It looks like the American Express Centurion Lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will be moving in the coming months, but only temporarily.
In this post:
Plans for an Amex Centurion Lounge SFO Terminal 2
Reader David shared a couple of pictures that he snapped at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in recent days. Specifically, this is from Terminal 2, in the D Gates. Upon entering the concourse, there’s a currently unoccupied lounge space, in what’s the former Alaska Lounge (and before that, American Admirals Club).
On the exterior, there’s a public notice of application to sell alcoholic beverages, which was posted on March 10, 2025. The applicant is “Compass Group USA Inc,” and next to it, it says “American Express Travel Related Services Company.” It’s also noted that this is for a “premises to premises transfer.”
Compass Group USA Inc is a food service and support company, which partners with all kinds of airport lounge operators, ranging from American Express, to Capital One, to United.
Pulling up the application with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, it’s clear that this is a transfer of the existing Amex Centurion Lounge (thanks to the readers who spotted this!). So, what’s going on here? SFO Terminal 3 is currently undergoing a modernization, and that’s going to require the existing Amex Centurion Lounge space to close for some amount of time.
So the plan is seemingly for the Centurion Lounge to be temporarily relocated, since all terminals at the airport are connected airside. It’s not clear exactly when the move will happen and how long it will last, though it appears that this is only a temporary relocation, so it’s not like Amex is permanently keeping two Centurion Lounges open at the airport. Suffice it to say that this temporary one will be much smaller than the original one.
Why hasn’t this become a permanent lounge?
It’s good that Amex has a place to set up a temporary Centurion Lounge, given the modernization work going on. That being said, does anyone know why this lounge hasn’t gotten some sort of a permanent contract to be utilized, since American and then Alaska moved out? You’d think that there would be the demand from all kinds of operators, including Capital One and Chase not having a lounge here.
I have to imagine there’s a reason, given that so many lounge operators just can’t get their hands on enough lounge space. Yet for some reason, this space has remained empty.
Bottom line
The former American Admirals Club and Alaska Lounge in the D Gates of Terminal 2 is expected to become a temporary Amex Centurion Lounge, based on filings with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
It would appear that what’s going on here is that Terminal 3 is undergoing a modernization, and in the coming months, the Amex Centurion Lounge will need to relocate for some amount of time. So the plan is to move the space to Terminal 2, but only temporarily. Hopefully this lounge space has a long term future beyond that.
What do you make of the Amex Centurion Lounge SFO relocating temporarily?
San Francisco Business Times has an article from April 8th where a spokesperson for Amex says the move to terminal 2 will be on June 15th and will last 2 years (!), with them moving back to the terminal 3 location Q3 2027. There will be more than a 30% decrease in size (15287 to 9035 sq ft). Loss of shower rooms, etc.
All this talk of retail space at the airport, I gotta ask - who buys anything other than snacks or duty free gifts at the airport?
Any of you out there buying luggage, handbags, watches, electric toothbrushes and all the other things at the airport? Genuinely curious.
I have NO "inside information," but if I were a betting man, I'd bet that -- once the Centurion Lounge moves *back* to T3 post-construction, it will be converted back to retail space...which is what is was before becoming an Admirals Club. That presumes that Southwest -- with all the changes they're making -- hasn't decided to open lounges of their own.
The space was never retail before -- it was an Admirals Club when T2 first opened.
@Gary About 9-12 months before the AS (nee AA) T2 lounge closed, an AS lounge manager told me that with WN relocating to T2 that the lounge space was more likely to revert to retail. Perhaps that will happen once T3 gets brought up to current standard.
What an adventure to get to the AMex Centurion Lounge in SFO T-3.. even if you go thru security at T-3 it is a series of metal tunnels to get to the Lounge. It took me 20 minutes and I am a very fast walker.. It is no where near any gates,, what a mess... T-3 seemed to look OK before all of this massive tear down....Maybe another Club-AKA Priority lounge is coming to T-2???...
What an adventure to get to the AMex Centurion Lounge in SFO T-3.. even if you go thru security at T-3 it is a series of metal tunnels to get to the Lounge. It took me 20 minutes and I am a very fast walker.. It is no where near any gates,, what a mess... T-3 seemed to look OK before all of this massive tear down....Maybe another Club-AKA Priority lounge is coming to T-2??? Something needs to be there,,,To get to the Delta lounge in ?almost T2 you get to either go thru security and then walk towards T-1 or go thru security at T-1( usually slower than 2) then go back towards T2.... Keep your walking shoes on for all of this!
