Delta stopped selling Sky Club day passes, and every other lounge lets you in only if there is room
When your flight is delayed or cancelled, you get into a lounge with access you already hold (a membership, an eligible card or a premium ticket) or by buying a pass where one is still sold. American sells an Admirals Club pass at US$79 1, United a one-time pass at US$59 2, and Capital One sells entry at US$90 3. Delta no longer sells one. 4
Across the seven airports checked, 34 lounges sit after security and 15 of them sell a day pass. Lounges often reach capacity during a mass disruption, access cannot be guaranteed, and no network publishes live occupancy on the web. Prices were read on 15 November 2026.
A delay keeps your lounge access only if you enter within 3 hours of the original departure
Most lounges admit you up to 3 hours before departure. Delta and Capital One both say a delay does not take that away, provided you enter within 3 hours of the originally scheduled time. 4 3
So arrive on your original schedule. Wait for the new departure time before heading to the airport and you may be outside the window for a flight that has slid by hours.
The Club lets you stay until closing if your flight is delayed while you are inside. 5 Amex turns away passengers who have landed and have no same-day connection. 6
A cancellation is different. Your old boarding pass no longer counts, and Capital One says a rescheduled flight needs a new boarding pass. 3
| Lounge or network | Day pass and price | Who gets in | Arrival window | Rule for delayed flights | Capacity wording | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Sky Club | No. Delta stopped selling Single Visit Passes. Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve cardholders can buy extra visits at US$50. | Members, Delta One and SkyTeam premium cabins, some Medallion members, Amex Platinum (10 visits a year) and Delta SkyMiles Reserve (15 visits). No Main Basic fares. | Within 3 hours of scheduled departure, or any time on a connection. | A delay does not affect access if you enter within 3 hours of the original departure time. | Club access is subject to space availability. | 4 |
| Admirals Club | Yes, US$79 or 7,900 miles a person, when available. Needs a same-day boarding pass on American or a oneworld airline. | Members, AAdvantage Executive cardholders, oneworld premium cabins and status, One-Day Pass holders. | Not published. | Not published. | One-Day Passes may not be redeemable or on sale at the most popular clubs and in peak season. | 1 |
| United Club | Yes, US$59 a person for a one-time pass. Needs a same-day United or Star Alliance boarding pass. | Members, United Club cardholders, Star Alliance premium cabins and Gold status, one-time pass holders. | One-time pass holders since 1 May 2025: within 3 hours of departure, except on a connection. | Not published. | Access is subject to availability. | 2 |
| Alaska Lounge | Yes, sold at the lounge within 3 hours of departure when space is available. Price not confirmed on Alaska's page. | Members, eligible first class and oneworld premium passengers, day pass holders. | Within 3 hours of departure for day passes. | Not published. | Day passes are sold only when space is available. | 7 |
| Centurion Lounge (Amex) | No. | Amex Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Centurion cards, with a same-day boarding pass. Arriving passengers with no connection are turned away. | Within 3 hours of departure. Sidecar within 90 minutes. On a layover, within 5 hours of the connecting flight. | Not addressed on the network page. | An app waitlist code does not guarantee entry, which is subject to capacity. | 6 |
| Capital One Lounge | Yes, US$90 a person for anyone else. Venture X guests US$45, under-18s US$25. | Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders free. Same-day departing or connecting boarding pass. | Up to 3 hours before departure. | A delay does not affect access if you enter within 3 hours of the originally scheduled departure. | Entry is subject to availability. | 3 |
| Chase Sapphire Lounge | No. Two guests free, then US$27 a guest. | Sapphire Reserve, J.P. Morgan Reserve and Ritz-Carlton cards. Sapphire Preferred has no access. | Up to 3 hours before departure. | Not addressed. | Not published. | 8 |
| Priority Pass | No single pass. Standard membership US$99 a year plus US$35 a visit; Standard Plus US$329; Prestige US$469. | Paid members and card-issued memberships (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and others). | No network-wide rule. Each lounge sets its own. | Not addressed. | Membership does not guarantee access and is subject to capacity restrictions. | 9 |
| The Club | Yes, US$50 and US$60 at SEA, US$63.90 at MCO. | Any passenger with a Club Pass, Priority Pass or LoungeKey. Airline club cards are not accepted. | Club Pass up to 3 hours before departure. | If your flight is delayed while you are inside, you can stay until closing. | Walk-in passes and re-entry are subject to availability. | 10 |
| Escape Lounges | Yes, pre-booked from US$32 a person. | Amex Platinum cards with two guests, Delta SkyMiles Reserve on a Delta flight, Priority Pass at some locations. | Access begins 3 hours before departure. | Not addressed. | Card holder access is subject to availability. Pre-booking is the only way to guarantee entry. | 11 |
| Minute Suites | Paid by the hour, one-hour minimum. Priority Pass rate from US$40 an hour and US$215 overnight. The standard rate is on each airport page. | Any passenger with a same-day boarding pass, inside security. | Not applicable. | Not addressed. | Priority Pass walk-ins are subject to availability. | 12 |
Each row is read on the operator's own page, linked in the sources. Rows marked reported elsewhere came from a partial read of that page and should be checked there before you rely on them.
