New Amex Centurion Lounge Opening Dates Delayed

New Amex Centurion Lounge Opening Dates Delayed

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One of the things that people love about American Express‘ premium credit cards is that they offer access to Amex Centurion Lounges, which are among the best lounges you’ll find at US airports. They’ve historically featured complimentary cocktails, hot food, and a couple of them even have spas.

Unfortunately Centurion Lounges are closed at the moment, and for that matter I expect they will feature modified service when they reopen.

Amex has already opened three new Centurion Lounges in 2020, and there are a further three that are set to open this year. However, the opening dates of these lounges have now officially been delayed, so let’s take an updated look at what we should expect.

Who Can Access Amex Centurion Lounges

There are a few ways to access Amex Centurion Lounges:

In all cases, Centurion Lounge access is limited to three hours before departure. The exception is if you’re connecting, in which case you can access the lounge earlier (should your connection be more than three hours).

On top of that, those with the Amex Centurion Card can access Centurion Lounges, and they can use the lounges on departure or arrival, with no time limit.

Current Amex Centurion Lounge Locations

Amex’s network of Centurion Lounges has grown significantly in the past few years, with a dozen locations. At this point, there are Centurion Lounges in Charlotte, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Three of those opened in early 2020 — the Phoenix Centurion Lounge opened in January, the Charlotte Centurion Lounge opened in February, and the Los Angeles Centurion Lounge opened in March.

Note that there are also some other Amex Lounges, especially at international airports, though these aren’t technically Centurion Lounges.

Amex Centurion Lounge Miami

New Amex Centurion Lounge Locations Coming

There are three additional American Express Centurion Lounges that are in the pipeline, expected to open in 2020.

Amex is generally tight-lipped about when they’ll actually open these lounges. They usually announce the lounges in advance, but then don’t provide many details about the timeline until a particular lounge is close to opening.

As of now, Centurion Lounges are officially in the pipeline for the following airports:

  • Denver
  • London Heathrow
  • New York JFK

When should we expect these new lounges to open?

Amex Centurion Lounge London Heathrow Opening Date

The Amex Centurion Lounge London Heathrow is now scheduled to open in the second half of 2020, while previously the lounge was supposed to open in the first half of 2020.

The lounge will be located in Terminal 3, and is expected to be about 7,000 square feet, so it will be quite small.

Amex Centurion Lounge New York JFK Opening Date

The Amex Centurion Lounge New York JFK is now scheduled to open in the second half of 2020, while previously the lounge was supposed to open in the first half of 2020.

The lounge will be located in Terminal 4, and will be two levels, with a total of about 15,000 square feet, making it one of Amex’s biggest Centurion Lounges.

Centurion Lounge JFK rendering

Amex Centurion Lounge Denver Opening Date

The Amex Centurion Lounge Denver is now scheduled to open in the second half of 2020, while previously we had just heard that it would open at some point in 2020.

The lounge will be located in Concourse C, and it’s expected to be nearly 15,000 square feet.

Amex Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Renovation Schedule

Just last week we learned that the Amex Centurion Lounge Las Vegas is being expanded, and that work is due to be complete in 2021.

The lounge will be increased in size by about 50%, from 9,000 square feet to roughly 13,400 square feet. While the lounge won’t be getting a spa, it will feature additional multi-purposes areas, new private telephone rooms, newly designed reception, and workspace areas.

New Centurion Lounge Opening Summary

Amex has already opened three new Centurion Lounges in 2020, and plans to open a further three this year. Previously at least two of those lounges were due to open in the first half of 2020, but not surprisingly that has been delayed.

It remains to be seen when exactly in the second half of 2020 these lounges will open, though I wouldn’t hold my breath, and wouldn’t be surprised if the opening dates get pushed back further.

Which of these new Centurion Lounges are you most excited about? Where else would you most like to see Centurion Lounges?

Conversations (50)
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  1. JD New Member

    Any update on Denver ?

  2. Andrew Diamond

    @M.O. - just noticed your comment. Agreed, it's nice to have instant noodles there. If only I could smuggle them out (ready to eat) and take them to unattended gates in TB. ;^D

  3. Andrew Diamond

    Amex seems to be sucking at everything they try? That credit for cell phones? Not on Google Fi. That credit for streaming? Not on Google Music. That airline fee credit? Hahaha, you could never use it anyways - they killed gift cards last year.

    So all you get is lounge access, which in our 'new normal' is the last place I want to be. (Buffets are dead, ask Souplantation and Las Vegas.) I'm definitely not renewing.

  4. david Member

    Sounds like I am lucky to be in Houston as Centurion always have space at IAH

    Staff very friendly and remember you from before.

