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)
Oct 25, 2017, 3:44 pm
#1141
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I think we now have enough data to conclude that American Express is not likely to adopt any radical access restrictions, but rather they will address crowding through expanding the lounges. Seattle has already been enlarged, Dallas will be moved to a larger space, and Miami will be enlarged. This makes more sense for their business model than turning away Platinum cardholders or their guests.
Centurion lounges is a feature that Chase and Citi apparently do not have the budget to match, and I would expect to see gradual expansion of the network as favorably priced spaces becomes available.
Centurion lounges is a feature that Chase and Citi apparently do not have the budget to match, and I would expect to see gradual expansion of the network as favorably priced spaces becomes available.
Oct 26, 2017, 7:02 am
#1142
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 150
Same here. Depending on where you're traveling, something as simple as the free breakfast for my wife and I can cover the annual fee itself over the course of a long trip. Let alone the free night(s), resort credits and upgrades. I'm not an AAA or Citi member though so I don't know if the other deals people get from there include those kinds of options as well.
Oct 26, 2017, 11:08 am
#1143
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 401
What other reason to sign up is there other than the lounges? With Amex's nonexistant travel insurance products and zero bonus spend… what other possible reason is there to have the Plat other than as a shiny metal status symbol.
The Centurion lounges are the only reason I even have the Plat (both business and personal)… otherwise Citi has a much stronger product with the Prestige and the CSR has made a much bigger splash with the CSR. What both of those lack are premium lounges.
The Centurion lounges are the only reason I even have the Plat (both business and personal)… otherwise Citi has a much stronger product with the Prestige and the CSR has made a much bigger splash with the CSR. What both of those lack are premium lounges.
So many people value having it as a status symbol vs having access to a lounge the one time a year they might travel. Recently at a Sky Club, a passenger handed over one of the metal Plats for entry. The Sky Club agent said, "Good thing I get to handle these here at work since I'll never be able to get one of my own," like it was some sort of ultra exclusive product. Let's just say she loved my Cent.
Oct 27, 2017, 4:50 am
#1144
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
You just answered your own question right there.
So many people value having it as a status symbol vs having access to a lounge the one time a year they might travel. Recently at a Sky Club, a passenger handed over one of the metal Plats for entry. The Sky Club agent said, "Good thing I get to handle these here at work since I'll never be able to get one of my own," like it was some sort of ultra exclusive product. Let's just say she loved my Cent.
So many people value having it as a status symbol vs having access to a lounge the one time a year they might travel. Recently at a Sky Club, a passenger handed over one of the metal Plats for entry. The Sky Club agent said, "Good thing I get to handle these here at work since I'll never be able to get one of my own," like it was some sort of ultra exclusive product. Let's just say she loved my Cent.
Emergency Medical
$200 Airline Fees reimbursed per year
Uber benefit
Global entry reimbursed
Membership rewards with 5x points for airline miles
They have good customer service
and, oh yeah,
They didn't screw me over when I went through a divorce and lower my credit limit after asking me questions on the phone for 30 minutes like Chase did. (I was and am current on all my credit cards. And the income pre-divorce was 90% mine, so a 50% decrease in credit limit on Chase's part was BS IMO.)
Their interest rates on other products are a lot better than Citi.
So, since they are good to me, I'm happy to pay the Amex Platinum Fee and keep it my wallet.
Oct 27, 2017, 5:45 am
#1145
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 150
Let's see:
Emergency Medical
$200 Airline Fees reimbursed per year
Uber benefit
Global entry reimbursed
Membership rewards with 5x points for airline miles
They have good customer service
and, oh yeah,
They didn't screw me over when I went through a divorce and lower my credit limit after asking me questions on the phone for 30 minutes like Chase did. (I was and am current on all my credit cards. And the income pre-divorce was 90% mine, so a 50% decrease in credit limit on Chase's part was BS IMO.)
Their interest rates on other products are a lot better than Citi.
So, since they are good to me, I'm happy to pay the Amex Platinum Fee and keep it my wallet.
Emergency Medical
$200 Airline Fees reimbursed per year
Uber benefit
Global entry reimbursed
Membership rewards with 5x points for airline miles
They have good customer service
and, oh yeah,
They didn't screw me over when I went through a divorce and lower my credit limit after asking me questions on the phone for 30 minutes like Chase did. (I was and am current on all my credit cards. And the income pre-divorce was 90% mine, so a 50% decrease in credit limit on Chase's part was BS IMO.)
Their interest rates on other products are a lot better than Citi.
So, since they are good to me, I'm happy to pay the Amex Platinum Fee and keep it my wallet.
Oct 27, 2017, 9:35 am
#1146
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
You just answered your own question right there.
