Originally Posted by krazykanuck

Unless Amex is turning away people who would otherwise pay $50 because this "road warrior" is taking up a table, it's not an actual cost. Yes there is opportunity cost but only to the extent that Amex is turning away paying customers because they don't have the capacity. I can tell you from personal experience in the Centurion Lounge lobby that when people are told that their nth kid or guest is $50, they usually turn around and walk away. I don't believe that there is much demand at a $50 price point. I mean I like the Centurion Lounges and have been to them countless times, and I wouldn't pay $50 to enter most of the time if I actually had to pay it. I maintain my Platinum card in large part for the CL access, but I also utilize it enough that my cost per visit is much lower than $50. ETA: cost =/= revenue. Just because a company charges X doesn't mean that's what it costs. I feel ridiculous that I even need to type this but in response to your comment about drink prices. A bar that charges $10 for a Bulliet and diet coke, one of my usual drinks in a CL, costs them what, $1-2, before overhead? I mean a whole bottle of that bourbon is $22 at Total Wine.

The only part of your statement that I agree with is the last bolded sentence. Anybody that's putting the majority of their spending on a Plat at 1x, yes, Amex is smarter than they are. haha

Originally Posted by sethMCOflyer

If every drink ordered in a lounge costs Amex $12 then they’re absolute morons and I’m shocked they’re in business.

Originally Posted by jamesteroh

If someone has eight drinks they probably have a binge drinking problem and would be surprised if they would be sober enough to even get on a plane.

I don't think the road warriors would be the one drinking up the free booze as much as the kettles or someone who is bringing family members for the once a year trip to go to disney or see grandma where flying is a treat and they are probably sitting in coach with no free comps.

When I travel for work a lot of times I have to be meeting someone after and won't drink at all. If I'm flying home I have to drive so will limit it to one or two drinks if that. Road warriors who fly all the time want the lounge for stuff like a work space. Most road warriors get upgraded a lot and will have free booze on the plane anyway.

Vegas is the only Centurion lounge I use and I would take advantage of the free food on a redeye since Delta provides no food service but would normally skip eating anything if my upgrade went through. Now that they have no meal service I plan on taking advantage of the free food Sunday even if my upgrade goes through.