    Even though I only use 2 or 3 times yearly - when can use the 35% points back on Biz card it is bargain

    I already have lifetime United and American club access - so Delta with Amex gives the hat trick!

  5. Anita Guest

    Thanks for info. At SFO there is no entry to the Centurion Lounge on arrival. Departure only. Has this changed?

  6. BZW Guest

    I'm never going to fly enough to get status so access to DL lounges (one in every terminal) thru atlanta is worth it to me. Plus i use the baggage credit and buy junk at dell. works for me. maybe i'll start buying plane tickets too.

  7. Jiaogulan Guest

    @Vanessa

    That has to be the case. ATL is not the most important airport in the world, but still ... to not have a Centurion by now, or one publicly pending, would have to mean this.

  8. Warrenb Guest

    Now that us Delta Reserve holders have gained this great "benefit" of access to the CL...can someone...anyone...let me know if there's even one of them that is accessible to Delta gates? I usually travel solo for biz so I promise I won't add to the overcrowding!

  9. Arthur Pia Member

    Early flights, get a seat. Simple. No worries. We'll Worth it.

  10. Uvaaviator Guest

    I fly through DFW and MIA regularly and have always found seating at both Centurion lounges. MIA is much improved since the expansion. In my opinion the food is the best at MIA and service is great at DFW. I haven't been to any of the lounges on the West Coast.

  11. Randy Diamond

    AmEX Lounges are now putting you are on a wait list when you check in and they text you when your turn to enter arrives. You have 10 minutes to show. This whole process takes lots of time with lines waiting to be added to the wait list.

    I have experience this at LAS and SEA lounges. Makes the use of the lounges questionable.
    At LAS - say 20 minute wait in line...

    AmEX Lounges are now putting you are on a wait list when you check in and they text you when your turn to enter arrives. You have 10 minutes to show. This whole process takes lots of time with lines waiting to be added to the wait list.

    I have experience this at LAS and SEA lounges. Makes the use of the lounges questionable.
    At LAS - say 20 minute wait in line just to get to counter to be added to the wait list, then another 15 minutes or so, then another wait (different line) to be check in. So could take you 45 minutes or more to get in the club. Is that worth it - for Chicken Thighs and grits?

  12. Lukas Member

    @Alex
    As someone living in Stockholm, I use that lounge pretty often, and I don’t believe they brand it as a Centurion lounge - they just have some Centurion and Platinum signs on the walls (for some reason).
    As you said, it’s small but has very nice a la carte dining and generally good service. The food is waaaay better than any other lounge at ARN, including SAS Gold and Business.

  13. Icarus Guest

    I’m sure the LAX one will open in the next few months
    I also wonder which lounges will be located in the midfield concourse which is due to open this year. I believe there’s space for three or four
    The Korean Lounge is needs a refurb / redesign - even Air France redirects first class passengers to the Qantas lounge

  14. Wanderdata Guest

    The Denver lounge will be obliterated as soon as it opens - it will be like a scene from World War Z. There's no Priority Pass option anymore at DIA, the current airline lounges are poor, and Denver has thousands of people in The Hobby hungering for those FREE boneless chicken thighs.

    Also, being located in Concourse C will make it difficult for anyone departing from other concourses. If you're on one of the Big...

    The Denver lounge will be obliterated as soon as it opens - it will be like a scene from World War Z. There's no Priority Pass option anymore at DIA, the current airline lounges are poor, and Denver has thousands of people in The Hobby hungering for those FREE boneless chicken thighs.

    Also, being located in Concourse C will make it difficult for anyone departing from other concourses. If you're on one of the Big 3, bake in an additional 30-45 mins of walking and train time depending on concourse (in addition to your waitlist time). It will be interesting times for those who try to access that Centurion Lounge.

  15. NK3 Guest

    JDub & tda--agree that one in ORD would be great. Though given that ORD has no Priority Pass options (outside the international terminal), I feel like if they were to open one, it would always be at capacity, even if it was 20K sq ft.

    DaKine: agree that most of their current lounges are at UA/AA hubs. SEA is a Delta hub (and the location is near the Delta gates), but it is usually at...

    JDub & tda--agree that one in ORD would be great. Though given that ORD has no Priority Pass options (outside the international terminal), I feel like if they were to open one, it would always be at capacity, even if it was 20K sq ft.

    DaKine: agree that most of their current lounges are at UA/AA hubs. SEA is a Delta hub (and the location is near the Delta gates), but it is usually at capacity and they try to direct me towards the Delta lounge most times I go. The new JFK and LHR lounges will be in the Delta terminals, and the LAX one is at TBIT, so not really UA/AA focused. Honestly, though, as a Delta flyer, I get the card mainly for Sky Club access; Centurion access, when I get it, is a bonus.

