Delta Air Lines this week opened its holiday military lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
It's the 50th year Atlanta-based Delta has operated a lounge for military over the holidays. The lounge on Concourse E near gate E14 is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until Jan. 5 to active and retired members of the military and their families flying on any airline.
While there is a USO lounge in the pre-security domestic terminal atrium at Hartsfield-Jackson, the Delta lounge is convenient for members of the military connecting between flights in Atlanta, who are on the secure concourses.
The airline last year relocated the military lounge from a smaller room on Concourse B to a larger room on Concourse E to accommodate bigger crowds. Some of the busiest days are expected to be Dec. 18 and 20, when troops from Fort Benning will be traveling to go on leave for the holidays.
“I think it’s important for them because they spend a lot of time away from their families,” said Phil Reinemer, a former Army helicopter pilot who was traveling through Atlanta to visit his daughter in Rochester, Minn. when he stopped into the lounge with his wife Marilyn on Thursday.
The lounge has snacks and beverages, a children’s section, a simulated fireplace sitting area and video games.
Chick-fil-A donates sandwiches once a week, and Delta employees, retirees and family members drop off donated baked goods and food for the lounge. Delta TechOps, the airline’s maintenance operation, donated $2,000 for the military lounge this year.
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