Over the years, we’ve seen quite a bit of innovation when it comes to the credit card airport lounge landscape. While Amex Centurion Lounges were the first, arguably we’ve seen Capital One Lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounges raise the bar in recent years.
With that in mind, in July 2025, Amex made an interesting announcement about plans to introduce a new lounge concept, for those who are short on time. There’s now a major update, as the first of these lounges has just opened.
In this post:
Amex’s new lounge concept for those in a rush
Amex has just introduced a new lounge concept, known as Sidecar by the Centurion Lounge. The idea is that these are distinct lounge spaces at airports that already have Centurion Lounges, for those people who don’t have much time.
Sidecar by Centurion Lounge is only open to passengers with flights departing within 90 minutes, and it offers a speakeasy-inspired concept, with a small plate menu, cocktails, and more. So the idea is that it’s a more intimate and personalized experience than you’ll find at the typical Centurion Lounge.
The first of these lounges has just opened at Las Vegas Airport (LAS), as of March 4, 2026. It’s truly boutique, as it has seating for just 33 people. It’s open daily from 8AM until 10PM, and it’s located in Concourse D, near gate D1.
The space’s design is described as an “oasis-in-the-desert,” with “desert hues, mixed natural stones, lush foliage and pops of deep American Express blue, as well as nods to Vegas glamour for depth and shimmer, including brass accents, antique mirrors and warm lighting.”
When it comes to food and drinks, orders can be placed through QR code technology that’s powered by Toast, with food and drinks delivered directly by servers. The menu will rotate regularly and feature small plates from The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge. New menu items include the following:
- Crushed cucumber salad with crispy rice pearlys
- Avocado toast with schug labneh and black sesame seeds
- Mushroom & mustard greens egg bites with black garlic aioli
- Sidecar Cocktail, with cognac, cointreau, and lemon
Coincidentally (or not), Las Vegas was also the US airport with the first Centurion Lounge back in the day, so it’s cool to see this new concept launch there as well. Don’t expect much in the way of amenities, other than restrooms. Access requirements for the Sidecar by the Centurion Lounge locations are the same as at Centurion Lounges, with the only difference being that you need to have a boarding pass for a flight departing within 90 minutes.
Here’s how Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, describes this:
“Since opening the first Centurion Lounge in Las Vegas in 2013, we have gained invaluable insights around how Card Members use our lounge spaces, which has informed how we innovate. Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge was born out of the fact that a significant portion of Centurion Lounge visitors stay for an hour or less. This is not only an exciting return to LAS, but a new approach we created for those travelers looking for an upscale and efficient respite — even when they have a short window before boarding their flight.”
My take on Amex’s new lounge concept
I’m delighted to see some innovation from Amex on the lounge front, and this seems like a smart new concept. Here are some initial thoughts that come to mind:
- Often it can be difficult to find large vacant lounge spaces at airports, so this is a good way to be able to expand capacity when smaller airport real estate becomes available
- This should help alleviate crowding in the main Centurion Lounges, which everyone with access will benefit from
- This almost seems similar to the Capital One Landing concept that we’ve seen launched in recent times, though this is a scaled down version of that
- It’s interesting how this concept is focused on airports that already have Centurion Lounges, rather than expanding to airports that don’t
- With just 33 seats, this really is a very low capacity space, and I’m sure it will be difficult to manage wait times, especially given how close to departure one needs to be traveling (there are no plans to introduce a reservation system)
I do wish that Amex would reinvigorate its core Centurion Lounge concept, because I think Capital One and Chase have done quite a bit to innovate there, and Amex hasn’t necessarily kept up. Amex of course has the advantage in terms of the scale of its network, though.
Bottom line
Amex has just debuted a new lounge concept, named Sidecar by the Centurion Lounge. The idea is that these facilities are built at airports with Centurion Lounges, for those who are short on time.
The speakeasy-inspired spaces boast small plates and cocktails, exclusively for those with flights departing within 90 minutes. The first of these locations has just opened in Las Vegas, and it’s a very nice addition to the airport’s lounge scene.
What do you make of the Sidecar by the Centurion Lounge concept?
This is cool but bizarre. 33 seats? 90 minutes of departure? I'd make it grab and go
Certainly glad a bar-focused concept appears to have the cocktail it's named for on the menu.
Amex is just such a distant #3 in the lounge game, I feel like this will be executed in a fashion as underwhelming as AA's to-go concept in CLT.
#3 out of how many?
This looks like a really cool concept, however even with access limited to departure times, it is going to be another overcrowded and oversubscribed space that will have a line outside. As long as you have a significant "professional class" of cardholders who (1) can afford the annual fee, yet (2) need to derive value from the annual fee to justify its cost, this will always be the case.
Am I the only one who see this as a very devious concept.
You have people who don't have much time as guests, yet using QR codes is taking up the most time.
Or the BS "more intimate and personalized experience" when you don't even have time to be intimate.
At the end this is just fluff and some PR spin that lines are short. Because people will probably still spend as much if...
Am I the only one who see this as a very devious concept.
You have people who don't have much time as guests, yet using QR codes is taking up the most time.
Or the BS "more intimate and personalized experience" when you don't even have time to be intimate.
At the end this is just fluff and some PR spin that lines are short. Because people will probably still spend as much if not longer than a regular lounge but the 90 mins rule will deter many people away with the sight of a line to get in.
Pretty sure this is the old Club at LAS space overlooking the atrium at the D Gates. It was a depressing tiny space, so now it's a less depressing tiny space.
Is it 21+?
It should be.
In Vegas, it's called Blackjack.
The 90 minute requirement is really tight, it basically means you have a very narrow window to get in here if there is any sort of line. I guess that's kind of the point to limit wait times, but I think it may backfire for customer loyalty if people assume it's not worth the hassle to even try and get in.
It really is. People with carryons who want to ensure bin space may need to leave the lounge 45 minutes before boarding time (with boarding frequently starting 35-40 min before flights these days). So that gives you just 45 minutes of lounge time. Add in a 20-30 minute wait, and you'll basically need to sit down, pound a drink, and go.
Not to mention, if there are flight delays this place will essentially stay at capacity for hours with no one leaving.
Some environmental group needs to write a report on the amount of water waste generated by tiny food portions on giant plates. This trend needs to end.
Unfortunately, it's yet another alcohol-focused venue (including the name). And at a time when excessive airport and airplane drinking is causing a increasing number of potentially dangerous incidents.
I was hoping this would be a slimmed down lounge concept focusing on some food and drink but also grab and go food and drink options, similar to the Air Canada Cafe concept at YYZ. I love spending time in the Maple Leaf lounge and then grabbing some snacks for my flight from the Cafe if I'm flying economy. Perhaps that is too low market for Amex though.
"Perhaps that is too low market for Amex though."
It sounds like youre describing a 7-11...so I agree
Mind you, I would absolutely prefer a slushee at the airport over alcohol
More options are always welcome. Even though they aren't official 'centurion' lounges, the Escapes by Amex are also welcome, mostly at secondary airports, like FLL, etc.
Looks like a cool space from the photos (more bar-like than a standard lounge). With 30ish seats I'd imagine it may struggle with overcrowding.
Probably would still visit the CapOne lounge over this on most trips out of LAS (and those are becoming much fewer for me), but I do want to check it out sometime. This concept could be great for PHX, since all the card lounges are small (at least until the T3 extension is complete) and get busy pretty quickly.