It’s a big day for Amex Centurion Lounges, as new access restrictions are being put in place. I’m mighty curious if these changes will make a difference, so I’m hoping OMAAT readers can chime in below with their experiences visiting these lounges.
In this post:
Are Centurion Lounges now less crowded?
Amex Centurion Lounges have been wildly popular for years. They’re known for their nice decor, good hot food, wide variety of drinks, and extra amenities, like shower suites and spas. While lounge crowding has become a more common issue across the board in the past couple of years, Amex Centurion Lounges have had consistent crowding issues long before that, given the number of people who want to use them.
Over the years, Amex tried to implement all kinds of policies to help with crowding, ranging from limiting when you can access these lounges, to no longer selling access to non-eligible Amex cardmembers, to adding limits on family access.
However, no change has been as drastic as what we’re seeing now. As of February 1, 2023, those with the Amex Platinum Card can no longer bring guests into Centurion Lounges unless they spend at least $75,000 per year on the card. Those not eligible to bring complimentary guests will now need to pay $50 per guest (or $30 for guests under 18).
There’s no denying that this is the most significant measure Amex has taken so far to control Centurion Lounge crowding. The big question is whether it will work.
So that’s where I’m hoping OMAAT readers can chime in. If you visit a Centurion Lounge in the coming days:
- Are you noticing any crowding changes compared to before the policy was put in place? Is crowding the same, marginally better, or much better?
- Are you noticing a lot of confusion among people checking in about the new policy? Are people confused about the rule, and/or confused about whether they spent $75K on the card in the year? Are people actually paying to bring in guests?
- How exactly are the front desk agents at Centurion Lounges approaching this? If you come with guests, do they immediately ask if you’ve spent $75K on the card, or do they just not saying anything, scan your card, and then verify eligibility?
My prediction on Amex Centurion Lounge crowding
This is purely speculation on my part, but my guess is that this new policy change will mildly help with crowding. I don’t think Amex Centurion Lounges will suddenly be an oasis of calm, but I think they might not be quite as slammed during peak periods. In other words, I’d guess crowding will be reducing by maybe 5-10%, and not by 50%.
What’s my logic? Not to generalize too much, but broadly speaking:
- A large part of the Amex Platinum consumer base is people who have had the card for decades, who consider it to be prestigious, and who use their Amex Platinum to pay for everything, with little regard for the rewards structure; most of these people probably meet the $75K spending requirement
- These changes will mostly impact more of the internet savvy people who try to maximize credit card rewards, and have the Amex Platinum primarily for the perks; however, since these people are more likely to learn about maximizing credit card rewards, they may already have authorized users on the Amex Platinum, which is a way to get around this
- I think the biggest change we’ll see is fewer families with young children, but that wasn’t exactly a large percentage of Centurion Lounge guests before
- There are some people who haven’t visited Amex Centurion Lounges much (despite having access) due to crowding, so it’s possible some of those cardmembers will be checking out these lounges again, to see how things have changed
Anyway, that’s my best guess as of now, though I’m curious to hear some reports from those actually visiting lounges in the coming days.
Amex’s app has a useful Centurion Lounge crowding tracker, so it’s interesting to take a look at that this morning. Looking at the East Coast Centurion Lounges as of 7AM, the Centurion Lounges New York LaGuardia and Philadelphia are “almost full,” the Centurion Lounge Miami is “very busy,” and the Centurion Lounge New York JFK is “a little busy.”
That’s not exactly very encouraging when it comes to there being material changes, especially on a Wednesday morning in early February (hardly a peak travel period).
Bottom line
Amex has instituted its most drastic measure yet to limit crowding at Centurion Lounges. Amex Platinum cardmembers can no longer bring guests into Centurion Lounges unless they spend at least $75K per year on the card.
Crowding was an issue at Amex Centurion Lounges, so this was a sensible change, in my opinion. The big question is how big of a difference this will make.
If you’ve visited an Amex Centurion Lounge since the new access restrictions were put in place, what did you notice? What are you predicting in terms of the changes to crowding?
Amex can keep tightening the collar... but it's asinine that they don't seem to realize that everybody has at least 3 other cards to pull out of their wallet that offer Priority Passes.