Yes I gave up completely on getting to the lounge in Terminal 3 last week. Its a mess and they have removed the moving walkways.
I do not blame you..It is a mess...
Agreed a Priority pass lounge would be welcome. Clearly, The Club has shown there's a demand for the service.
Holy crowding Batman! Going to be difficult to justify keeping Plat card open as SFO flyer.
Kind of remarkable how bad Amex lounge situation is in key premium airports EWR, LAX, and now SFO. In JFK, the lounge is nice but basically DL only. I hate to admit it, but DL is the place to be for transcon lounge access
This lounge space is immediately post security and is extremely desirable as retail space, given the amount of foot traffic it sees. So the best use case for the space is as retail and not as a lounge. It's my understanding that SFO has recognized this and that after the temporary use as the Centurion lounge, it will be converted and offered for lease as a restaurant or shop.
That is my understanding, as well, based on conversations with AS staff before their move.
I don't know if the city makes them available online or you would need to CA FOIA it but it is possible that the Amex contract with the city of SF has a clause in it that prohibits other credit card sponsored lounges for some period of time.
Put a tariff on that lounge. MAGA!
The issue is that terminal 2 has basically become swing space. It was wha AA and AS used before T1 was available. Then it was float for Spirit and now it's basically where UA is putting planes as T3 undergoes renovation.
The problem is with the temporary hallways in place in T3, the current amex lounge is nearly exclusive to UA - it takes a good 15 minutes to walk there from T1 on security...
The issue is that terminal 2 has basically become swing space. It was wha AA and AS used before T1 was available. Then it was float for Spirit and now it's basically where UA is putting planes as T3 undergoes renovation.
The problem is with the temporary hallways in place in T3, the current amex lounge is nearly exclusive to UA - it takes a good 15 minutes to walk there from T1 on security side, so I haven't bothered to go there since this construction began. In T2, I'd consider it more, while keeping it not too far from UA/T3.
Before the renovation began, T3 was exclusively UA for years...the Centurion Lounge, by default, *was* exclusive to UA...completely inconvenient to walk to from every other terminal.
I know, almost no chance - but Capital one -pleeease…
I'd want a larger space though tbh
According to staff at the air Canada lounge who used to work at the centurion lounge the century lounge is, indeed, moving. The construction has caused operational problems at the existing location, including power outages. If the move I think the new lounge will be significantly smaller
Yes. This will be the temporary Amex relocation space during the SFO T3W modernization and expansion project since the current location is closed. ETA June / July timeframe for opening.
A Google search will lead you to a page from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that tells you, "A premises to premises transfer is the transfer of an existing license to a new location." From other comments, it's obvious that they need to shut down one of the locations, at least during renovations, and operate at this one. Maybe they'll keep the other one open, but without any liquor?
Lucky - what's my prize? :)
The license is being transferred from the T3 Centurion Lounge, so only remaining question is temp or permanent. I would guess the former.
Scroll down and see/click on:
Transfers: From License Number: 57-547900
https://www.abc.ca.gov/licensing/license-lookup/single-license/?RPTTYPE=12&LICENSE=666788
Do any of these possibilities make sense?:
1. It's Donald Trumps fault
2. It's Elon's fault
3. The DOGE is trying to keep out the Illegal Immigrants.
4. The Trump administration is trying to keep out foreign travelers.
5. Too costly to bring in the French wine and the English gin and scotch whisky because of those dreadful tarifs.
6. Trump is a fascist.
7. Elon is a...
Do any of these possibilities make sense?:
1. It's Donald Trumps fault
2. It's Elon's fault
3. The DOGE is trying to keep out the Illegal Immigrants.
4. The Trump administration is trying to keep out foreign travelers.
5. Too costly to bring in the French wine and the English gin and scotch whisky because of those dreadful tarifs.
6. Trump is a fascist.
7. Elon is a fascist.
8. The city of San Francisco found homeless in the new Lounge. We can't have any of that here.
9. The delay of opening was due to Gov. Gavin's schedule of his next podcast at the new lounge.
10. Welcome to the way that California works. You got a problem with that?
Anybody else have any possible reasons?
Sir, this is a Wendys.
It would be pretty hilarious if that lounge space suddenly turned into a Wendy's!
