seawolf

Any reason why Amex’s site is not to be trusted?

ChurnieEls

They had the same times before Christmas but when I arrived at 6.30pm on a Sunday, they were closed.

Similarly in January, the PHL Centurion had a posted closing time of 7pm but shut at 5pm the day I was in there.

Tbh it's very disrespectful to members not to take a few minutes to update the hours in the app.

krazykanuck

Stopped by today (Tues 4/19) from 4:45 to about 6:15. Pretty busy, but there were plenty of seats in the main dining room and a few in the bar area. I didn't explore the other areas. Dinner was very good: chicken something - pretty flavorful, yellow rice, and shrimp in a pretty spicy red sauce. The shrimp in particular was very good, I went back for seconds and got some extra sauce to pour over the rice. They didn't have any of the better dessert options while I was there, just two types of cookies, chocolate chip and chocolate chip imposters (atmeal raisin). Steady flow of customers at the bar that the two bartenders managed really well. Left at 6:15 to go over to the United Club which was completely deserted by comparison to check it out for a few mins before my flight since I hadn't been there at dinner before.

pigx5

I really like the new one. It's very spacious!! The high ceiling does make a huge difference.

The video was done and upload by myself to youtube.

CMK10

Stopped in today (Sunday) from 1300 to 1345. The lounge was about 75-80% full and stayed that way my entire stay.





Hot food was a chicken dish along with a few vegetable sides. The bar had a line the entire time. I was happy to see they have a local New York Wheat Beer (Ommengang Brewing in Cooperstown) on tap now but the bartender insisted if you wanted two drinks you had to show an ID of another person over 21. That seemed really silly.

seawolf

Unfortunately people sue for just about anything instead of taking personal responsibility; the line has to be drawn somewhere.

Example: One has too many drinks in CL, gets on a flight and become disruptive. Airline diverts flight and bill that passenger. Passenger sues AMEX for serving one too many.

bgriff

Showing an ID of a second person doesn't really stop this scenario, especially because the second person isn't seen by an Amex employee so they could be really drunk and Amex could be violating its obligation not to over-serve.

But, this ID rule seems to be the standard at the Centurion lounges -- I've also seen it enforced at JFK and SFO.

krazykanuck

They've really stepped up doing that all over, though I've noticed it particularly at IAH since it's my home lounge and I typically sit at the bar. I asked one of the bartenders about the reason behind it and he said they're trying to be more cognizant since they've apparently received complaints of pax showing up to the plane wasted. Same thing happened to the KLM lounge at IAH a couple years ago, which following a complaint to and visit from the TABC causing them to add a staff member to the previously self serve bar, according to a manager I asked about it at the time.

seawolf

The water is muddled because AMEX lawyer can now argue that the other person also has responsibility.

What AMEX really should be doing is not just see another ID but only hand the drink exclusively to that other person.

ChurnieEls

I was in there yesterday and that barman was unnecessarily sharp in his tone and conduct towards guests - I ended up moving away from the bar because his conduct started to bother me.

dw

Yes, at the old LGA location they would usually just ask the person getting the drinks to point out who the second drink was for. Have noticed ever since the new location opened, they've been asking for the IDs.

CMK10

FWIW the CLT CL doesn't care about the second ID requirement. And I am a lawyer and I don't know what's more laughable, the idea of suing a CL because of serving too many drinks or their "well the guy proffered an ID what more could I do?" defense.

michael1023

based on these pics the lounge seems noisy and crowded. Never been to a CL yet but I have to assume when I go it will be the same. I guess the only real reason to go at this point is for the free food and finding a decent seat? Doesn’t seem like a relaxing environment honestly

dw

I’m not sure if CLs have ever been relaxing environments- maybe when they first opened, when centurion card holders were the only ones that got in for free. The overcrowding has been an issue for years now.

krazykanuck

And I assume you're not a cat either

I mean free food and drink, why else would we be there?