It didn’t help. It’s still a nightmare at Denver. Consistently overcrowded. I’m switching to Capital one venture X.
I was just passing thru DFW from London , on my way home to Santa Fe. I have useed the C. lounge in the international terminal for years. The crowding situation has only gotten worse! I could barely find an empty sit and when I left there was a line downstairs at elevator entrance. I have never seen that before. Sadly, membership had it's perks, but not louge use.
The lounges are a joke. It's too accessible. Something ceases to be prestigious when anyone can get in. It's full of families of six with their stupid kids destroying the atmosphere. Cheerios all over the floor, food is cold, no where to sit. I'm thinking of cancelling my platinum card I have had for 20 yrs. I wish we could post pics here but right now in Vegas (2pm on Friday), there are 47 people in line to get in.
Not worth it. We spend close to 1m annually on our card (business) and cross the airport to show up to the lounge and it's like fighting for a lifeboat on the titanic to get in. Especially LAX and MIA... They are over stuffing these lounges to the point they can't control the food service or clean up. People sitting on the floor, filthy bathrooms, etc... This is no longer a perk...
DFW centurion lounge: Haven’t been able to get in due to line to get in. Been this way for months. Today, straight in, not as crowded but Sunday morning?
SFO on Sat 2/4 7:30-8am. No crowding, plenty of open space. But this probably has more to do with the expanded capacity after the remodel
Just canceled my Amex-Plat after 10 years. Centurion clubs too busy. I already have AX-Delta Reserve and Citibank AA card that allows access to their clubs. Why pay $695
I was in the Seattle lounge a few weeks ago. It was small and overcrowded. There was a line and it was difficult for the agents to find a seat for me. The food and drink area did not appear crowded. I think much like with Delta it is about who has access. I wonder if the agents can see how much you spent on the card for the year when you check in and how a year is calculated (12 months or January start).
I think the majority of people who are overcrowding these so called luxury lounges are the points and miles people and not regular run of the mill travelers.
At the Las Vegas Club on Friday at 10am and the line to get in is at least thirty people deep, not even in the door yet and not moving. These are the moments when you consider whether it is a perk or a torture.
Every time I come to Vegas (6-10 times a year) on business, the Lounge is PACKED and yes, the line is 30 folks deep.
Just went by on 22Mar2023 at 11a
American Express lounge, On January 26 11am Las Vegas, at least 20 people in line awaiting entry, full. The Club lounge was not full and quite nice, can be accessed by priority pass or pay for a day pass. Yes please.
Just tried the Philadelphia lounge at 230pm on Feb 2nd. There was a 15 minute wait to get in and may six people in front of me. Maybe this location is too small. I was here in January at 6am there was no wait list
Was at LAX Centurion Lounge yesterday between 2-3 pm. It was very quiet. Lots of seating available. It may have been more to do with it being a Wednesday afternoon.
What a money grab! Been a card member for over 20yrs so now if your traveling with your wife or loved one you either get another platinum card or pay the $50. So grab another card membership or pony up $50 just sounds tacky.i can see limiting the 2 extra guest and the half dozen kids but for some people 70k is alot to spend for some
Denver (2/1/23 during 12:30pm - 2:45pm): no discernible difference, just as busy as previously. Very short-staffed in the dining area, all tables occupied, slow to clean tables after guest leaves. Quality of food declining, but the bar remains good.
$50 does nothing and here's my rationale: anyone who has spent any time at a just about any airport (especially major ones, like where the Centurion Lounges are located) knows pricing for F&B is insane. If I have anything longer than 1 hour to kill before boarding, I will gladly pay $50 for my guest, knowing I can eat and drink my way through that $50 with ease. It will be substantially more expensive to...
$50 does nothing and here's my rationale: anyone who has spent any time at a just about any airport (especially major ones, like where the Centurion Lounges are located) knows pricing for F&B is insane. If I have anything longer than 1 hour to kill before boarding, I will gladly pay $50 for my guest, knowing I can eat and drink my way through that $50 with ease. It will be substantially more expensive to eat and drink somewhere else in the terminal. If they want a real change, make it a very expensive guest fee.
I guess your calculus depends on just how much F&B one consumes.
