap

Homson’s Verdict: LAX wins in terms of it’s killer outside patio; CDG wins on guest access; ICN wins on local flavor from Nongshim ramen noodles to draft beer.

Tips, Tricks, and Logistics

• Skip peak hours to avoid lines: Consider your layover timing carefully; long entry lines during busy periods might not be worth it for a short connection.
• The Sky Deck offers a unique aviation experience: Take advantage of the outdoor patio for plane spotting, runway views, and the immersive airport atmosphere (though be prepared for 71db noise levels and jet fuel scents).
• Wi-Fi is blazing fast: At 104.6 Mbps download/103.68 Mbps upload speeds provided by Google Fiber, it’s excellent for remote work or streaming.
• Take advantage of two identical buffets: There’s one at the entrance and one at the back serving the same food; choose whichever is less crowded, especially if you want seconds.
• Shower facilities are available: Perfect for refreshing after long-haul flights from destinations like Brisbane or Auckland before continuing your journey.

Trip Soundtrack

Because every adventure needs a soundtrack, each of my trips comes with a theme song. And for this trip's anthem? Well, it's...

Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone (Official Audio - Top Gun)

Final Thoughts: Why I Always Stop Here

Delta’s LAX Sky Club is one of the airline’s halo clubs in the U.S. Its large layout with inside and outside spaces make it an easy choice to spend a few hours. So whenever I have a long layover at LAX, especially across the Pacific, I make it a point to make a pit stop here and take advantage of the amenities. 

You definitely can’t go wrong with the abundance of free food, including fresh fruit. If you’re an Amex card holder flying Delta this is a no-brainer. Why would you pay at a premium cost at an airport restaurant?