  16. Quest Fanning Member

    I'm really disappointed about the continual slipping of the opening date for the JFK lounge.
    Back in 2018 (it think it was early in the year) they announced it would open "early" 2019. Then as winter approached spring 2019 (without further clearification) it still wasn't open. I've checked with customer service multiple times "I've got a flight coming up.." on such& such date, nothing more clear. Then it was changed to "early" 2020. By...

    I'm really disappointed about the continual slipping of the opening date for the JFK lounge.
    Back in 2018 (it think it was early in the year) they announced it would open "early" 2019. Then as winter approached spring 2019 (without further clearification) it still wasn't open. I've checked with customer service multiple times "I've got a flight coming up.." on such& such date, nothing more clear. Then it was changed to "early" 2020. By this point I'd expect them to have a target date or month or at least be admitting it won't be on-time with the second estimate.

  17. Fraser Guest

    I'm flying through CLT on Monday evening so will report back on the new location.

    Having used the Centurion lounges at HKG, DFW and MIA where the airline provided options (Flagship Lounges and The PIer First Class) this is the only one I'm excited for. The others have all been horribly busy.

  18. John Guest

    These aren't dates. These are approximations. That's like Hyatt saying Andaz Palm Springs is opening "Sometime before the Apocolypse"

  19. EC2 Gold

    The LAX and JFK are good as they are points for a lot of international departures.

    I agree with Robert and the other comments regarding ORD. Biggest black hole for lounges.

  20. Robin Guest

    Total waste of time. You can't ever get into these lounges. Okay, fine, once out of the last 5 tries. *Once*. That's disgusting. What the hell am I paying for??

    AmEx platinum card is a HORRIBLE card, and AmEx is a TERRIBLE company to do business with, with horrendous customer service.

    Chase all day, every day.

  21. David Guest

    When are they opening one in Newark?

  22. vanessa Guest

    I heard they will not put one in ATL due to their relationship with Delta and not wanting to compete in their space. Can anyone confirm?

  23. Jeffrey Flores Guest

    Is there any lounge that I can use for AMEX platinum holder flying from LAX to Philippines via Philippine Airlines? Thanks

  24. Mathias Guest

    I think they should consider more Centurion Lounges in Europe, e.g. in Frankfurt or Dusseldorf (as you can use LH Business Class Lounges in FRA but not in DUS).

  25. RT Guest

    What information leads you to believe that LAX Centurion will not be open until the end of 2020?

    The lawa.org construction updates state "A future AMEX Centurion Lounge is under construction through early 2020"

  26. M.O. Guest

    Andrew, the only nice thing about the KAL lounge at LAX is that they carry decent quality instant noodles.

  27. TAA Guest

    Anyone who says the card costs $550 a year has never done simple math. Very worth it for SkyClub access alone for those who don't get SkyClub access from other sources. The Centurion lounges are just an added bonus.

  28. Jo Guest

    Good. I may be moving to PHX. They had a sad little PP lounge there once when I was there.

  29. USBusinessTraveller Guest

    "Seems like AMEX is very American/OneWorld oriented, almost all their hubs."

    AMEX is very Delta oriented, as DL is their US airline partner. But they have that covered in the US by offering access to Sky Clubs when flying DL. So their own lounges will tend to be at other airlines' hubs to attract non-DL fliers (like me). That's why , for example, the LHR lounge is targeted for T3. There's already Plaza Premium air...

    "Seems like AMEX is very American/OneWorld oriented, almost all their hubs."

    AMEX is very Delta oriented, as DL is their US airline partner. But they have that covered in the US by offering access to Sky Clubs when flying DL. So their own lounges will tend to be at other airlines' hubs to attract non-DL fliers (like me). That's why , for example, the LHR lounge is targeted for T3. There's already Plaza Premium air side at the other terminals which offers AMEX access ahead of Priority Pass (T3 only has a PP Arrivals lounge). And as AMEX Plat doesn't get access to the Virgin Clubhouse (even when flying DL or VS) it kills two birds with one stone by benefiting both DL and AA/1W fliers.

    As a UA flier who refuses to get the UA Club card, I'm most excited about DEN. That will leave just ORD and EWR as places not to be stuck on a long domestic layover. And if push comes to shove I can buy a United Club one time pass and get a statement credit (though I'd get less wifi credit).

  30. Andrew Diamond

    They really should have completed these lounge builds before cutting restaurant access. I'm not waiting another year for them to get their crap in order at LAX.

    "There's always the Alaska lounge," said no-one ever. And don't get me started on the KAL lounge at LAX. It's like the DMV of lounges.