@pstm91,
Whether it prevents you from bringing guests is irrelevant.
It will prevent some people, some of the time,
Some people don't drink alcohol. some people are not overweight and don't want to be. It would be very difficult for me to eat $50 worth of food. Me and wife could easily split a $25 airport restaurant meal and both be full.
I think we’ll see many instances where people will just cough up the $50 to guest in their spouse or friend. And $30 for their kids. I don’t think this will have any real tangible effects, other than line Amex’s pockets further.
Visited the Centurion in MIA this evening, around 5 pm, and it was as horribly over packed as ever. Tons of big families made me wonder if they didn't enforce the new policy today.
It was so horrible that I scarfed down some food and went to the Admirals Club. The food and drink in the AC are inferior for sure, but honestly the seating arrangements are more spread out and more comfortable than Centurions....
Visited the Centurion in MIA this evening, around 5 pm, and it was as horribly over packed as ever. Tons of big families made me wonder if they didn't enforce the new policy today.
It was so horrible that I scarfed down some food and went to the Admirals Club. The food and drink in the AC are inferior for sure, but honestly the seating arrangements are more spread out and more comfortable than Centurions. It's a sad state when overall I'm leaning toward going to the AC instead of Centurion.
Tons of big families from the USA, with children above age 2?
I wonder how all those school age children were out of school on February 2.
You think idiot American parents give a shit about having their kids in school? I was in the casino last night and a couple had a baby in a stroller and 2 4 year olds at 1am playing blackjack
I think the elephant in the room is AMEX getting a bit greedy much like other loyalty programs have done. Seems as if they've lowered the bar for qualification and just hiked the annual fee. I frequently see college age kids pulling out platinum cards now. I can promise you when I was at university I wouldn't have qualified for a platinum card let alone an AMEX of any variety. My two cents.
Most countries have a minimum income for the platinum card. The Canadian amex platinum requires a minimum personal income of 100 000 CAD to apply. Not the case in the USA
There is no minim income requirements for any of the amex CAD cards
College kids will often be AUs. If you add a spouse as AU you still have free slots for your $175, so might as well add college age kid so they can access lounge heading to and from school, etc. But I’m guessing many or most don’t qualify on their own.
I would prefer they remove the chicken thigh(s) which, has become a centurion staple.
In a few instances, specifically for the LAS lounge, I found the app to be incorrect. It would always say "almost full" and that was not the case. Not sure how often it's updated.
I've noticed they've been very crowded lately with a lot of little kids crying in their strollers it's not what it used to be the food is not as good and I think they've switched their coffee in the espresso machines because the last 3 or 4 times I've been in there this month it's been horrible
My UK issued International Currency Card still shows Centurion lounge access with 2 free guests as a travel benefit in the AMEX ICC app. Is it only US card members who have been impacted by this policy change?
"Is it only US card members who have been impacted by this policy change?"
Correct.
Yes, not sure why non of the bloggers seem to mention this. Ben should know a decent percentage of his following is not American.
Same for the Platinum Card here in HK.
Just visited the Centurion Lounge at SFO around 10AM PDT. Very quiet and pleasant experience. Less than 1/3 full and truly felt like an oasis. It is my understanding that the check in system knows whether you've met the criteria for the $75K and can calculate if you owe any extra $$ for guests.
Excellent news!
I have been visiting and enjoining the Centurion Lounges worldwide for long time. However, this last month of January 2023 it was a complete nightmare. Last time was on 01/27/2023. I went to the Centurion Lounge in Miami Intl. Airport, and it was frustrating. It was packed, and despite I could came in, it wasn't a place for sitting, and the line for the food court was huge. So, again, it was a frustrating experience....
I have been visiting and enjoining the Centurion Lounges worldwide for long time. However, this last month of January 2023 it was a complete nightmare. Last time was on 01/27/2023. I went to the Centurion Lounge in Miami Intl. Airport, and it was frustrating. It was packed, and despite I could came in, it wasn't a place for sitting, and the line for the food court was huge. So, again, it was a frustrating experience. In the same way, last December, I visited Sao Paulo's Centurion Lounge and it was packed, and quite deteriorated, the food was not appealing at all, and service was rude. So, I am not quite sure if I will be visiting any of the Centurion Lounges any more.
