1st look: Inside Delta’s stunning new Sky Club in Kansas City

Inside Delta’s new Kansas City Sky Club

The Sky Club in Kansas City is located in the new central amenity core of the B gates and is open daily from 4:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Thanks to the gold-lined entrance wall and eye-catching chandelier, the entrance is nearly impossible to miss.

Better yet, the lounge is located just steps away from Delta’s gates, making it easy for anyone beginning or ending their journey in Kansas City to use the lounge.

The club itself is located on the upper level of the terminal, which requires ascending a level in one of the two dedicated elevators.

Once upstairs, two welcome desks and one self-entry kiosk will be waiting to greet you.

It’ll take just seconds to realize how visually appealing this lounge really is. Turn to your right, and you’ll find a small seating area before entering the main lounge area.

Some airlines would leave this small seating area empty or just fill it with drab furniture.

But Delta put a velvet-lined coach, three leather recliners, a beautiful gray and white throw rug and stylish wallpaper to really give off a luxurious first impression.

After passing this welcome zone, you’ll be in the main lounge area, which is designed in a rectangular shape, with a very long base and narrow sides.

Lining the base of this rectangle are floor-to-ceiling (tinted) windows that offer incredible views of the gate areas and air traffic control tower in the distance.

Throughout the lounge, you’ll find a variety of seating areas, ranging from couches to recliners to coworking tables to high-top workstations.

Though the 11,200-square-foot lounge is essentially one large rectangle, Delta did a fantastic job partitioning the spaces to make it feel larger than it really is.

The airline accomplished this by varying the furniture it put in different spaces and by adding privacy wings to many of the couches and chairs it installed.

Furthermore, the lounge’s central lighting fixture and large shared sofa do a great job of creating a sense of space.

That said, the lounge seats just about 200 passengers, so it’s definitely possible that it’ll be running at capacity during Delta’s busiest departure banks.

Aside from the furniture itself that gives off an opulent vibe, the airline’s locally-inspired art program made its way to this new Sky Club, which further enhances the visual appeal of the space.

My personal favorite artwork is the piece that’s hanging right near the entrance, a painting of Kansas City’s famous Western Auto Building, which coincidentally was first known as the Coca-Cola Building — the beverage company that Delta shares a hometown with.

That said, there are plenty of paintings throughout the lounge, so you’ll likely find your favorite one pretty quickly.

Delta’s Sky Clubs are no doubt the industry leader when it comes to culinary offerings, and this outpost is no exception.

There’s a single self-serve buffet and non-alcoholic beverage station located towards the back of the lounge.

While the food on offer was specially prepared for the media preview, it all looked quite tasty, and Roussel confirmed that it’ll resemble what the airline will offer when the lounge opens on Tuesday.

Just compare Delta’s beautifully designed cheese plate and charcuterie board to American’s cheese cubes, and it won’t take long to realize which airline’s catering I prefer.

You won’t find any “snack towers of sadness” here, either. Delta’s snacks are placed in glass jars with metal scoopers — much classier than the plastic towers that American and United have in many of their clubs.

Delta’s above-average catering isn’t just limited to the food. The airline’s premium bar in Kansas City will whip up a variety of complimentary and for-purchase drinks and cocktails.

I didn’t have a chance to try any of the concoctions, but I was impressed by how the bar itself looked — inviting and beautifully lit, and definitely one of the places I’d consider sitting the next time I pass through Kansas City.

While most of the lounge is arranged in a large rectangle, there is a small offshoot towards the center that’s home to the entertainment room.

This space is flanked by two high-top tables, along with some couches and recliners. The three large high-definition TVs are placed within a wall fixture that you might expect to find in a modern house in East Hampton, not an airport.

Meanwhile, the highlight for aviation enthusiasts will undoubtedly be the lounge’s not one, but two year-round Sky Decks — a first for any Delta lounge worldwide. You’ll find each of these open-air terraces flanking the north and south sides of the lounge.

The two Sky Decks are essentially carbon copies of each other, so I’d recommend just picking whichever one is less crowded (or has better aircraft traffic in sight.)

That said, these decks have tall tinted windows, so grabbing pictures through the glass won’t be that easy. To keep these terraces open year-round, Delta installed heaters and fans.

There are a bunch of all-weather seats available outside, but just note that most tables aren’t within an arm’s reach of power.

Speaking of connectivity, Delta did a great job (on the inside) at giving flyers easy access to power outlets and USB charging ports. Most seats feature two AC outlets, as well as two USB-A ports. The designated workstations also have newer USB-C charging ports, which are great for those looking to power the latest devices, like the new MacBook Air or iPad.

Fast and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the lounge, too.

Since Kansas City is an outstation with almost entirely originating traffic, Delta didn’t feel the need to install shower suites in the lounge. That said, there are two (stunning) restrooms in the lounge, one for men and another for women.

Each features a handful of stalls and washing stations that are stocked with Grown Alchemist amenities, along with some green sconces that add a tasteful pop of color to the restroom area.

Aside from the bathrooms, the lounge doesn’t boast any other amenities — no phone rooms, private cubicles or fireplaces here.

That said, the club excels at all of the basics that quickly make this space a well-above-average lounge that beats many of the airline’s older Sky Clubs.

While the physical design is beautiful, Roussel isn’t stopping there. His next big focus is on refining the service offered in the lounge.

“We are working very hard to really take service to the next level because it’s what makes every Sky Club guest feel like they’re the most important person in the lounge,” he told TPG. Roussel didn’t share any specifics, but he wants flyers to “remember special moments” in the Sky Club.

Bottom line

As surprising as it may seem, Delta’s brand-new Sky Club in Kansas City is one of its nicest worldwide.