  31. Kurt Guest

    Hi, late 2020 @LAX? what may I ask are you basing your estimate off of? thx

  32. Alex Guest

    I was in Stockholm a couple of weeks ago. The AMEX lounge there is branded as a Centurion lounge, at least according to the sign on the wall. It's quite small but the service was great.

  33. Losingtrader Member

    Need to charge for entry and or raise card price. I'd happily pay $995 but i suspect so would a lot of people in SFO. Add an entry fee of some kind would seem to limit people who think AMEX should be in business to lose money

  34. ScottB Guest

    My last 2 tries, at DFW and SFO, were failures. No seat left in the house. The crowding renders this benefit almost useless.

  35. DaKine Member

    Seems like AMEX is very American/OneWorld oriented, almost all their hubs.

    SEA needs better food. But generally I get good value out of them.

  36. Shza Gold

    @Jo - flew out of SFO last Thursday and experienced for the first time a lounge employee standing by the entrance downstairs and taking names and numbers for a waitlist because they were at full capacity. Quoted a 20-30 minute wait and my flight was boarding in 40 minutes so I just left. Hopefully that doesn’t become a regular thing.

  37. M Guest

    @ Robert, I’ve wondered the same thing about ORD, not sure perhaps they feel the costs at ORD will be too high?

  38. BlankSheet Guest

    So CVG is building an Escape Lounge that honors AMEX cards. Should that be on this list?

  39. Jkjkjk Guest

    They missed the deadline on almost about everything. Those who complained about crowded lounge, so what? Its in fact only $50 up to this year when gift card doesn’t work no more and with all fhr benefits I’ve been getting card is definitely worthwhile.
    Most of my travel is in apac region and hence FHR is more than affordable and in fact provide way more service and facilities for the same price or brand paid in overrated europe and americas.

  40. Robert Guest

    How can they not have a lounge at ORD? No Priority Pass and no Centurion for domestic flyers at all.

    Not sure they are targeting UA/AA flyers by ignoring the busiest airport in the US and UAs biggest hubs.

  41. Leonard Guest

    As a Centurian cardholder, the only lounge I have ever liked was the one in Dallas. My home airport is Philadelphia, the lounge is always busy and the food not so exciting. I rarely go to this lounge. In Hong Kong give me the Cathay Lounge any day over the Amex Centurian lounge.

  42. Jo Guest

    Would love to see a Centurion lounge at DTW. Loved it when I was based in SFO and would stop by the lounge every time. Sure, they get crowded, but I've never had an issue finding a seat and the food is significantly better than any other domestic lounge.

  43. Henry Becker Guest

    $550 for a glorified/overcrowded lounge access card

  44. George Guest

    Clearly Amex is going after UA and AA flyers. Wish we could get a Centurion Lounge at a DL hub.

  45. Robert F Guest

    Good update. I fly to Denver quite a bit and I'd previously read that the Denver Centurion lounge was going to open in 2019. I feel like I've read middle 2019? Anyway, end of 2020 lowers the Platinum value a bit. On the other hand, it's hard to step away from 5X membership rewards points when you're booking lots of travel.

    When I see that any lounge is packed, I turn around and head for...

    Good update. I fly to Denver quite a bit and I'd previously read that the Denver Centurion lounge was going to open in 2019. I feel like I've read middle 2019? Anyway, end of 2020 lowers the Platinum value a bit. On the other hand, it's hard to step away from 5X membership rewards points when you're booking lots of travel.

    When I see that any lounge is packed, I turn around and head for a Vino Volo or some other place where $20 gets me a fab glass of wine and friendly service, albeit without privacy and power.

  46. Bgriff Diamond

    The JFK lounge probably has the most risk of date slippage of any of these, since it requires building an entire new addition to the terminal building rather than just fitting out existing space.

  47. JGT Guest

    Already reading reports of overcrowding at these new clubs. Bahahaha. Keep that in mind before you ante up for the shilled AmEx Platinum card.

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JD New Member

Any update on Denver ?

0
Andrew Diamond

@M.O. - just noticed your comment. Agreed, it's nice to have instant noodles there. If only I could smuggle them out (ready to eat) and take them to unattended gates in TB. ;^D

0
Andrew Diamond

Amex seems to be sucking at everything they try? That credit for cell phones? Not on Google Fi. That credit for streaming? Not on Google Music. That airline fee credit? Hahaha, you could never use it anyways - they killed gift cards last year. So all you get is lounge access, which in our 'new normal' is the last place I want to be. (Buffets are dead, ask Souplantation and Las Vegas.) I'm definitely not renewing.

0
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