15 of the 34 lounges at seven US airports sell a day pass
Detroit, a Delta hub with five Sky Clubs, sells none. Seattle has the most choice, with 6 lounges that sell entry. Airline club passes need a same-day boarding pass on that airline or its alliance; The Club and Plaza Premium take any airline.
| Airport | Lounges after security | Selling a day pass | Passes and prices | Sleep suite after security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa (TPA) | 3 | 1 | Admirals Club (US$79 or 7,900 miles, when available) | None confirmed |
| Austin (AUS) | 2 | 1 | Admirals Club (US$79 or 7,900 miles, when available) | None confirmed |
| San Diego (SAN) | 4 | 1 | United Club (US$59) | None confirmed |
| Seattle (SEA) | 11 | 6 | The Club SEA (2 lounges, US$50 or US$60); United Club (US$59); Alaska Lounge (3 lounges, price not published) | None confirmed |
| Detroit (DTW) | 6 | 0 | None | None confirmed |
| Nashville (BNA) | 2 | 1 | Admirals Club (US$79 or 7,900 miles, when available) | Minute Suites Nashville |
| Orlando (MCO) | 6 | 5 | Admirals Club (US$79 or 7,900 miles, when available); United Club (US$59); The Club MCO (2 lounges, US$63.90 including tax); Plaza Premium Lounge (price not published) | None confirmed |
| Airport | Lounge | Where | Day pass | Type | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPA | Admirals Club | Airside F, next to Gate F85 | Yes, US$79 or 7,900 miles a person, when available | Airline club | 13 |
| AUS | Admirals Club | Barbara Jordan Terminal, mezzanine, across from Gate 22 | Yes, US$79 or 7,900 miles a person, when available | Airline club | 14 |
| SAN | United Club | Terminal 2 West, mezzanine | Yes, US$59 a person | Airline club | 15 |
| SEA | The Club SEA (Concourse A) | Concourse A, across from gate A11 (Port page says near gate A12) | Yes, US$50, sold at the lounge within 6 hours of departure | Pay-in lounge | 10 |
| SEA | The Club SEA (Concourse S) | South Satellite (Concourse S), mezzanine above gate S10; lift next to gate S9 | Yes, US$60, sold at the lounge within 6 hours of departure | Pay-in lounge | 16 |
| SEA | United Club | Concourse A, near gate A9 | Yes, US$59 a person | Airline club | 15 |
| SEA | Alaska Lounge (Concourse C) | Concourse C, near gate C16A | Yes; price not published on a page that loaded | Airline club | 17 |
| SEA | Alaska Lounge (North Satellite) | North Satellite (Concourse N), mezzanine above gate N15 | Yes; price not published on a page that loaded | Airline club | 17 |
| SEA | Alaska Lounge (Concourse D) | Concourse D, near gate D1 | Yes; price not published on a page that loaded | Airline club | 17 |
| BNA | Admirals Club | Concourse C, mezzanine (aa.com: between gates C14 and C16; the airport: near gate C12) | Yes, US$79 or 7,900 miles a person, when available | Airline club | 18 |
| MCO | Admirals Club | Terminal B, Airside 3 (Gates 30 to 59) | Yes, US$79 or 7,900 miles a person, when available | Airline club | 19 |
| MCO | United Club | Terminal B, Airside 3 (Gates 30 to 59) | Yes, US$59 a person | Airline club | 20 |
| MCO | The Club MCO (Gates 1 to 29) | Terminal A, Airside 1, Gates 1 to 29, next to XpresSpa | Yes, US$63.90 including tax, bought ahead; walk-in within 6 hours of departure if there is space | Pay-in lounge | 21 |
| MCO | The Club MCO (Gates 70 to 99) | Terminal B, Airside 4, Gates 70 to 99, near Gate 91 | Yes, US$63.90 including tax | Pay-in lounge | 5 |
| MCO | Plaza Premium Lounge | Terminal C, Level 2 overlooking Palm Court, next to Gate 241 (Gates C230 to C245) | Yes; price not published on a page that loaded | Pay-in lounge | 22 |
Each airport page lists every lounge, spa, quiet room and hotel, with hours and access rules: Tampa loungesAustin loungesSan Diego loungesSeattle loungesDetroit loungesNashville loungesOrlando lounges
Amex Platinum, Venture X and Sapphire Reserve open different doors
- American Express Platinum: the Centurion Lounge within 3 hours of departure 6, 10 Delta Sky Club visits a year on Delta flights 4, and a Priority Pass membership after enrolment.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve: 15 Sky Club visits a year and the Centurion Lounge. 4 6
- Capital One Venture X: Capital One Lounges free, guests US$45. 3 None of the seven airports here has a Capital One Lounge.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Chase Sapphire Lounges with two guests free 8. San Diego has the only one among these airports.
