Delta is making big changes to who can access its popular Sky Club airport lounges

Frequent fliers of Delta will no longer be able to access the Sky Club lounge.

On Wednesday, the Atlanta-based carrier announced a number of changes to its Sky Club, including increasing fees, removing access from some travelers, and only allowing members to purchase a membership.

Sky Club memberships will only be sold by Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members. Fees will increase as well.

• Individual: The former price was $545 or 54,500 miles, but will increase to $695 or 69,500 miles.
• Executive, which includes guests: The former price was $845 or 84,500 miles, but will increase to $1495 or 149,500 miles.

Effective February 2, those buying an executive membership will see a higher fee for each guest, increasing from $39 per person per location to $50, according to Delta.

The lounge has been changed to restrict those that can access it. Sky Club members flying on a basic economy ticket, as well as Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members flying internationally in Delta's Main Cabin or Comfort+ can no longer access the Sky Club.

Delta says that access can be granted through other means, like having an American Express credit card. The fee for American Express cards to bring a guest has gone up.

Sky Club memberships will no longer be available via Choice Benefits, and Diamond Medallion members will have to spend three Choice Benefit selections for executive Sky Club memberships.

Since anyone can purchase a Sky Club membership, these are big changes for the airline. Travelers were frustrated by the lack of empty seats in the lounges and long lines.

The goal is to balance the popularity of the Clubs with the premium service and atmosphere for which they were designed.

According to CNBC, the airline has made efforts to reduce crowds, like adding concierges to certain clubs, limiting access to only three hours before departure, and reporting lounge busyness to travelers in Atlanta and Detroit as "not busy"

At New York's LaGuardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, and Tokyo's Haneda Airport, Delta has opened a new Sky Club.