“No Perks” To Congress As Delta Suspends Their Specialty Travel Services

Delta Air Lines has temporarily suspended specialty travel services and VIP perks for members of Congress as of March 24, 2026. The decision is a direct response to the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees working without pay.

Lawmakers previously received specialized assistance that allowed them to bypass the typical travel experience. Suspended services include:

Expedited Security: The ability to skip standard TSA security lines and undergo screening in separate, less crowded areas.Personal "Red Coat" escort services through terminals to their gates.

Access to a dedicated desk for last-minute flight changes and exclusive government booking rates. Members of Congress will now be treated like any other passenger. Their boarding priority and airport experience will be based solely on their individual SkyMiles loyalty status rather than their elected office.

The Capital Desk, a dedicated flight reservation line, remains open for now. Resource Constraints: Delta cited the impact on resources caused by the shutdown and prioritized taking care of regular customers and its own staff.

Wait times at major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) and Houston (IAH) have reached four to nine hours due to TSA staffing shortages.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian called the shutdown "inexcusable" and "unacceptable," joining other aviation leaders in urging Congress to fund the TSA.

Legislative Alignment: The move follows a unanimous Senate vote on a bill introduced by Sen. John Cornyn to permanently end preferential TSA treatment for lawmakers.