- Priority Pass from any card: The Club, Plaza Premium, Aspire and the Lufthansa lounge at Detroit, plus spa and gaming swaps. 9
Card rules change often. The credit card trip delay pages cover what the same cards pay in cash after a delay.
Six insurers in the dataset pay their delay benefit as lounge access
These policies turn a delay into a lounge pass, most of them for a flight you register in advance. Two are sold in the US; the others are UK, Irish and Hong Kong policies. 23
| Insurer | Market | Product | Lounge benefit and trigger | Cause tested | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection | US | ExactCare Extra, Flight Departure Delay | A fixed US$50 for a departure delay of more than 120 minutes. The policy says the payment may be delivered as lounge or Wi-Fi access up to the same limit. | No list of causes in the wording read | 24 |
| Faye | US | Domestic and International plans | The plan schedule lists flight delay lounge access at 180 minutes. Trip delay cash starts at 6 hours. | Common carrier delay named; foreseeable events excluded | 25 |
| Saga | UK | Standard and Plus | Delayed Flight Assistance: free LoungeKey lounge access for a registered flight, after 2 hours (Standard) or 1 hour (Plus), or a cash alternative. | Delayed departure has no list of causes | 26 |
| Holiday Extras | UK | Flight delay cover | Lounge access or £25 a person after more than 2 hours, if the flight was registered 12 hours ahead. | Qualifying criteria apply | 27 |
| Cover-More Europe and Multitrip.com | Ireland | Super and Super Plus; Multitrip Premier and Premier Plus | A registered flight delayed 3 hours triggers a lounge pass or €30 a traveller automatically. | Cause not tested (natural disasters excepted in the Multitrip wording) | 28 |
| MSIG | Hong Kong | Easy Lounge with iTravel Go | Lounge access for the insured and up to five companions after a 60-minute delay, on a flight registered at least 24 hours ahead. | Whatever the reason | 29 |
From the policy documents and insurer pages in the site's cover table. Compare every insurer and card on the main page or the trip delay insurance guide.
Nashville has the only sleep suites after security among the seven airports
Minute Suites rents private rooms inside security at 10 US airports, Nashville among them. It charges by the hour with a one-hour minimum, and the overnight rate is for 8 hours between 9pm and 8am. 12 Nashville's suites, near gate D3, open 4am to 10pm and take no overnight stays. 30
Hotels at the terminal sit before security. Orlando's Hyatt Regency sells a Day Stay from 10am to 6pm, and Tampa's Marriott sells day-use rooms from 10am to 4pm; neither page publishes a price. Detroit's Westin has its own checkpoint into McNamara Concourse A.
San Diego does not allow overnight stays in its gate areas, and travellers return to the public side after the last arrivals. Detroit says at least one McNamara checkpoint runs 24 hours. The other airports publish no rule on sleeping in the terminal.
No reliable report described lounges during the 13 November ground stop
The FAA stopped departures nationwide from 3:54pm to 8:15pm ET on 13 November 2026, 4 hours 21 minutes. 31 The site's record of that day holds no figure about lounges, and a search of airline, lounge network and major news pages found no report of crowding, closures or extended hours.
Under Delta's and Capital One's rules, a traveller booked on a 6pm departure who entered from 3pm could stay through the delay, for as long as the club stayed open. 4 3
Lounge networks show crowding only inside members' apps
- American Express: a digital waitlist in the Amex app for eligible card members. The code does not guarantee entry. 32
- Capital One: live capacity and a waitlist in the Capital One app. 3
- Delta: Sky Club occupancy in the Fly Delta app, refreshed every 10 minutes. 33
- Priority Pass: pre-booking at some lounges, with no busy indicator found. 9
None of them publishes occupancy on the open web, so no page can show you which lounge has room right now. Check your app, then have a second option ready.
Questions travellers ask about lounges during delays
Can I get into an airport lounge if my flight is delayed?
Only with access you already hold or a pass the lounge still sells. Delta and Capital One say a delay does not affect access if you enter within 3 hours of the original departure time. Every network says entry depends on space, and lounges fill during mass delays.