I expect the $175 fee for additional cards for 3 to change to $175 for 1 soon…
I think it's a good move to limit groups, but they should allow 1 guest per card holder. I know you can add a card for 175$ but why jump through hoops or pay 50$. Make it reasonable 25$ first guest & 50$ after?
They are trying to limit the headcount in the lounges. They’re not trying to slightly make it easier for you to bring guests inside, unless you spend a lot on the card annually.
I made a comment on your earlier post. Seems like you have the same speculation. Children are not the problem for crowding, but families with children lose out on this policy. Oh well, many travelers hate on children so those people will be happy even though the crowding will still be bad.
I don't hate children.
I hate parents with misbehaved children.
I don't hate dogs or other pets.
I hate pet owners who reclassify them as ESA.
How could you hate a kid for being a kid.
Who would you blame, the kid with a loaded AR-15, or the parent who handed the kid a rifle.
The kid who shit everywhere and not potty trained, or the parent who didn't get the kid diapers, potty training, BUT LET THE KID LOOSE IN AN AIRLINE LOUNGE.
I fly 4-5 times a month and visit a lounge every time. I have yet to see these mysterious children who run rampant in a lounge. By contrast, 99.9% of the time, they're sitting down glued to their ipads/tablets watching something. The other 0.1%, they're reading a book.
I spoke to the CLT desk agents yesterday. They said they’re prepped, but that they’ve been seeing a decrease in volume since the beginning of the year. They thought that perhaps people might have thought it started on 1/1.
It’s definitely been busy at the CLT centurion lounge over the past few weeks, but I have seen less children, which I don’t know whether it’s because of the policy change, or just a lack...
I spoke to the CLT desk agents yesterday. They said they’re prepped, but that they’ve been seeing a decrease in volume since the beginning of the year. They thought that perhaps people might have thought it started on 1/1.
It’s definitely been busy at the CLT centurion lounge over the past few weeks, but I have seen less children, which I don’t know whether it’s because of the policy change, or just a lack of people flying with their kids.
Either way, I’m hoping for less crowding from now on!
"but I have seen less children, which I don’t know whether it’s because of the policy change, or just a lack of people flying with their kids."
School restarted 3+ weeks ago.
AMEX likely picked Feb 1 as a low child travel time to change the policy. President's Week/Weekend will be the first time a lot of kids are out of school and potentially in the air. I'll be traveling that week, and am looking forward to some parental melt downs in the Centurion lounge line.
I’m not an expert on lounge crowding but mid afternoon is when I notice the biggest crowds. It would be interesting to have feedback on that time of day and not just the morning crowd.
likely true since it coincides with transatlantic operations which means bigger banks of connections and larger aircraft including the international aircraft.
I have also seen large crowds during the first bank of flights at many hubs.
UPDATE: MIA seems as busy as ever.
SFO showing “a little busy” on the app. At this time of day it would typically be showing “almost full”.
Would love to hear more IRL reports.
Is this a bait post?
Or this is the middle finger to AMEX post.
Everyone including AMEX knows this isn't going to solve anything.
Bait taken.
If we spend more than 75.000 between
Personal card and business card
Can we have 2 guest ?
No. There must be $75k on the Platinum Card. Or, there must be $75k on the Business Platinum. If you have more than one of these cards, there has to be $75k on a single card. The policy applies to Escape Lounges as well as Centurion Lounges.
Where do you see that the policy applies to Escape Lounges?
From the horse's mouth today: https://escapelounges.com/us/access/
I may be pilloried for this but at least at DEN they have, according tonthe attemdants, a policy to let active military in. That's not going to be impacted.
The trackers are also a joke, as "Almost full" at DEN means you can get in and it's kind of full or they take your name and phone number and send you away to get a trxt when you can come in.
Yeah, I have found the trackers to be kind of useless when the highest level of crowdedness is "almost full." Doesn't tell you whether it's worth taking the hike to get to the lounge or not because, personally, I would never wait in line to get in.
DFW and CLT are overrun by active military guests. I don’t anticipate any lack of them in the future, nor of Amex doing anything to discourage this.
