As of December 2022, American Express will formally have a couple of its popular Centurion Lounges in Australia.
In this post:
Amex lounges in Australia getting upgraded
American Express operates two airport lounges in Australia, in Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD). While American Express is known for its Centurion Lounges, the Australia lounges haven’t historically been named that. Rather they’ve just been known as American Express Lounges, as is the case with several of Amex’s lounges abroad. This reflects that they don’t offer the same amenities you’d find at Centurion Lounges.
That will soon be changing. We’ve known for well over a year that the Amex Lounges in Melbourne and Sydney would be rebranded as Centurion Lounges at some point, and that will finally be happening shortly. The two lounges will be closed from November 21 to December 1, 2022. This closure is happening so that Amex can “carry out rebranding touches to the premises.”
While these aren’t new lounges, this marks the continued growth of the Amex Centurion Lounge network outside of the United States, as we see more consistency in terms of branding (though not necessarily in terms of experience).
How will Amex’s Australia lounges change?
American Express hasn’t revealed all that much about what we should expect with these changes. The fact that the lounges are closed for less than two weeks suggests that any updates won’t be too major. Obviously we’ll see changes to the branding, and that has even been stated explicitly.
Beyond that, what has historically set Centurion Lounges apart from other airport lounges is the selection of hot food, and wider selection of alcoholic drinks, including cocktails.
Up until now, Amex Lounges in Australia haven’t had a particularly impressive food and drink selection, perhaps aside from the barista made coffee (which I’d love to see at Centurion Lounges in the United States, by the way). They’ve been more in line with what you’d typically find in a Priority Pass Lounge, rather than what you’d expect from a premium lounge. I would guess that the major difference we’ll see is a significantly improved food & drink selection.
As far as the sizes go, the Amex Lounge Melbourne is around 2,800 square feet, so it’s on the small side. Meanwhile the Amex Lounge Sydney is 6,500 square feet. Fortunately there shouldn’t be any changes to entry requirements, as Amex Platinum cardmembers get access to Centurion Lounges.
Bottom line
The existing American Express Lounges in Melbourne and Sydney will be rebranded as Centurion Lounges as of December 2022. The lounges will be closed for around 10 days prior to this change, and I expect we’ll see a significantly improved food & drink selection, which should be a treat for travelers.
What do you make of the new Amex Centurion Lounges coming to Australia?
I'll be using both of them in January - I just hope they're better than the pretty weak offerings in LHR and LAX
The thing is that, by rebranding them Centurion Lounges, many non-Platinum cardholders may lose out on lounge access. Some Amex cards in Australia offers 2 one-time passes to the existing Amex Lounges annually, and I don't know if they'll become void or not, since lounges stateside doesn't take those such one-time passes.
Was going to say, the one that makes it a not like other Centurion lounges is that Amex will still be allowing a great number of domestic Australian cardholders access.
"The AMEX spokesperson noted that despite the Centurion rebranding, the Sydney and Melbourne lounges will still welcome the same broad swath of American Express cardholders as before, confirming “who will be able to enter the lounges won’t change.”
Access to international Centurion Lounges is typically...
Was going to say, the one that makes it a not like other Centurion lounges is that Amex will still be allowing a great number of domestic Australian cardholders access.
"The AMEX spokesperson noted that despite the Centurion rebranding, the Sydney and Melbourne lounges will still welcome the same broad swath of American Express cardholders as before, confirming “who will be able to enter the lounges won’t change.”
Access to international Centurion Lounges is typically reserved for travellers holding the card company’s most exclusive cards.
On the local front, entry is provided with a flash of your AMEX-issued Platinum card while a broader set of American Express Explorer and partner cards from Qantas, Virgin Australia Velocity, Air New Zealand and David Jones – includes two free visits per year. "
Yawn. The world's crappiest, most overcrowded lounges now coming to infect Australia... Definitely understand it is news fit to print, so not criticizing the article. But I have lots of AMEX Platinum cards and have no intention of ever setting foot in a Centurion lounge again. Shame on AMEX for continuing to perpetuate such an awful product.
Most of my travel to date has been on OW carriers, so I'm all set with the QF lounges in SYD and MEL, but as I cast my travel more broadly these lounges will be a welcome addition when my ticket or other status doesn't afford me lounge access.
73 days until the no free guest policy kicks in at Centurion lounges.
Can’t wait for both less crowding, and the Twitter/blog/message board melt down!
Curious why a centurion lounge isnt being planned for Tokyo, Singapore or Seoul........these are the places to be seen in the far east today.
Next up Mexico City….one can hope
Already seeing reports of overcrowding. :-)
hi Ben.
Not entirely correct.
The Sydney AmEx lounge has recently moved to a much larger space with a much better food and drink offering. It may be in preparation for the switch - I can't say.
So the upgraded service is already there I would think
It is most definitely better than many of the American Express lounges I have seen overseas, and a lot less crowded.
Wait, when did it move? We were there in late October of this year and I'm curious if it's moved since then. The space had low ceilings and only one tiny bit of windows to the outside so it a very basement feel to it.