Last edit by: mia
Policy Changes effective March 22, 2019
Source: https://thecenturionlounge.com/info/access/
NOTE: FOR PLATINUM CARD MEMBERS ONLY
The Centurion Lounge is a day of departure lounge. We will not admit arriving Platinum Card Members with boarding passes for flights that have just landed. We will admit Platinum Card Members with layovers or connecting flights who produce proof of connecting flight.
We will not admit Platinum Card Members more than 3 hours before the departure time on the Platinum Card Member’s same-day, confirmed boarding pass. This does not apply to Platinum Card Members with a connecting flight.
We will admit children under 2 years of age free of charge, provided an accompanying parent or guardian is able to produce a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of age
The Centurion Lounge is a day of departure lounge. We will not admit arriving Platinum Card Members with boarding passes for flights that have just landed. We will admit Platinum Card Members with layovers or connecting flights who produce proof of connecting flight.
We will not admit Platinum Card Members more than 3 hours before the departure time on the Platinum Card Member’s same-day, confirmed boarding pass. This does not apply to Platinum Card Members with a connecting flight.
We will admit children under 2 years of age free of charge, provided an accompanying parent or guardian is able to produce a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of age
Centurion Lounge crowding (2015-2019)
#46
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
But yes, AUs absolutely get the same access to Delta and Centurion lounges as the primary cardholders.
#47
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
AUs get the same lounge privileges as the primary. My wife hasn't bothered to call in for PPS, but I'm sure she went to the Skyclub at DTW last week with no problem. Centurion lounges should work exactly the same.
#48
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Chattanooga
Programs: DL, Hyatt, National
Posts: 318
Yes, AUs get the same access to Centurion Lounges and Delta SkyClubs as primary cardholders. Not sure about Priority Pass Select.
If the OP held the Delta Reserve Amex and was referring to a LGA SkyClub, the story would make perfect sense. Not sure why an AU on a Plat or Cent card would be turned away from a lounge. (And don't know how a Centurion Lounge staff member could have changed a ticket.)
If the OP held the Delta Reserve Amex and was referring to a LGA SkyClub, the story would make perfect sense. Not sure why an AU on a Plat or Cent card would be turned away from a lounge. (And don't know how a Centurion Lounge staff member could have changed a ticket.)
I have never seen my AUs turned away, or heard of such, ever. They have PPS, SPG Gold, have used GE credit and just about every benefit I have, sans the $200.
#49
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,964
My issue when flying out of SFO is I'm usually getting there right around when my flight is due to start boarding and have no time to use the lounge.
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Also it's absolute absurdity if a Centurion Cardholder was turned away. If a lounge is full and a Centurion wants to get in, security needs to go into the lounge and tell a plat person to leave.
Last edited by TMM1982; Jan 28, 2015 at 12:51 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
I hope you're kidding. I think I might get arrested if that happened to me. In any case no wise would I keep the Platinum card after that.
#52
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
The last 5 digits of the card. All my AU's have some weird numbers going on.
#54
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
Maybe the next-to-last digit? Mine ends in 01008 and my AU ends in 01024. I have two other Amex cards and both of them have zero as the next-to-last digit. So perhaps a non-zero penultimate digit indicates an AU.
#55
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,773
Regarding turning away a Centurion cardholder and/or removing someone from the lounge to make space, one would hope that the lounge manages space a bit wisely. They could 'close due to capacity' for all except Cents once they reach, say 95% capacity.
That way, if a Cent comes along, they are still permitted in, but with no need to remove anyone who has already been granted access. Non-Cents would be denied entrance for new entry, but not asked to vacate.
It isn't rocket science, just a bit of space and crowd management. There cannot be that many Cents at a single lounge at any one time that they would not be able to handle it in this way.
That way, if a Cent comes along, they are still permitted in, but with no need to remove anyone who has already been granted access. Non-Cents would be denied entrance for new entry, but not asked to vacate.
It isn't rocket science, just a bit of space and crowd management. There cannot be that many Cents at a single lounge at any one time that they would not be able to handle it in this way.
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
That would be consistent with my Platinum and AU cards...
