Originally Posted by
cmd320
The Centurion Lounge is basically a lounge for AA and UA customers being that Amex lost lounge access with AA and CO. With an AF of $1200, one would be better off buying an Admirals Club or United Club membership and getting a Chase Sapphire Preferred card and still have money left over. The Amex Plat just doesn't bring $1200 worth of benefits to the table. The card is arguably considerably worse than it was a decade ago.
Lounge access credit cards cost anywhere from $450 to $550 (AA Executive, United Club, Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Aspire, Bonvoy, etc). Of these cards, Amex Platinum provides the most extensive coverage, with three networks (Centurion, Delta, Priority Pass). Club memberships cost $450 to $550 when purchased outright from the airlines, and now for the most part are only accessible when you are flying that airline. Objectively, the Amex Platinum seems to provide the most comprehensive lounge access as the fairest price, which is probably one of the reasons why its popularity has increased. I don't know why Amex would drastically alter that equation. Maybe they offer a platinum plus card or something with better earnings and more credits