Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)

The issue - at most airports where Centurion Lounges are, you can find either a domestic airline club or another club accessible by card that is better. So the statement that they are better than "domestic airline lounges" isn't accurate.

LAX - SkyClub is better
SEA - SkyClub is better
DFW - CapOne Lounge is better
LGA - Admirals Club, believe it or not, is better
JFK - Virgin Clubhouse is better
PHX - SkyClub is better

etc...

Ben, you're not quite correct on the opening.

The lounge actually DID open for about a week in March 2020. It was uncrowded (unsurprisingly), with servers serving the food to you wearing gloves, but no masks. Was definitely a bit of a strange feeling.

It then closed because of the pandemic, and did not reopen at this location until now because of the issues you mentioned. But it WAS open in March 2020 on schedule.

How would you rank LAX lounges? Flying Qatar and trying to decide if AA Flagship, Oneworld, or Centurion is best option

Get to the airport early and go to the AA Flagship Lounge first. Spend most of your time there. Then, head over to the TBIT. You'll pass the entrance to the Amex lounge. Pop in for a general feeling of the place. Then, head to the OneWorld lounge (up the escalator). Pop in for a general feeling of the place. After your visits, report back here. My sense is that you will enjoy the AA Flagship Lounge most.

While the Amex lounge at LAX initially opened in early 2020, backing out the permit review and construction timeline, it was likely designed in late 2018 or early 2019. Roughly four years ago. And, I would offer that the design is that of a traditional, standard issue, one each airport lounge that we were used to seeing. If we look at the airline lounges that are just opening now, such as the new SkyClubs and the soon to be opened Admiral Club/Flagship Lounge redesigns, it's a whole different ball game. To me, there seems to have been a fundamental shift in look and feel. While complaints about the airlines abound, what they are doing with their lounges is a welcome plus for travel experience. Lounge operators, such as Amex, will need to rethink their approach to lounge design if they want to stay competitive.

Agreed. Referencing my prior comment regarding a new approach to airline lounge design, I think Amex will need to rethink the look and feel of its lounges.

Regarding availability, the same goes for Priority Pass. I can't remember the last time I ever used one.

This lounge was packed when I was there and I agree the lack of sunlight and odd design made it feel stuffy. Hoping the card changes on 2/23 help with crowding. People act like vultures who’ve never seen food before LOL

As Yogi Berra (reportedly) said, "No one goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

Can you access this lounge via terminal 3? Delta operates from this terminal

To call their bulked up spritz concoction “Venetian” is criminal. No self-respecting Venetian would be caught dead with that mess. Why not just offer the original non-bitter recipe made with Aperol? Always amazed at the arrogance of celeb chefs that believe their special signature touches improve the original product.

The airside connection is under construction. Some DL flights depart from TBIT and customers are presently bussed over. You then have to walk back down the concourse to the great hall and up to the lounge level. You would have to ensure sufficient time then. Will de much easier once the connector is open.

Cant wait for the no guest rule to be implemented. 9 times out of 10 i am traveling solo for work and cant wait till the lounges have space again, gonna feel like 2015 when they first came out and you actually got good service at these lounges!

As soon as they remove the guest entry these lounges will return to the top. Cant wait for next year!

I am also wondering if we can connect from terminal 3. If you can connect from Terminal 4, then T3 also should connect to Tom Bradley because T3 and T4 are in the same building facing north and south.
By the Delta Sky Club at T3 is pretty good.

Does flying Qatar get you access to Flagship or OneWorld First?

If yes, then definitely check out the Flagship dining facility but otherwise, my opinion (contrary to Lee) is this order:
1. OneWorld/Qantas First Lounge
2. AA Flagship First Lounge
3. OneWorld Business Lounge
4. AAdmirals Club

I'd personally just park at Qantas First the entire time. Great food and ambiance and you're in the correct terminal for departure.

Problem with your assessment for LAX is that it's not really easy to pick either SkyClub or Centurion as the connector isn't built yet (I think, please correct me if I'm wrong!) and even if it was, the Centurion Lounge is on the opposite side of TBIT from Delta. So for all intents and purposes, if you're flying domestic, you'll go to the SkyClub, and if you're flying internationally then it's easier to go to Centurion.

I think Amex picked this spot to appeal most to AA flyers because it's only a 5min walk for them.

