Jan 24, 2019, 7:51 am
Last edit by: mia
Policy Changes effective March 22, 2019
Source: https://thecenturionlounge.com/info/access/
NOTE: FOR PLATINUM CARD MEMBERS ONLY
The Centurion Lounge is a day of departure lounge. We will not admit arriving Platinum Card Members with boarding passes for flights that have just landed. We will admit Platinum Card Members with layovers or connecting flights who produce proof of connecting flight.
We will not admit Platinum Card Members more than 3 hours before the departure time on the Platinum Card Member’s same-day, confirmed boarding pass. This does not apply to Platinum Card Members with a connecting flight.
We will admit children under 2 years of age free of charge, provided an accompanying parent or guardian is able to produce a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of age
The Centurion Lounge is a day of departure lounge. We will not admit arriving Platinum Card Members with boarding passes for flights that have just landed. We will admit Platinum Card Members with layovers or connecting flights who produce proof of connecting flight.
We will not admit Platinum Card Members more than 3 hours before the departure time on the Platinum Card Member’s same-day, confirmed boarding pass. This does not apply to Platinum Card Members with a connecting flight.
We will admit children under 2 years of age free of charge, provided an accompanying parent or guardian is able to produce a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of age
Centurion Lounge crowding (2015-2019)
Dec 15, 2019, 4:41 pm
#2116
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
I understand there might be ways around the crowding but the point is that the card is losing its value. If I cannot use the rewards and entitlements when I need them, then the idea of having the Platinum card diminishes. I'm thinking this will be cancelled or downgraded sometime early next year.
Dec 15, 2019, 4:46 pm
#2117
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Delta
Posts: 61
If comfortable access to a specific Centurion Lounge is the primary benefit you get out of the Platinum card, then maybe it is not worth it for you as it seems hard for Amex to come up with a solution that pleases everyone. Personally I have maybe two or three Centurion lounge visits this year versus probably 15-20 SkyClub visits and three or so Priority Pass visits. Given the crowding at the lounges, if you want or need lounge access in a lot of domestic airports, you probably should also get Admirals or United Club access if you can’t get use out of the SkyClub benefit
Dec 16, 2019, 10:45 am
#2118
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
It isn't the only benefit I use but most other lounges are not as nice or feature rich. Also not being able to use the lounges on arrival has affected the ability to use the lounge in Las Vegas when I get to the airport early. They also diminished the airline credit to the point of it being almost impossible to figure out what circumstances you will get reimbursed.
Dec 16, 2019, 10:57 am
#2119
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Delta
Posts: 61
Agreed, the sad part is that when I bought the card it did meet my needs...I'll give them a call and determine my exit strategy. I still need a way to get the business travel reward points.
Dec 16, 2019, 11:00 am
#2120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Unfortunately the Platinum Card is a shell of what it was 10 years ago. The losses of Admirals Club and Presidents Club access were both major blows to the value of the card as it pertains to travel. Amex is still 100+ lounges away from being able to make up for that.
Dec 24, 2019, 3:47 pm
#2121
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Paris & Scotland (Laird), "Suite on the World"
Programs: Hertz platinum, Bonvoy titanium , Delta flying colonel/platinum/MM, retired old men board member
Posts: 592
"we" are a cause to the problem when we have "meet-ups" with strangers to get them in. Amex should require "guests" to be on the same air as airlines do now for upgrades
Dec 24, 2019, 7:58 pm
#2122
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Not sure how that's really any different than someone bringing their spouse and kids into the lounge as 'guests'.
Dec 25, 2019, 7:27 am
#2123
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Paris & Scotland (Laird), "Suite on the World"
Programs: Hertz platinum, Bonvoy titanium , Delta flying colonel/platinum/MM, retired old men board member
Posts: 592
spouse and kid are family
Dec 25, 2019, 7:31 am
#2124
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Amex - My Christmas wish? Whatever you need to do, thin the crowding in SFO for next year.
Dec 25, 2019, 9:10 am
#2125
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
To echo Adelphos' comments, as an SFO flyer, I purchase lounge membership on my primary carrier (now AA) because Centurion SFO is simply not worth the hassle.
Dec 25, 2019, 9:31 am
#2126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
To be honest at SFO it really wouldn’t make much sense for an AA flyer to try and use the Centurion Lounge routinely anyway. The Admirals Club isn’t very good, but the Centurion Lounge is really places for UA fliers at SFO.
Dec 25, 2019, 9:06 pm
#2127
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
I don't agree. With Pre and Clear, security doesn't usually take more than a minute or two. I used the UCs routinely when flying AS prior to Nov. 1 rules change.
Dec 25, 2019, 9:31 pm
#2128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
In a scenario where I had a long layover I would agree, however if SFO is my origin airport I don’t see much of a reason to arrive at the airport early enough to clear security, use the lounge, go back outside, clear security again, and then go to the gate. I would just arrive at the airport, clear security once, and get on the plane. Perhaps that’s just me but I like to spend as little time at my origin airport as possible.
Dec 25, 2019, 10:06 pm
#2129
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
In a scenario where I had a long layover I would agree, however if SFO is my origin airport I don’t see much of a reason to arrive at the airport early enough to clear security, use the lounge, go back outside, clear security again, and then go to the gate. I would just arrive at the airport, clear security once, and get on the plane. Perhaps that’s just me but I like to spend as little time at my origin airport as possible.
Dec 25, 2019, 10:50 pm
#2130
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 452
Agreed. Landing from a domestic flight and going to a lounge, instead of leaving the airport and going where you are going, is weird. No lounge in the US is nice enough to warrant extending your time at the destination airport.
Now, if you could spend time in the Lufthansa first class terminal in Frankfurt on arrival...
Now, if you could spend time in the Lufthansa first class terminal in Frankfurt on arrival...