SkyClub
Here I am at SFO. This was a familiar place last year, where I departed on flights totaling around 90,000 miles. These trips took me to more international destinations in one year than I had ever been in any year prior, and I'm not even including Canada. A total of 3 countries outside the US- the UK, Philippines, and China. All places I had never been before. All places I knew I would visit sometime in my future. Who knew they'd all happen in 2009, a year that will probably be looked back on as a more negative than positive period in history.
During all those trips however, I never stepped foot in the SFO Delta SkyClub, a club I am free to visit because of my Amex Delta Reserve Card. I'm not going to tell you if the card is worth it ($495/year), but if you have the option of visiting the SkyClub, it's a great way to spend your stay at the airport. For some reason, I had low expectations of the SFO club. Perhaps it's because the Delta terminal at SFO is a second-rate terminal. United has a great terminal, obviously, but even Virgin America is moving to the currently-being-renovated Terminal 2, which should be pretty slick when it's done. The Delta terminal is this hob-bob of old gates with shiny "high-tech" gate numbers, unfamiliar chain stores, and some smoothie place at the very end. So, you can see why my expectations for SFO SkyClub were low...
Well, I'm happy to say, my expectations are exceeded. Don't get me wrong. This place is not the Tokyo SkyClub, which served sushi and variety of other snacks and drinks, but it is clean and has a wide variety of drinks. Plus, it's got decent Internet access, which is what I'm using right now. The only other unusual thing abou this SkyClub is it's outside the terminal, before you go through security... Maybe that's the only way it can stay away from the ugliness that is Terminal 2, Delta.
If you get a chance, check it out, grab a drink, and use the private restrooms before that long flight.