Does anyone know what happened to the lounge above Korean's space? That seemed like it could've been a much better location for this Centurion Lounge. The dungeon like space isn't super appealing with it's white walls and office lights. Wish they would've gone with a muted and calming aesthetic a la CX The Pier.

I would respectful beg to differ on that. The Amex lounges are small, that's my foremost complaint, they get crowded quickly and feel cramped. However, as far as catering and beverages, I don't think we're comparing apples to apples, the domestic lounges you are referring to (Admirals, SkyClub) do not offer anywhere near the variety and quality of food that is offered in Centurion lounges. Admittedly there is room for improvement, but I would strongly disagree the assertion that the food and beverages offered say at the Admirals Club at LGA is superior, it just simply is not.

I'm a fan of the overall amex lounge initiative, but this centurion lounge is sad, sad, sad. The whole thing feels subterranean. It's not just the lack of natural light, it's the relatively small spaces, some of which have low ceilings....and then there is is the overcrowding issue. Such a shame because the reception folks were so proactive and welcoming and the food and drink seemed passable (but not great). Made an immediate u-turn and headed to the alliance lounge spaces. In my opinion the Centurion Lounge at TBIT doesn't even rise to the level of an average domestic airline lounge. Truly a disappointment.

I'm always a little baffled at the 'natural light' complaints about TBIT. I have a thousand complaints about LAX (mostly outside security, a few inside); for me, this would be the lowest on the list.

T7 to T6 is not underground, rather the airside path it is above the T6/T7 checkin areas

Interesting how positive you are, Ben. I visited a month ago and would give it a 2 or a 3 at most. Horrible lack of natural light, weird layout, absolutely rammed in the main section with only the hightop seats, uninspiring food for an evening meal. Very disappointed overall. Was flying Virgin Upper Class so after trying Amex out I went to the Star Alliance lounge. Food still poor there but much more spacious and fantastic outdoor terrace - overall a much better lounge. I visited LHR T3 Amex Lounge on this trip too and was pretty disappointed by it too, again zero natural light and pretty limited food selection.

Totally agree, Liam - just how I felt too. Was a bit surprised how positive this review was vs my experience!

2nd JayKay. The food in the general lounges in no way, no way, comparable to Amex. Polaris is comparable, but not the normal united lounge for instance

This lounge, with its maze of oddly small rooms, feels like it was converted from an old dentist's office. As such, you will find yourself awkwardly walking around in circles trying to find anything that you're looking for. Overall, it feels like it has half of the square footage than it actually does.

I visited the basement CL seven times before it closed. When they switched to the boxed meals and Pellegrino I was still okay with it. The only way past the boxed food was to ask and be escorted to the restrooms.

Once the *A lounge opened back up, I canceled my AP card.
Both of the *A lounges have outdoor patios with natural light and less CO2 than the old dungeon CL.

This review is so unlike my experience in this lounge around noon. It was so jam packed we were lucky to find seats at that conference table. I'm not even sure why they put that in every lounge?! There's no way someone says "let's have a business meeting here." The layout is so poor with awkward pinch points every 10-15' and the food was barely edible. Amongst other things I had a cup of gumbo, and I guess it was what a California person's idea of a gumbo would be. And they were strictly enforcing the ridiculous "one alcoholic drink per person" rule, which is such a nuisance. If you're a party of two and both want a drink, you either both go at the same time and immediately lose your seats, or you go one at a time with each having to wait in line at separate times.

When we left it was so crowded they weren't even letting people get in the elevator to go down to the lounge.

Take my ranking with a grain of salt, as Ben has vastly more lounge experience than I do, but it is not clear to me that the AMEX Centurion lounge is worse for all travellers than the OneWorld Business lounge. Ben visited before the hot offerings were out. I think the quality of the food and drinks (excluding coffee) is significantly higher at AMEX than OneWorld. Both were serving chicken dishes at the time, so it was easy to compare the quality of ingredients and the care of the preparation (much higher at AMEX). So if you’re there to eat or drink, then I’d take AMEX. Plus, if you’re lucky and early, you can get spa treatments at AMEX. I agree that the lounge layout at the AMEX lounge is weird though and all things considered prefer the layout and aesthetics of the OneWorld Business Lounge. Maybe start with a bite to eat with AMEX and then rest in the OneWorld lounge?

The “Venice Spritz” is named after Venice Beach in LAX, keeping with AMEX’s flair for local touches. Also you can still order an aperol spritz there. They have a full bar so putting a basic cocktail on the specialty cocktail list makes zero sense.