Originally Posted by
1120
This is interesting to me because what we view as a problem (i.e., crowded CL) is likely viewed as a positive by Amex. They want these places packed at all times. Ideally, they want them packed with infrequent users that are willing to pay $695 per year. My guess is that they would expand eligibility in some fashion if CL crowding really declined.
In other words, I have bad news for those think that this change is - finally - the one that turns CL into an oasis of calm refinement…
I suspect they want to optimize the profit from the card. Having packed lounges isn’t necessarily the way to achieve that. If they have people (like me) considering giving up their $695 card because the lounge is full of $60-paying AU families/friends, that presumably isn’t helpful to them.
I don’t think this is going to eliminate crowding at all times, but my impression is that the previous access changes have reduced the crowding to some degree, at least when I visited or peaked in.