steveman518

PHL doesn't have a priority pass lounge, whereas IAH has the KLM lounge, so that might also factor into why PHL over IAH, and possibly why they're building a smaller studio at SEA instead of a larger centurion, as SEA now has 3 priority pass lounges (other than the fact they may not have been able to get a space big enough for a full centurion)

J.Edward

Greetings Everyone - this post is pretty much speculation and the title says it all.

Now that SEA has been opened and added to AX's LAS, DWF, LGA, SFO, and MIA locations has anyone heard any rumors or whispers as to what city (or cities) are next on the list?

For 2014 the FAA lists the following statistics for total passenger boardings (in millions) and I have arbitrarily color coded the airports as:If we take the top five locations in terms of total passengers, that are well connected airside, and are not Delta hubs (the assumption here is that eligible AX cardholders can use one of the already built SkyClubs), we have the following short-list:Anyways to be clear - I have no idea as to where AX will build their next location or what additional constraints they have to operate under (e.g. real-estate) but wanted to see if folks had any more insight as to where the next location would be.

josephstern

Interesting analysis.

Numbers 1 and 2 make good sense. Hubs with well-heeled customers.

3, 4, and 5 seem much less likely to me. I realize that LGA was far down your boardings list, but I think Amex figured they need a location in America's largest city.

nall

I always ask this question to the staff at the other locations. Usually they say ORD or IAH, but I've had one say PHL and another say BOS.

mia

Only if flying Delta.

It would also be useful to look at the presence of Priority Pass (P) and Airspace (A) lounges:

kirkwoodj

Appreciate your efforts and this perspective! ^^ As an addendum, often turned away at IAH P Lounge (KLM) due to (potential) crowding. Amex would be welcome there.

cmd320

Nice list. I've really been hoping to see one pop up at CLT. That would make transiting there considerably more tolerable. Plus the airport is in desperate need of some sort of lounge with a shower, same case for PHL.

nall

Is it worthwhile to mark other locations with Skyclubs on that list?

djtsukasa

Awesome list, would love to see the Centurion lounge network keep growing to rival the airline lounges.

Would definitely love to see one at IAH. Although I do like the KLM lounge, you would think the airport has enough space and airside connections to accommodate.

Once LAX gets better inter-terminal connections, perhaps they will add one there?? Most likely not the DL terminal, and *maybe* not the UA terminal since they have the SFO location in the UA/S* terminal sooo... maybe the AA terminal? Although they do have one of the nicer AA lounges there.

I can only hope as a SAN flyer that they would add one sometime in the future, however long that may be.... haha. Maybe once they merge all the terminals.

LGA was definitely a head scratcher to me.

J.Edward

I thought about it (and am glad mia noted alternate club options) but the reason I singled out DL hubs was the high percentage of "captive" customers.

At ATL DL + DL express carried 80% of passengers meaning that 4 out of 5 passengers arrived or departed on a DL flight, thus the requirement of "being on a DL operated flight" to access a SkyClub is not a significant roadblock for ATL.

Said another way the average AX Plat/Centurion card holder already has multiple SkyClubs (and all have access to the the PriorityPass lounge) at ATL. Thus I would suggest AX already has a very comprehensive lounge offering for the majority of their cardholders at ATL.

It's also interesting to note by selecting MIA, DFW (and a rumored PHL and ORD) AX continues to target AA/US hubs.

At PHL you have a large airport, very good airside access, and no lounge option save the DL SkyClub for DL customers who are the minority at PHL. Bottom line: a dedicated centurion lounge would serve the vast majority of the airside airport and give cardholders a lounge option when they would otherwise not have any (excepting DL customers).

ORD also seems like a no brainer: airside access, AA + UA hub, and strong DL presence. What I am curious to with ORD is where they will find the space. The SFO lounge is good but at times can be a victim of its popularity as cardholders flying UA opt to go there and can crowd the facility. I certainly do not have any internal numbers but would assume ORD would be a popular, high-traffic facility and therefore would need a large amount of space to accommodate the demand.

The curve ball with IAH is the airport is about to embark on a major redevelopment of the north side of the terminals B/C/D are being redeveloped on a phased building plan that will ultimately expand D and do away with C north. If AX is pondering setting up a lounge in IAH, this may present an opportunity for them to build out a facility to their spec.

$0.02

steveman518

SAN at least has the airspace lounge, though of course that's not the same as the Centurion Lounge

djtsukasa

True! I do enjoy that lounge, I try to make it out there although I'm primarily a UA flyer. That $10 credit gets me a sandwich...

TOMFORD

All the AA hubs should get priority...

JHake10

As a UA flyer I'm hoping for UA hubs

AA has two (DFW, MIA), share the love!

TOMFORD

You mean as a UA flyer when their computers aren't broken?

AA has LGA as well.