I'm former AD of 8 years and now a Reservist approaching 20 next year. I never took advantage of the waived Annual Fee option mainly because I didn't know about it and/or was too lazy to look into it. So I paid like everyone else despite being in uniform. And I say AmEx needs to 100% do away with any preference given to military. Blogs like this one are easily accessible and though most military...
I'm former AD of 8 years and now a Reservist approaching 20 next year. I never took advantage of the waived Annual Fee option mainly because I didn't know about it and/or was too lazy to look into it. So I paid like everyone else despite being in uniform. And I say AmEx needs to 100% do away with any preference given to military. Blogs like this one are easily accessible and though most military don't travel overly frequently, there are simply SO MANY members that have the card that even with infrequent use per servicemember there are still simply too many at any one time filling up the lounges with their dependapotamuses and their kids when on leave.
And there should absolutely be no free lounges for military simply for being military. Joining is something you sign up for willingly, it's not thrust upon anyone - at least not since Vietnam. I absolutely made a very specific decision to join and not only do I not feel the need to receive special consideration, I also hate being "thanked" for my service. It's awkward and nobody likes it because there's no non-weird way to respond PLUS I was paid for doing a job. AmEx needs to implement changes to this. It may not be the panacea we hope, but nothing will be...so every little bit helps the overall issue, and this is one area that needs to be rectified immediately.
AMEX made a business decision to go above and beyond their obligations under SCRA.
As for your rant about how military members don't deserve consideration because it's a voluntary force...thought experiment time: if service stops being attractive to the folks who're being recruited (or retained), Americans will get to enjoy the natural outcome of a recruiting crisis - military service will predictably return to being involuntary.
I appreciate that perspective. As a current fed and former local government employee, I find it super awkward to be thanked for my service and always wondered if military folks feel the same. I mostly get it from federal contractors and I end up feeling like what they're really saying is "thanks for taking a huge pay cut so that you can give us contracts where we make 3x what you make for less work."
Currently sitting at the CLT Centurion Lounge. I would estimate that it has about 1/3 less that it would normally during the morning hours.
AA has cancelled 25% of its system and WN is in the double digit cancellation percentages today and there are or will be ground stops in NYC today. While AA's cancellations and the near 2000 cxld flights across the country are largely due to icy weather in Texas, there are impacts throughout the rest of the country.
But wouldn’t that mean more crowded lounges as passengers could be stuck at CLT (which is a hub) as their onward flight is cancelled?
if alot of people never got started, then loads would be down.
Today is also the middle of the week in one of the lower demand periods of the year - but that ends in about 10 days.
At a lounge right now. Occupancy seems similar to any other day.
This simply shows that Amex is the primary reason for the overcrowding not just of their own lounges but also of Delta Sky Clubs. Amex gave out new cards like candy during the pandemic and they - like everyone else including the Federal Reserve - have been surprised at now durable alot of consumer spending has been. Even as signs grow of a weakening global economy, there is still a large and growing number of...
This simply shows that Amex is the primary reason for the overcrowding not just of their own lounges but also of Delta Sky Clubs. Amex gave out new cards like candy during the pandemic and they - like everyone else including the Federal Reserve - have been surprised at now durable alot of consumer spending has been. Even as signs grow of a weakening global economy, there is still a large and growing number of people that want a more "differentiated" travel experience and will hang on to premium credit cards that offer lounge access even as many Americans suffer under high food and energy prices.
My prediction: dialing back benefits won't help unless you remove entire groups of people from having club access; people will use the authorized user feature because it does make economic sense.
Competitive cards that are building new lounges will see some benefit from Amex' and Delta's cutbacks but there will be much more lounge capacity and users in 5 years than now.
Delta is the reason for overcrowding in DL lounges, not Amex.
Given that Delta has a partnership with Amex which pays Delta hundreds of millions of dollars per year for non-DL branded Amex cards, Delta's Sky Clubs could not be overcrowded if Amex did not issue the cards. There is nothing other than the Amex relationship that differentiates the volume of Sky Club visitors other than Amex.
And I still have yet to see the lines that others have seen at Sky Clubs. I have...
Given that Delta has a partnership with Amex which pays Delta hundreds of millions of dollars per year for non-DL branded Amex cards, Delta's Sky Clubs could not be overcrowded if Amex did not issue the cards. There is nothing other than the Amex relationship that differentiates the volume of Sky Club visitors other than Amex.
