Minneapolis airport lounges: the best pick in Terminal 1
In Minneapolis-St Paul, the choice almost always starts with the same question: fly with Delta or not. The airline runs three lounges in the same terminal, but those arriving with United, with a premium card or with just Priority Pass still find solid alternatives, including a newcomer designed for gaming fans.
Delta runs three Sky Club lounges in the same terminal, and the choice between them depends above all on where your own gate is. The one in Concourse G is the newest and largest of the three, with a hot buffet of Midwestern cuisine and a full bar with craft beers; the one at the start of Concourse F opens before all the others, even though it currently has limited seating due to ongoing airport construction; the third, in Concourse C, remains the most convenient solution for those departing from the gate farthest from the other two.
Intersection between Concourse C and D, near the tram
Opened in 2026, it devotes about 56 of its 353 total square meters to a gaming area with 17 Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation and PC stations, plus a bar with a robotic bartender named Toni, backed up by human staff.
Hours
04:00-21:00
Entry with Priority Pass or paid for $70.
Hot food
Bar
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Admirals Club
Compared to the three Delta Sky Clubs and the United Club, it is the lounge with the least availability of direct connecting flights, given American's limited traffic at the airport.
Entry for Admirals Club members, American international business or first class passengers, oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members, and with a day pass for $79 (or 7,900 AAdvantage miles).
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Delta Sky Club
Entrance at the start of Concourse F
It's the one with the earliest opening, from 04:15, but it has limited seating due to airport construction work between September 2 and November 21, 2026.
Hours
04:15-22:15
Entry for Delta One and international premium passengers, Delta Sky Club members and eligible Amex cardholders.
Hot food
Bar
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Delta Sky Club
Concourse C, near gate C12
It covers the Concourse C area, the farthest from the airport's other two Delta lounges, concentrated in F and G.
Hours
06:00-22:00
Entry for Delta One and international premium passengers, Delta Sky Club members and eligible Amex cardholders.
Hot food
Bar
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Delta Sky Club
Concourse G, near gates 17-18
Among the airport's three Sky Clubs, it is the largest and newest, with a hot buffet of Midwestern cuisine and a full bar with craft beers.
Hours
06:00-22:00
Entry for Delta One and international premium passengers, Delta Sky Club members and eligible Amex cardholders.
Showers
Hot food
Bar
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Escape Lounge
North end of the Airport Mall, at the entrance to Concourse E, mezzanine level
It partners with local chef J.D. Fratzke of the Saint Dinette restaurant for a seasonal menu, served in a room with a panoramic view over the tarmac.
Hours
04:00-21:00
Free entry for American Express Platinum cardholders (with two guests) and Delta Reserve; paid 3-hour pass, $40 if purchased online in advance or $45 at the reception. Valid only for flights from Terminal 1.
Hot food
Bar
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United Club
Concourse E, between gates E6 and E8
The bar is self-service and the kitchen is limited to breakfast and light snacks, with no full hot meals.
Hours
05:00-18:45
Entry for United Club members, Polaris Business passengers, Star Alliance Gold members on international routes, and US military personnel in uniform or with travel orders.
Bar
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Those flying United will find their lounge in Concourse E, with a self-service bar and a kitchen limited to breakfast and light snacks, with no full hot meals. Those flying American instead have the Admirals Club available, although the airline's limited traffic at the airport translates into fewer direct connections comfortably reachable from the lounge itself.
For those with an Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve card, or who simply prefer a paid entry, the Escape Lounge at the entrance to Concourse E offers a seasonal menu created by a local chef and a room with a view over the tarmac. The airport's real novelty, though, is the Portal Lounge, reachable with Priority Pass: besides the bar and kitchen, it has a gaming zone with consoles and PC stations, run by a robotic bartender backed up by human staff.
Those with a very early morning flight will find the Concourse F Sky Club handy, the first to open among all of them; those with more time who prefer a proper meal can instead head to Concourse G, designed especially for those who want to stop for longer before boarding with something hot on the plate.
Those who need to choose based on the time they have would do well to also consider the distance from their own gate: the four airline lounges are spread across different concourses, while the Escape Lounge and Portal Lounge both remain close to the entrance of Concourse E, handy for those who don't want to walk too far before boarding and might want to try the gaming zone at a relaxed pace.
The practical rule in Minneapolis-St Paul is simple: those flying Delta should choose the Sky Club closest to their own gate, keeping in mind that the one in Concourse G offers more and the one in Concourse F opens earlier. Those flying United or American have a dedicated lounge but with more modest services, while those traveling with a premium card or a Priority Pass can choose between the curated atmosphere of the Escape Lounge and the gaming of the Portal Lounge, designed for those who want to spend the waiting time differently than usual.