It’s the former Alaska Lounge and former former Admirals Club, yes. I’ve been told by the airport that it’s going to be a United Club. United did announce a lounge in T2 and I can’t see what other space they’d have so I believe it.
Nope. License is being transferred from the Centurion.
Temporary AMEX lounge for the phase of construction when current AMEX lounge becomes inaccessible.
Temporary Centurion relocation and a new permanent United location both make sense.
There was something in a United Club or 1K update that I received about a month ago indicating that UA would be opening a lounge in the T2 D gates since they are now using those gates, and will be for some time to come. And with UA expanding their SFO fortress by 20-25%, I suspect that UA’s use of T2/D will become permanent.
The Maple Leaf Lounge in T2/D is very nice, but it has odd and limited hours.
Its southwest first lounge.
And it will be shittier and more expensive that the other lounges since that’s the direction they are going.
The existing Centurion Lounge at T3 has been unexpectedly closed a couple of times in the past few months because of the construction there. According to Reddit, there was even a construction accident that knocked out power to the lounge for a few days in January.
Either Amex knows that T3 construction will force the Centurion lounge to close for some time, or they're taking action to prevent further unexpected closures. Either way, since that...
The existing Centurion Lounge at T3 has been unexpectedly closed a couple of times in the past few months because of the construction there. According to Reddit, there was even a construction accident that knocked out power to the lounge for a few days in January.
Either Amex knows that T3 construction will force the Centurion lounge to close for some time, or they're taking action to prevent further unexpected closures. Either way, since that space already is built as a lounge (previously AA and then AS), it likely wouldn't cost Amex much to open it temporarily, and they might even get temporary concessions from SFO for the previous issues. That would make it more feasible to open and operate that T2 space temporarily.
The more central location in T2 would be awesome for T1 flyers, even if it's just temporary.
P.S. The handful of times I tried to use the Centurion lounge in January and February, it was closed for different reasons. One time the Amex app even said it was open, but when I got there, there was a sign informing it was temporarily closed. Hopefully Amex is being proactive and trying to move away from the construction mess for the time being.
A lounge in T2 would make a lot of sense with all the terminals now being connected landside. T2 already has the Maple Leaf Lounge for United customers, but with T2 now being the location of AC/UA/WN and breeze with HA EI and Suncountry moved to T1 from International A 10 days ago. A T2 location would also serve T1 quite well given its central location.
Lucky - the lounge space indeed was an Admirals club before it became an Alaska lounge then shut down. With the construction at T3, it’s quite a trek to get to the Amex lounge at the F gates, which are otherwise closed. Best guess is they are opening a temp lounge until construction is done. I doubt it’s permanent as it’s a much smaller space.
It's obviously Global Airlines' first lounge. Exciting stuff. Don't forget they're an Amex partner ;)
Seems United has more and more flights out of T2. Could be a United Club?
or perhaps temporary to give some more capacity for renovation of a T3 United Club, probably the F gates one if that is the case
At the moment SFO is embarking on a multi-year rebuild of Terminal 3, where the current AMEX lounge is located. The route to the lounge changes as construction shifts and there may be times it’s not possible
tonaccess.
The Lounge Space in T2 is the old AA then AS lounges. It has been vacant since the Alaska Lounge opened in T1.
It would make perfect sense for AMEX to take that space since UA...
At the moment SFO is embarking on a multi-year rebuild of Terminal 3, where the current AMEX lounge is located. The route to the lounge changes as construction shifts and there may be times it’s not possible
tonaccess.
The Lounge Space in T2 is the old AA then AS lounges. It has been vacant since the Alaska Lounge opened in T1.
It would make perfect sense for AMEX to take that space since UA is shifting flying to T2 during (and after) construction. The Current AMEX space was refurbed in recent years.
SFO T3 is going through renovations and currently the T3 Centurion Lounge is open with construction all around it but I’d imagine it’s moving so that the entire F gates can be remodeled.
The current location is at the far end of T3, in United territory. A stone's throw from one side of the international gates. But, the international terminal has a range of Priority Pass access lounges. T2 would be more centrally located. That being said, the T3 lounge is typically packed to the rafters and this could be expansion as opposed to replacement.
PS Amex recently expanded the T3 lounge and it's hard to imagine they'd abandon it.
It is the former Alaska Lounge. There have been rumors that UA is taking over this space to try and improve the horrid United Club situation at SFO.