A Delta Sky Club crackdown and 11 other airline storylines we'll be watching in 2025

01.01.2025 - 17:33 / thepointsguy.com / Spirit Airlines / U.S.Airlines / Hawaiian Airlines

2024 was an eventful year in the U.S. airline industry. It started early when a door plug explosively separated from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft last January, renewing scrutiny of the U.S. plane-maker and ultimately fueling a shake-up of its leadership.

The year also brought us news of Southwest Airlines' shocking move away from open seating, the approval of Alaska's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines and a wave of new air travel consumer protections passed or proposed by the Biden administration — to say nothing of the industry's latest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

What do the skies have in store this year?

Here are some of the top U.S. airline storylines we'll be watching in 2025.

After passengers felt the sting of airfare amid the post-coronavirus pandemic rush back to travel, 2024 brought a nice change of pace for customers.

While fares remain stubbornly high in some markets, they finally moderated in others — particularly in cities like Orlando and Las Vegas, where airlines added so much capacity in recent years that the stiff competition forced fares down.

Discounted fares and unfilled seats on many routes cut into carriers' bottom lines. As a result, we saw a dramatic series of route cuts, from JetBlue to Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines.

Late in the year, several carriers noted the changes were working. While that's good news for their shareholders, it could fuel higher fares for passengers in the new year.

We'll be closely watching how airfare trends unfold in the coming months and what that means for spring and summer 2025 travel.

Read more: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare

It's been well over a year since we first reported on Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program overhaul, which included a crackdown on Delta Sky Club access as a way to stem overcrowding.

While the backlash that ensued in September 2023 may seem like a distant memory, some of Delta's toughest new lounge access rules still haven't gone into effect yet.

But they will soon.

Starting Feb. 1, Delta loyalists who earn Sky Club access via a cobranded American Express credit card will face annual limits on their lounge visits.

Cardmembers with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card will be limited to 15 Sky Club visits per calendar year.

Cardmembers with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express will be limited to 10 annual visits.

Note that all Sky Club visits made in a 24-hour period will count as one visit.

Delta hopes the changes will thin out the crowds in its popular airport clubs, but the start of these stricter policies will certainly