Originally Posted by
michael1023
yeah my home base is NYC, so if anything most likely my first experience would be either JFK or LGA
Some of my relatives had their first Centurion lounge experiences at PHX. They are now less likely to sign up for an Amex card with Centurion lounge access than they were before. If their first experiences were with Centurion lounges were in NYC, the story may have turned out differently with getting a relevant Amex card or with paying for guest lounge access in the future.
Maybe some people will pick and choose where to pay the $50/guest fee based on how good/bad they think the Centurion lounge situation is -- whether it be crowding, food, or anything else -- but I am more often than not going to get my money's worth out of paying such a fee for guest use at any of the Centurion lounges on my beaten paths.