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Overcrowded airport lounges have become an increasing problem in recent years. Back in April 2021, Amex announced it would fundamentally change access policies for its popular Centurion lounges. Now that it’s 2023 I wanted to recap all the details on this as we are only a few weeks away from the effective date of this new policy.
Amex Platinum Centurion Lounge guests are changing
Beginning February 1, 2023, there will be major changes to access to the Amex Centurion Lounge that will particularly impact those with The Platinum Card® by American Express (Review) and The Business Platinum Card® by American Express (Review). In particular, many cardholders will no longer be able to bring two guests into the lounges free of charge, which is the current policy:
- Both primary cardholders and authorized Amex Platinum users will continue to receive lounge access
- Amex Platinum holders will be charged a $50 fee for each guest they bring into Centurion lounges; There is a reduced fee of $30 for those under the age of 18, however babies under the age of two can still be brought at no additional cost
- Amex Platinum cardholders spending a minimum of $75,000 per calendar year on the card will continue to receive complimentary lounge access for two guests
- The Centurion Lounge Guest Policy remains unchanged for Centurion Cardholders as well as Corporate Platinum Cardholders (which differs from the Business Platinum Card).
- There are no changes to the Amex Platinum Card guest policy when it comes to partner lounges, including Priority Pass membership, Escape Lounges, etc.
Here’s how American Express described the change to its Centurion Lounge access policy in a statement:
“The Centurion Lounge is one of the most popular benefits of the Platinum Card. We want to ensure we continue to support our cardholders when they travel by providing our cardholders with a comfortable space to recharge and relax, which is why we are making some changes to our Centurion Lounge guest access policy.”
The Amex Platinum Centurion Lounge guest policy is changing
Is this Amex policy change good news or bad news?
On the surface, this guest policy change at the Amex Centurion Lounge sounds like a downgrade, as it objectively removes a benefit. The Centurion lounges are undoubtedly more impressive than most US airline lounges in terms of food, drinks and other amenities.
However, a major downside to the Centurion Lounges was how consistently crowded they were given how popular they are. As the lounge network continues to grow and individual lounges often expand as well, it seems the lounges aren’t getting any less busy.
We’ve seen Amex try in the past to add new restrictions that would reduce crowding, but nothing has made a significant difference. Unlike the other solutions we’ve seen, I think this change should significantly thin out the crowds in these lounges.
If you frequently bring guests to Centurion lounges, you probably won’t be pleased with this policy change. If you often enter the Centurion Lounges alone and find them crowded, you might see this as a positive development.
For example, Miami is my home airport, but I always skip the Centurion Lounge and just go to the American Admirals Club – the former is way better, the latter way quieter, and that’s what matters most to me.
Centurion Lounges are excellent, but also often crowded
The best Amex Platinum strategy for the future
If you’re thinking, “Oh no, I usually travel with a bunch of other people,” remember that adding additional users on the personal version of the Amex Platinum is an especially good deal (unfortunately, that’s not the case on the business version the case almost as good value).
You can add up to three additional cardmembers for a total of $175 (rates & fees), which is less than $60 per cardholder. These additional cardholders receive many benefits including access to the Centurion Lounge. It’s a fairly affordable way to handle this change, assuming you value Centurion Lounge access and always travel with the same people.
Spending $75,000 a year on the Amex Platinum comes with quite an opportunity cost unless you spend heavily on airline tickets (a category where the card earns 5x points). There are far better cards out there for everyday use.
Adding additional card members to the Amex Platinum can be a great deal
Will Centurion Lounges have significantly fewer children?
I have to say I feel kinda bad for the parents here:
- You can only add people 13 and older as additional cardholders on Amex cards
- In other words, if you have a child who is 12 years old or younger, your only way to get them access to the Centurion Lounge is to spend $75,000 a year on the Amex Platinum, or spend $30 per visit on them
This definitely seems drastic, and I’ve seen many parents cancel their Amex Platinum cards. On the other hand, maybe the goal is to have fewer kids in these lounges, to get these lounges more street warrior oriented again.
This is likely to result in a significant reduction in the number of children in Centurion Lounges
How do you view your spending on Amex Platinum?
As noted above, you must spend $75,000 per calendar year on the Amex Platinum Card if you wish to continue bringing guests to Centurion lounges. With these new restrictions coming into effect in just a few weeks, where can you see your current spend on the card?
Simply log into your Amex account and go to the Amex Platinum card profile. From there, click on the “Benefits” tab.
Amex Platinum Card Benefits Tab
There you should see a spend tracker showing your eligible spend on the card. I suppose most people know if they’ve spent more or less than $75,000 on the card in a year, but if you’re around this might help.
Amex Platinum Card spend tracker
bottom line
Effective February 1, 2023, Amex Platinum holders may no longer bring guests into Amex Centurion lounges. The exception applies to those spending at least $75,000 per year on the card.
This is an interesting change and your opinion of it will likely vary depending on whether or not you typically bring guests to these lounges and also whether you have children.
What do you think of these changes to Amex Centurion Lounge access?
The following links will take you to the tariffs and fees for the American Express cards mentioned. These include: The American Express Platinum Card® (rates & fees).