#57
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,040
The evidence in this forum pretty clearly demonstrates that almost nothing will cause a Centurion cardholder to cancel, certainly not being turned away from an airport lounge one time. Centurion benefits have been moderately and consistently decimated over the years and cardholders happily continue paying the fee "hoping" that the card will get rejuvenated at some indeterminate time in the future. And as this forum has also clearly shown for every Cent cardholder that cancels, there is literally a line a mile deep of people with their noses desperately pushed against the window literally begging to be invited in. Any Cent cardholder that cancelled could be replaced five fold in a day.
And though Amex certainly likes to appease Cent cardholders, if you believe the much smaller number of Cent card holders generate more ongoing revenue for Amex than the cumulative Platinum cardholder base you are out of your mind. Amex absolutely needs to keep platinum cardholders happy; there are a crap load more of them.
Regards
#58
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
While there were other reasons, the PRIMARY reason I just signed up for PLAT was for the CL in Vegas. I'm there 6-7 times a year and am already making good use of it--both when I land and when I depart. I'll have ancillary stops in SFO and DFW on occasion, so that was a slight factor too--and praying for the day they add ORD.
If suddenly I can't enter without a fee, I might downgrade to Gold, or I might just drop AMEX altogether.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that when they opened these first few lounges, they had very little traffic due to only allowing Centurion cardholders in. For the size of the LAS lounge (I think it's relatively big compared to the United Club, for example) if they were only letting in CENTS when it first opened, it was a waste of space. They probably ran the numbers and figured it was in their best interest to expand it to PLATS.
And three visits to the LAS lounge this year already, and never was I not able to find a seat...Once VERY early--5:30am (only 4-5 people in the lounge when I arrived), once mid-morning--9:00am (I'd say 40% full), and once at around 7pm (maybe a little more than half-full).
If suddenly I can't enter without a fee, I might downgrade to Gold, or I might just drop AMEX altogether.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that when they opened these first few lounges, they had very little traffic due to only allowing Centurion cardholders in. For the size of the LAS lounge (I think it's relatively big compared to the United Club, for example) if they were only letting in CENTS when it first opened, it was a waste of space. They probably ran the numbers and figured it was in their best interest to expand it to PLATS.
And three visits to the LAS lounge this year already, and never was I not able to find a seat...Once VERY early--5:30am (only 4-5 people in the lounge when I arrived), once mid-morning--9:00am (I'd say 40% full), and once at around 7pm (maybe a little more than half-full).
#59
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 677
While there were other reasons, the PRIMARY reason I just signed up for PLAT was for the CL in Vegas. I'm there 6-7 times a year and am already making good use of it--both when I land and when I depart. I'll have ancillary stops in SFO and DFW on occasion, so that was a slight factor too--and praying for the day they add ORD.
If suddenly I can't enter without a fee, I might downgrade to Gold, or I might just drop AMEX altogether.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that when they opened these first few lounges, they had very little traffic due to only allowing Centurion cardholders in. For the size of the LAS lounge (I think it's relatively big compared to the United Club, for example) if they were only letting in CENTS when it first opened, it was a waste of space. They probably ran the numbers and figured it was in their best interest to expand it to PLATS.
And three visits to the LAS lounge this year already, and never was I not able to find a seat...Once VERY early--5:30am (only 4-5 people in the lounge when I arrived), once mid-morning--9:00am (I'd say 40% full), and once at around 7pm (maybe a little more than half-full).
If suddenly I can't enter without a fee, I might downgrade to Gold, or I might just drop AMEX altogether.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that when they opened these first few lounges, they had very little traffic due to only allowing Centurion cardholders in. For the size of the LAS lounge (I think it's relatively big compared to the United Club, for example) if they were only letting in CENTS when it first opened, it was a waste of space. They probably ran the numbers and figured it was in their best interest to expand it to PLATS.
And three visits to the LAS lounge this year already, and never was I not able to find a seat...Once VERY early--5:30am (only 4-5 people in the lounge when I arrived), once mid-morning--9:00am (I'd say 40% full), and once at around 7pm (maybe a little more than half-full).
#60
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Carolina
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Visa Signature, SPG Gold
Posts: 87
My experience with the LAS CL is the same as yours, but I have only gone there late at night as I usually take the redeye from Vegas back home, and just sleep on the plane. I have been there about 6-8 times since it opened and have never had any trouble finding space to relax. The food selection at that lounge leaves a lot to be desired compared to the other CL's, but that might have something to do with the fact that I never get there before midnight.
I also love the location, as I typically fly US Airways to Vegas and the lounge was very close to my gate on both occasions. Super convenient.