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)
Mar 18, 2016, 12:34 pm
#391
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,026
Was in SEA Wednesday. It was busy when I arrived but over the 90 minutes I was there it emptied out. The desk was trying to enforce a 1 guest per member but was meeting resistance from several members so they let them in with a "only 1 guest" next time scolding.
Mar 18, 2016, 1:33 pm
#392
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,219
Centurion® Members and Platinum Card® Members who receive complimentary access may enter with up to one guest or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge.
Mar 19, 2016, 7:57 am
#393
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I tried MIA again. At 6pm it was pretty busy, but the staff found me a table, brought a glass of VC and made a spa reservation for me. Had a nice tortilla soup and a chicken dish and finished it off with an excellent Dalwhinnie. Things could be worse. 
However when AA finally gets a Flagship lounge at MIA, that's probably where I'll go instead. Flagship lounges are exclusive and you can't say the same for US Centurion clubs.
However when AA finally gets a Flagship lounge at MIA, that's probably where I'll go instead. Flagship lounges are exclusive and you can't say the same for US Centurion clubs.
Mar 21, 2016, 10:28 am
#394
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,078
Crowding happens with too many people, regardless of whether they're cardholders or guests of cardholders. Why not simply cap the number person-visits per year and let the cardholders decide how to use them?
Mar 21, 2016, 11:45 am
#395
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Marin County, California
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 412
"limiting the number of visits per cardmember is coming soon"
Who knows though....might just be talk.
Mar 21, 2016, 11:54 am
#396
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,200
I think the best solution would be for Amex to identify peak and off-peak times for the lounge, and limit the number of visits per year during peak times. There's no reason to limit access when the lounge is empty, but when it's crowded, having an annual limit probably makes the most sense. The alternative is to not allow guests or family (like DL), but I think the limit makes a bit more sense. The other way would be to charge $10 per visit for Plat period.
Mar 21, 2016, 3:56 pm
#397
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Mar 21, 2016, 5:58 pm
#398
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Mar 21, 2016, 6:27 pm
#399
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
Personally I like the idea of restricting access during peak hours and dumping guest access. I find guests to be 50% of the problem at the overcrowded locations. They could also open a few more lounges and expand the ones that are chronically overused. I could definitely see a second SFO location opening in another terminal, 2 perhaps.
Mar 21, 2016, 6:56 pm
#400
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas
Programs: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
Posts: 154
Two accesses per year? Personally, I'd immediately dump the card for one of the alternatives at Chase or Citi that give unlimited access to either the UA Club or Admirals Club as part of their benefits.
...
I could definitely see a second SFO location opening in another terminal, 2 perhaps.
...
I could definitely see a second SFO location opening in another terminal, 2 perhaps.
Centurion Lounge + Virgin America = my SFO routine
Mar 21, 2016, 7:02 pm
#401
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Great! My suggestion has already gotten two people to get rid of their Amex Plat cards. We can end the overcrowding real fast with this plan. 
Mar 21, 2016, 7:36 pm
#402
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
You can end the CL all together with that plan. The feasibility of the lounge would fall off a cliff if the majority of Plat cardholders were to bail on their cards.
Mar 21, 2016, 8:22 pm
#403
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I was joking with my extreme suggestion, but whatever restrictions they put on access I doubt that it will impact more than 1% of Platinum memberships.
Mar 21, 2016, 9:48 pm
#404
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,078
Hard to say without access to the data. For me, I think 10 person-visits per year would be very reasonable, given how the cost of the Amex Plat is effectively $250/year, and there is plenty of benefit in access to Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Mar 22, 2016, 9:41 pm
#405
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,589
Hmmmm. At $450 per year, already a fee for guests on DL... I say add and enlarge lounges. They have the money. Lounges are the plat perk I most use. And MR points.