Amex Limits Centurion Lounge Access…Again

October 3, 2017

Anya Kartashova

Just several months ago, American Express began limiting the number of guests that cardholders can bring to The Centurion Lounge with them, and the card issuer has introduced another way of limiting access.

As of Oct. 2, access to Amex’s exclusive network of lounges is limited to The Platinum Card and the Centurion Card members only. Other American Express card members no longer can access the lounge network by purchasing a day pass, which used to cost $50.

The new change does not affect the existing guesting policy. Platinum members can invite up to two guests into the lounge for free, no matter if they’re family or not. Centurion members can bring in up to two guests or immediate family members. Passes for additional guests will remain available to either card members at $50 per person.

Travelers can find The Centurion Lounge at the following airports across the United States: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Miami International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. Amex is constructing two more—in Philadelphia and in Hong Kong.

The reason these lounges are so popular is that they offer high-quality food and amenities, including massages, to cardholders. Also, they are more exclusive and scarce than other domestic lounges, which is part of their appeal.

American Express keeps addressing overcrowding concerns while introducing new access policies. However, I’m interested to know how many people who carry Amex cards other than Platinum or Centurion actually pay $50 to enter the lounge and whether the new policy will help control the capacity.

Do you think the new policy will help alleviate the crowds inside The Centurion Lounges? Please share your thoughts below.

[Image: thecenturionlounge.com]

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Gaijinsan

I did use the SFO one once on the $50 day pass, but I had a long layover. I arrived internationally on JAL and flew out on UA, so would not have had free access to the UA Club or *G lounges as usual, made the $50 worth it on that one visit. That was when the lounge was brand new and there weren’t more than 20 people in there during my stay.

Unfortunately in Japan, Platinum is invite only and the annual fee is outrageous. I spend about $250,000 a year with Amex Japan but have never received a Platinum invite, it’s possible though that you have to have the standard Gold card which I don’t.

JR_Rider

That’s crazy. 250k a year in the US is approaching a Centurion card level.
Emil

You should call them and say “what’s up with that?”

Gaijinsan

The annual fee is so high I wouldn’t take it anyway. It’s purely a status symbol, the benefits of the Platinum card (from Amex Japan) don’t come anywhere near the price charged.

DrSamHerman – Dr Deplorado

WHOA….with that spend they should offer you the “black card”!

kirkwoodj

HKG lounge is already open

JR_Rider

Nice!!

Arthur

I hope it does help with the overcrowding. Both DFW and SFO were very crowded when I visited in the last month. At least I could get something good to eat and drink, but have had to hover to claim a seat. I’ve never had occasion to purchase a pass.
Lordkent

Great News,

Miami at weekends with Leisure Card Holders, Spouse and numerous Children plus stuffed Stuffed Winnie The Poos and Occasional Shamus has become a Joke. I recently did a quick turn around and walked out and went to The renovated nearby Admirals Club for a seat and some Peace and Quiet. Also the Miami Food IMHO was never up to DFW Standards.

JR_Rider

The newly renovated Admirals Club at MIA looks nice but lacks almost the most basic ammenities. They charge you for anything other than rail liquor and the complimentary snacks are a joke.

AA EXP

Shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the supply and demand curves. When demand exceeds supply you raise prices. You don’t stop supplying.

If you have too many paid guests at $50, increase the paid guest price to $75. If DFW is choked with $75 paid guests, make it $100 there, $75 at LAS, and $120 at SFO if that is what the market will bear.

hyperzulu

They did just that, though. They practically raised the price of admission to $550 a year, the cost of an Amex Platinum card.

Joseph 6

You can get the Ameriprise platinum for free for a year. So the price for admission for a year is actually negative dollars when you figure you get 400 dollars worth of travel credits and other things.

yetis911

Being as Amex has the data on who is entering the clubs and how they entered ( centurion, platininim or paid), I am going to guess that it likely will have a desired impact. People will pay at times the club has peak demand ( lots of delays or heavy volume)…
Rob

It was dificult to fine a seat the last time we flew. It was the first time we experienced an unusual packed lounge.
Olivier D’Archambeau

Since there are so many Platinum members around, I’m not sure that It will help a lot to restrict the lounge access for paying gold members. Asking an entrance fee (even small) for Platinum members will probably help better!
I suppose that I was lucky a few weeks ago. Used the LAS lounge on arrival and departure and it was almost empty. I liked the reserved seats for Centurion members and the Veuve Cliquot champagne…

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