Delta just doubled the size of its Philadelphia Sky Club

Philadelphia is not Delta’s main business area. It’s a stronghold for American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines operates fairly limited flights from the airport – with flights to several of its own hubs.

For that reason, you wouldn’t expect the airline to operate a sprawling, flagship-worthy airport lounge like the 34,000-square-foot behemoth it opened at its Salt Lake City hub late last year.

No, the airline’s Sky Club at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has long been low-key, offering little more than off-base: food, drinks and a place to relax.

But it just got a nice facelift – and it’s bigger.

Delta Air Lines Philadelphia Sky Club renovation

Just before the holidays, Delta Air Lines quietly completed a massive expansion of its Philadelphia outpost.

The D-Concourse Sky Club, which previously could only accommodate 75 guests, can now accommodate 144 guests, which means the capacity has almost doubled.

Crews have been working on the expansion since last summer, which includes a brand new room filled with seating, TV screens and work space.

In addition to this new, wider space, the airline has also made cosmetic and functional upgrades throughout the space.

RELATED: How to gain access to Delta Sky Clubs, including through elite status and credit card

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You’ll find new seats (many with USB-C charging ports) and carpeting for a more modern look.

Delta has also remodeled its buffet area to accommodate a larger “backstage” food preparation area, which the airline says will allow it to offer a more extensive menu.

The beverage station has a new look and features a new and improved espresso machine.

The Sky Club’s five bathrooms also received significant renovations.

Additionally, there are some thoughtful aesthetic touches, like neat Philadelphia-centric artwork scattered throughout the space.

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Sean Cudahy/Scoring Expert

Not comparable to Delta’s upper echelon of clubs

Now, to be clear: These changes certainly don’t bring this Sky Club anywhere near the upper echelons of Delta’s lounge network, which is undoubtedly the best in the airline industry.

The club still doesn’t have the signature bar you find in most airlines’ top lounges. Its size alone is a far cry from Delta’s vast outposts in key markets.

Read more: First look at Delta Sky Club in Charlotte, American Airlines’ bastion hub

However, if you’re a Delta passenger passing through Philadelphia and looking for a bite to eat and drink, this should do the trick – and there should be a lot more room to relax than there was a few weeks ago.

This is helpful as the airline prepares to add a new nonstop flight from PHL to its Seattle hub later this year.

“We created a space with more seats, a more intuitive layout and regionally inspired art to bring the character of the city into the lounge experience,” Claude Roussel, Delta’s vice president of Sky Club and lounge experiences, said in a statement Friday.

Philadelphia lounge wars heat up

As for Philadelphia, the airport is certainly home to an increasingly competitive lounge scene.

Chase opened a beautiful new Sapphire Lounge in Terminal D last year. Last summer, American Airlines opened a new flagship lounge and Admirals Club in Terminal A West.

Delta passengers with the right American Express credit card in their wallet may still prefer the Centurion Lounge in Terminal A West, depending on how much time they have before departure.

But the expanded Sky Club (located in Terminal D) will provide travelers with substantial access to Delta’s PHL gates and provide a viable alternative if wait times at Centurion are too long.

Delta Sky Club Philadelphia: What you need to know

The outpost is open Sunday through Friday from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Closes one hour earlier on Saturdays, 5:30 p.m.

The debut of Delta’s Philadelphia Sky Club expansion comes as the airline on Friday announced plans to build its first lounge in Las Vegas and expand its two Florida outposts in Tampa and Jacksonville.

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