American Express Snatches Up LoungeBuddy App

American Express just snatched up LoungeBuddy. The travel-tech app is popular among users looking to find lounges around the world. Of course, the app’s power isn’t owed to the fact that it can show you where lounges are. The app actually shows you where you can find independent lounges that charge smaller fees than what you’ll pay to airlines. LoungeBuddy makes it possible to find and book airport lounges in more than 450 spots around the world.

We don’t know a ton of details regarding the terms of the deal between American Express and LoungeBuddy as of right now. However, we can expect to soon find out that American Express paid a large sum to acquire the company. LoungeBuddy was recently valued at somewhere around $18 million. American Express likely sees the app as a channel that can help to propel its Centurion Lounge network above rivals like Priority Pass. American Express has actually been working in partnership with LoungeBuddy since 2017. It is expected that the acquisition will be fully complete by some point in April of this year.

Can faithful LoungeBuddy users expect big changes now that American Express is in charge? A spokesperson for American Express has stated that LoungeBuddy will continue to be a wholly owned subsidiary. The founders of LoungeBuddy will still be in charge of operations even after the acquisition is complete. However, American Express definitely purchased LoungeBuddy for a specific reason. There’s no doubt that the app will be used as a way to funnel users to lounges around the world that are operated by American Express. There’s also a very good chance that the app may provide special promotions for Centurion locations around the world. Cardholders may even be able to use the app to access some benefits more easily while visiting lounges.

American Express is in the process of expanding its network of Centurion Lounge locations around the globe. The list of airports in the United States that either have or will soon be getting Centurion Lounge locations now includes Denver (DEN), New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Houston (IAH), Dallas (DFW) and Charlotte (CLT). It has also been announced that Phoenix (PHX) will probably be getting a new Centurion Lounge by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. All Centurion Lounge locations offer a member services desk, a bar, a family-themed room, a computer bar and access to magazines and newspapers. You can also take advantage of printers, copy machines and fax machines. Of course, Wi-Fi is standard at Centurion Lounge locations.

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