Tough Rules Coming Soon to AMEX Centurion Airport Lounges – AMEX Platinum Cardholders Take Note!
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If you have one of the following AMEX cards, this news affects you:
That’s because these cards come with the ultra-rare benefit of free access to AMEX Centurion airport lounges, widely considered the best domestic airport lounges in existence. And the number of lounges is steadily growing! AMEX Centurion Lounges offer:
- Hot buffet-style meals
- Premium alcoholic beverages
- Showers
- Conference spaces
- Reliable Wi-Fi
And beginning March 22, 2019, it will become more difficult to enter!
New AMEX Centurion Airport Lounge Rules
The new rules taking place in late March are as follows:
- You won’t be allowed in unless your scheduled departure is within 3 hours, or unless you can provide proof of your upcoming connecting flight
- If you have arrived at your final destination, you can NOT enter the Centurion Lounge
- You can bring children under 2 years of age for free (and they won’t count toward your 2 free guests), as long as you can prove their age or show a “lap infant” boarding pass
The reaction this news evokes will vary wildly, depending on who you are.
While it sounds like bad news (you can now enter less frequently), this hopefully means the lounges will be less crowded, which has been a big complaint of late. You won’t be able to freshen up at a lounge at your final destination before you leave the airport, but your pre-departure experience should be a lot more enjoyable.
As a reminder, you can find AMEX Centurion Lounges in:
- Charlotte (coming soon)
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Denver (coming soon)
- Houston Intercontinental
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles (coming soon)
- New York-La Guardia
- New York – JFK (coming soon)
- Miami
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Seattle-Tacoma
Let me know what you think of this change! And read my post on the top cards for airport lounge access if you’re looking to make your next trip more comfortable.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
$189 CLEAR® Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
$695 annual fee.
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