Can you still buy a Delta Sky Club day pass?
No. Delta says sales of Single Visit Passes have been discontinued. Amex Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders who have used their yearly visits can buy extra visits at US$50.
How much is an Admirals Club day pass?
American lists the One-Day Pass at US$79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles a person, when available. You need a same-day boarding pass on American or a oneworld airline, and American says passes may not be redeemable at its busiest clubs in peak season.
How much is a United Club day pass?
United's listing gives a one-time pass at US$59 a person, with a same-day United or Star Alliance boarding pass. San Diego airport says these passes are subject to space.
Does Priority Pass guarantee entry?
No. Priority Pass's conditions of use say membership does not guarantee access and is subject to capacity restrictions. Pre-booking does not guarantee entry either.
Does travel insurance pay for a lounge when my flight is delayed?
A few policies do. Berkshire Hathaway's ExactCare Extra may pay its US$50 delay benefit as lounge or Wi-Fi access, and Faye lists lounge access at 180 minutes. In the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong, Saga, Holiday Extras, Cover-More Europe and MSIG pay a lounge pass on a registered delayed flight.
Where can I sleep at the airport during a long delay?
Minute Suites rents private rooms after security by the hour at 10 US airports, Nashville among them. Orlando's Hyatt and Tampa's Marriott sell day-use rooms before security. San Diego does not allow overnight stays in its gate areas.
Is there an app that shows how busy a lounge is?
Only for members. Amex runs a digital waitlist, Capital One shows live capacity and a waitlist, and Delta shows Sky Club occupancy in its app. None of them publishes this on the open web.
If your flight is cancelled, the refund matters more than the lounge
You can ask for a full cash refund of the fare, taxes and fees if the airline cancels or significantly delays your flight and you choose not to travel. 34
Every figure links to its source
34 sources
Numbers in boxes point to this list. "Checked at source" means the original page was read. "Reported elsewhere" means the figure was reported via another outlet or a partial read and should be checked against the original before reuse. Full sourcing for the 13 November record is on the methodology and sources page.
- 1 American Airlines, Admirals Club membership and One-Day Pass page Reported elsewhere
- 2 United Airlines, United Club access page Reported elsewhere
- 3 Capital One, airport lounges Checked at source
- 4 Delta Air Lines, Delta Sky Club access rules Checked at source
- 5 Airport Dimensions (The Club): The Club MCO (Gates 70 to 99) (theclubairportlounges.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Checked at source
- 6 American Express, Centurion Lounge network rules Checked at source
- 7 Alaska Airlines, Alaska Lounge day pass page Reported elsewhere
- 8 Chase, Sapphire Lounge by The Club Checked at source
- 9 Priority Pass conditions of use Checked at source
- 10 The Club (Airport Dimensions): The Club SEA (Concourse A) (theclubairportlounges.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Checked at source
- 11 Escape Lounges, access options Checked at source
- 12 Minute Suites, frequently asked questions Checked at source
- 13 American Airlines: Admirals Club (aa.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Reported elsewhere
- 14 American Airlines: Admirals Club (aa.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Reported elsewhere
- 15 United Airlines: United Club (united.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Reported elsewhere
- 16 The Club (Airport Dimensions): The Club SEA (Concourse S) (theclubairportlounges.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Checked at source
- 17 Alaska Airlines: Alaska Lounge (Concourse C) (alaskaair.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Reported elsewhere
- 18 American Airlines: Admirals Club (aa.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Reported elsewhere
- 19 American Airlines: Admirals Club (aa.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Reported elsewhere
- 20 United Airlines: United Club (united.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Reported elsewhere
- 21 Airport Dimensions (The Club): The Club MCO (Gates 1 to 29) (theclubairportlounges.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Checked at source
- 22 Plaza Premium Group: Plaza Premium Lounge (prioritypass.com), checked 15 Nov 2026 Checked at source
- 23 Travel insurance cover table (data.json coverage, 15 November 2026) Checked at source
- 24 Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, ExactCare Extra and AirCare (fixed flight delay payments) wording Checked at source
- 25 Faye, Domestic plan policy document Checked at source
- 26 Saga, Standard and Plus policy book (10 December 2025) Checked at source
- 27 Holiday Extras Checked at source
- 28 ITIJ Checked at source
- 29 MSIG Hong Kong Checked at source
- 30 Minute Suites, Nashville location Checked at source
- 31 FAA command centre advisory 111 Checked at source
- 32 American Express, Centurion Lounge digital waitlist Checked at source
- 33 Delta News Hub, Fly Delta app features Reported elsewhere
- 34 US refund rule, 14 CFR Part 260 (eCFR) Checked at source