So many people value having it as a status symbol vs having access to a lounge the one time a year they might travel. Recently at a Sky Club, a passenger handed over one of the metal Plats for entry. The Sky Club agent said, "Good thing I get to handle these here at work since I'll never be able to get one of my own," like it was some sort of ultra exclusive product. Let's just say she loved my Cent.
So many people value having it as a status symbol vs having access to a lounge the one time a year they might travel. Recently at a Sky Club, a passenger handed over one of the metal Plats for entry. The Sky Club agent said, "Good thing I get to handle these here at work since I'll never be able to get one of my own," like it was some sort of ultra exclusive product. Let's just say she loved my Cent.
How can any card be a status symbol, really? Maybe if you carry around more than 75k in cash... but that's impractical.
Oct 27, 2017, 10:17 am
#1147
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Paying with a card with an image of having a very high membership fee and being mainly for those with relatively substantial disposable income to spend on travel? That is considered a status symbol of sorts.
We all might not consider it to be a status symbol, but some consider it to be so. I've had some people rather surprised that I would have (i.e., have and/or pay to have) an Amex Platinum -- under the implied presumption that it's an expensive card which isn't financially practical for most consumers and that maybe I'm not who they thought me to be.
Oct 27, 2017, 1:55 pm
#1148
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 256
Back in the good old days you had to be invited for a Platinum Card. And only the most credit worthy would qualify for a "Gold Card". Then every bank stared issuing their watered down versions of both and so much for any AMEX card being status symbol .
Oct 27, 2017, 2:00 pm
#1149
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 401
Look at the BMW 1 series.
Oct 28, 2017, 1:49 am
#1150
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Let's see:
Emergency Medical
$200 Airline Fees reimbursed per year
Uber benefit
Global entry reimbursed
Membership rewards with 5x points for airline miles
They have good customer service
and, oh yeah,
They didn't screw me over when I went through a divorce and lower my credit limit after asking me questions on the phone for 30 minutes like Chase did. (I was and am current on all my credit cards. And the income pre-divorce was 90% mine, so a 50% decrease in credit limit on Chase's part was BS IMO.)
Their interest rates on other products are a lot better than Citi.
So, since they are good to me, I'm happy to pay the Amex Platinum Fee and keep it my wallet.
Emergency Medical
$200 Airline Fees reimbursed per year
Uber benefit
Global entry reimbursed
Membership rewards with 5x points for airline miles
They have good customer service
and, oh yeah,
They didn't screw me over when I went through a divorce and lower my credit limit after asking me questions on the phone for 30 minutes like Chase did. (I was and am current on all my credit cards. And the income pre-divorce was 90% mine, so a 50% decrease in credit limit on Chase's part was BS IMO.)
Their interest rates on other products are a lot better than Citi.
So, since they are good to me, I'm happy to pay the Amex Platinum Fee and keep it my wallet.
- Uber benefit is arguable, since there's evidence that Uber charges people with Plats linked higher fares than regular customers
- Global entry reimbursement is at most worth $100 every 5 years. So… $20/year.
- 5x points on airfare, but no travel insurance, so you're still better off putting the purchase on Citi Prestige or at least CSR
- Interest rate is irrelevant… if you're carrying a balance you shouldn't be using credit cards.
Net you're paying $320/yr for… emergency medical evac insurance and good customer service. And the lounges. That's the only thing bringing real value here.
Don't get me wrong, I still do it. But if it weren't for that, I wouldn't be that interested.
Last edited by mia; Oct 28, 2017 at 3:37 am Reason: Combine consecutive replies.
Oct 28, 2017, 3:36 am
#1151
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Oct 28, 2017, 9:10 am
#1152
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 256
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....ders-get-free/
There are four airports with Citi Proprietary Lounges where Prestige cardmembers receive complimentary access.
Mexico City
Guadalajara
Monterrey
Jakarta
+ Priority Pass
Oct 28, 2017, 9:40 am
#1153
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Thank you. Those seem to match up with the international Centurion Club locations which predate the newer Centurion Lounges:
Centurion Airport Clubs ( EZE,GDL,MEX,MTY,CGH,GRU,GIG)
Centurion Airport Clubs ( EZE,GDL,MEX,MTY,CGH,GRU,GIG)
Oct 28, 2017, 9:47 am
#1154
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Yes its CitiGold.
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....ders-get-free/
There are four airports with Citi Proprietary Lounges where Prestige cardmembers receive complimentary access.
Mexico City
Guadalajara
Monterrey
Jakarta
+ Priority Pass
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....ders-get-free/
There are four airports with Citi Proprietary Lounges where Prestige cardmembers receive complimentary access.
Mexico City
Guadalajara
Monterrey
Jakarta
+ Priority Pass
Oct 28, 2017, 10:45 am
#1155
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,075