And I still have yet to see the lines that others have seen at Sky Clubs. I have seen them much longer and perhaps all of the groups that Delta has thrown out will reduce the crowding -but I am skeptical.
And Amex will still be paying Delta hundreds of millions of dollars per year and both will be trying to build as many new clubs as they can to keep the gravy train for both growing - which AA and UA which they had.
In the end, it was Delta's choice to allow Amex Platinum Card holders access. Delta wanted the money. So, yes, Delta is the reason its lounges are crowded. That being said, I've never been denied entry due to overcrowding.
Yes, Delta accepts Amex cards including non-DL branded Amex cards but Delta signed the agreement with Amex long before there was any indication of crowding.
The volume of cards exploded during the pandemic; Amex boosted revenue by massive signups. They knew a larger portion of their card spending is travel related and had to act during the pandemic.
Delta cannot now nor could they pull out of the Amex agreement or the parts...
Yes, Delta accepts Amex cards including non-DL branded Amex cards but Delta signed the agreement with Amex long before there was any indication of crowding.
The volume of cards exploded during the pandemic; Amex boosted revenue by massive signups. They knew a larger portion of their card spending is travel related and had to act during the pandemic.
Delta cannot now nor could they pull out of the Amex agreement or the parts of it without potentially facing billions in liabilities from Amex.
Delta's response was cutting off groups of its own passengers that it perceived as less valuable because it can't end or modify the Amex agreement.
The fact that Delta's and Amex' modifications of card policies themselves are fairly similar while Delta reduced groups of people that have access says that the root issue is Amex.
And it still comes down to that the relationship between Amex and Delta is hugely profitable for both, they will get the crowding issues under control in part by building new lounges, and AA and UA cannot duplicate what AX and DL have.
Unless they can build a whole lot more capacity, Amex will have to eventually start cutting off groups of people as Delta has done in order to make a difference. Given that airlines control more of their own space in their hubs than non-airline tenants means it will be harder for AX to build than it will be for the airlines themselves.
Agreed. But, Delta and Amex could mutually agree to amend the agreement. Not saying they will but that they could. Each would assess.
I don't understand why are you blaming Amex or Delta other than @Tim Dunn pulling a Tim Dunn.
Their partnership and access has been there for decades, even pre 9/11.
Amex didn't just grant access. Delta didn't just open it's first SkyClub.
Is Amex really giving out new cards like candy, or bloggers are reaching more people to apply for candies.
Amex and Delta is in the business to grow profits.
...
I don't understand why are you blaming Amex or Delta other than @Tim Dunn pulling a Tim Dunn.
Their partnership and access has been there for decades, even pre 9/11.
Amex didn't just grant access. Delta didn't just open it's first SkyClub.
Is Amex really giving out new cards like candy, or bloggers are reaching more people to apply for candies.
Amex and Delta is in the business to grow profits.
There is very little reason to cut benefit as long as business is growing.
To Amex people cancelling the card because of a crowded lounge make little difference than people who cancel because they don't live near an Equinox gym.
Why hold short of blaming the Federal Reserve.
Why does high food and energy prices have anything to do as long as you're getting more benefit than what you pay fees.
Problem seems to be the cardholders, not the card or the airline.
Why not blame everyone who promotes the card.
Why not blame family of having too many children who would grow up and each have a premium card of their own and have grandchildren that would have a card too.
Why not blame global warming, Tim Dunn logic would definitely find a connection.
Why not yourself of holding the card too?
SkyClub and Centurion lounges are full because of Tim Dunn, LOL there you go.
Philly always shows as almost full even when it’s nearly empty.
En route to MIA as I write this comment. I’ll try to remember to update once we’re inside the lounge. I suspect this will catch a lot of card holders and their guest off guard - even though it’s been coming for a while.
My thoughts: Crowding won't materially change unless a change is made to no longer let AUs have unlimited access.
Going forward, if someone wants access, get your own card and pony up the annual fee.
Hi Lucky,
You should clarify that this is only for AMEX Platinum member who have the U.S. registered card.
For international AMEX Platinum nothing has changed.