0 min left

American Express Makes Guest Changes to Centurion Lounges

American Express Centurion Lounge Bar

Flyers carrying The Platinum Card from American Express will no longer be allowed to bring a guest with them for free, unless they spend $75,000 in a calendar year. The financial services company is making the changes for both the personal and business versions of the card effective Feb. 1, 2023.

One of the better benefits of The Platinum Card from American Express could be coming to an end by 2023. In an update to the Centurion Lounge terms and conditions, flyers who do not spend more than $75,000 in the calendar year 2022 won’t be able to bring in free guests in with them in 2023.

Spending Requirement Takes Effect in 2023

For the remainder of 2021 and throughout 2022, The Centurion Lounge policies will not change. Flyers who hold the Amex Platinum can bring up to two guests to any location in the United States, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), or at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

However, in a change first noted by the blog Doctor of Credit, the policy will make a major shift in 2023. In order to keep complimentary guest access, cardholders must spend $75,000 per year on their card during the 2022 calendar year.

Much like qualifying for frequent flyer program or hotel program elite status, those who make the spend will be able to retain their benefits for the year they qualify, and the year afterwards. As an example, those who make the qualifying spend by May 2023 will be able to keep their complimentary guest benefit through January 2025.

The move comes as Amex attempts to figure out how to manage guests as they choose to visit the airport locations. In 2019, the company announced they would start enforcing strict time limits, requiring travelers to limit their visits to three hours.

Changes Announced Ahead of Post-Pandemic Travel Boom

The policy changes are aligned with projections towards a full recovery of the aviation industry. Projections by a number of analysts and airlines suggests bookings won’t come back to pre-pandemic levels until between 2023 and 2025.

9 Comments
D
dane1 April 14, 2021

I typically don't spend much on this card as I try to push as much as I can through my DL Plat AmX so that I get the MQM status miles. I have this card for, among other things, the Centurion lounge benefit. This policy is a significant downgrade, and with the increased annual fee is likely the tipping point for me to drop it.

D
Danwriter April 10, 2021

$37,500 = 1 guest?

A
alangore April 9, 2021

Ah, the American Express salami game continues! They start with a wonderful new feature, like Centurion Lounges, and then keep shaving little slices from that feature until it's no longer worth using. That's why two years ago I quit Amex. Visa Infinite is a better deal today.

S
scfw0x0f April 9, 2021

Well it’s a dealbreaker for me. I don’t want to put that much spend on Amex, which has generally poor benefits per dollar spent. If they left it as cardholder+1 it would be a very different story. Having to buy in your spouse for holiday travel is onerous.

E
edfisher April 9, 2021

Just cut out a large percentage of your cardholders (couples who enjoy traveling) and punished them for traveling together. This card was designed to be a travelers card not just a business travelers card. Not t mention Amex is raising the annual fee for the card. Talk about a double whammy. You know what people do when they get jerked around?! They drop the card.