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 Members 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 Members 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)
#1576
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,884
The shopping mall parking lot analogy seems more appropriate. How satisfied would you be if American Express opened a second location at SFO in an inconvenient location, similar to a remote lot? For example, a landside lounge?
#1577
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,605
We all pay higher prices for electricity and phone service to support the seldom used capacity necessary to handle peak demand. Lounge access doesn't seem sufficiently important to warrant the same service level.
The shopping mall parking lot analogy seems more appropriate. How satisfied would you be if American Express opened a second location at SFO in an inconvenient location, similar to a remote lot? For example, a landside lounge?
The shopping mall parking lot analogy seems more appropriate. How satisfied would you be if American Express opened a second location at SFO in an inconvenient location, similar to a remote lot? For example, a landside lounge?
#1578
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 1,743
Amex isn't selling you Centurion Lounge access. It's offering exclusive access as part of your membership, subject to availability. You should decide if the value proposition of the card makes sense pending on the crowding situation.
#1579
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 256
I respectfully disagree. The Platinum Card has alway been about lounge access. Otherwise, just get a Gold Card.
#1580
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 1,743
#1581
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
"Subject to availability" is pretty broad. Is it like a mall parking lot where is genuinely shocked if you cant find a spot? ("Once in a blue moon" was the statement, I believe?) Or is it more like a lottery ticket?
It's also not what I expect Amex to lead off with, especially as "world-leading customer service" is part of their brand image. They could have said "We understand crowding is an issue, particularly at SFO at peak times. Because of this, we are adjusting our access policies, such as limiting it to 3 hours before flight departure for originating passengers. We're very sorry that we were unable to accommodate you on your recent visit, and feedback from valued cardmembers like yourself that helps us inform these changes". That would have cost them exactly zero, and it would have left a far better taste in my mouth than saying that technically, they don't have to provide anything at all.
In the words of Ted Knight, "you'll get nothing - and like it!"
It's also not what I expect Amex to lead off with, especially as "world-leading customer service" is part of their brand image. They could have said "We understand crowding is an issue, particularly at SFO at peak times. Because of this, we are adjusting our access policies, such as limiting it to 3 hours before flight departure for originating passengers. We're very sorry that we were unable to accommodate you on your recent visit, and feedback from valued cardmembers like yourself that helps us inform these changes". That would have cost them exactly zero, and it would have left a far better taste in my mouth than saying that technically, they don't have to provide anything at all.
In the words of Ted Knight, "you'll get nothing - and like it!"
#1582
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,605
"Subject to availability" is pretty broad. Is it like a mall parking lot where is genuinely shocked if you cant find a spot? ("Once in a blue moon" was the statement, I believe?) Or is it more like a lottery ticket?
It's also not what I expect Amex to lead off with, especially as "world-leading customer service" is part of their brand image. They could have said "We understand crowding is an issue, particularly at SFO at peak times. Because of this, we are adjusting our access policies, such as limiting it to 3 hours before flight departure for originating passengers. We're very sorry that we were unable to accommodate you on your recent visit, and feedback from valued cardmembers like yourself that helps us inform these changes". That would have cost them exactly zero, and it would have left a far better taste in my mouth than saying that technically, they don't have to provide anything at all.
In the words of Ted Knight, "you'll get nothing - and like it!"
It's also not what I expect Amex to lead off with, especially as "world-leading customer service" is part of their brand image. They could have said "We understand crowding is an issue, particularly at SFO at peak times. Because of this, we are adjusting our access policies, such as limiting it to 3 hours before flight departure for originating passengers. We're very sorry that we were unable to accommodate you on your recent visit, and feedback from valued cardmembers like yourself that helps us inform these changes". That would have cost them exactly zero, and it would have left a far better taste in my mouth than saying that technically, they don't have to provide anything at all.
In the words of Ted Knight, "you'll get nothing - and like it!"
#1583
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Programs: Amex Centurion, United Global Services
Posts: 843
Sounds like the right thing for you to do is cancel your Platinum card and use the money to purchase a United lounge membership. Amex isn't a lounge company, it's a charge card company. If I really wanted guaranteed lounge access, I'd just buy the United membership.
I look at the Amex lounges as a nicety and not a God-given right, and I'm paying $5000 a year in annual fees for two personal cards.
If I can get over it, you can too.
I look at the Amex lounges as a nicety and not a God-given right, and I'm paying $5000 a year in annual fees for two personal cards.
If I can get over it, you can too.
#1584
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
Then OP can switch to complaining about the seriously overcrowded United Clubs and food that's far inferior to what Amex offers
#1585
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Evidently so. They didn't exactly provide me with lounge access.
But I would argue that the Platinum is not primarily a charge card. One can get the exact same charge card privileges for $95 by going Green. It is marketed as a travel benefits card.
Kacee, I have a UC membership. For years - back when they were RCCs. And you are right, the food is better (at Centurions). And yes, they can be crowded. But I have only been turned away twice because of crowding in twenty years, yet it took the Centurion only a half dozen visits to do that.
But I would argue that the Platinum is not primarily a charge card. One can get the exact same charge card privileges for $95 by going Green. It is marketed as a travel benefits card.
Kacee, I have a UC membership. For years - back when they were RCCs. And you are right, the food is better (at Centurions). And yes, they can be crowded. But I have only been turned away twice because of crowding in twenty years, yet it took the Centurion only a half dozen visits to do that.
Last edited by Miles Ahead; Feb 3, 2019 at 4:31 am
#1586
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,605
Sounds like the right thing for you to do is cancel your Platinum card and use the money to purchase a United lounge membership. Amex isn't a lounge company, it's a charge card company. If I really wanted guaranteed lounge access, I'd just buy the United membership.
I look at the Amex lounges as a nicety and not a God-given right, and I'm paying $5000 a year in annual fees for two personal cards.
If I can get over it, you can too.
I look at the Amex lounges as a nicety and not a God-given right, and I'm paying $5000 a year in annual fees for two personal cards.
If I can get over it, you can too.
There's almost no reason to actually spend money on the Platinum card. Outside of Amex offers, I spend almost nothing on the card, and only recently did I start spending on airfares due to the 5x MR points/$ on airline spend, but most of my airline spend still goes on the CSR.
#1587
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,884
However, it doesn't really matter if anyone would hold Platinum without Centurion lounge access, only if it represents good value for you.
#1588
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 1,743
Well, why would anyone hold the Platinum if not for Centurion lounge access? I guess I also hold it for Hilton Gold, SPG (soon to be Marriott) Gold, and Priority Pass. Well, not the last one anymore, because I also get that through my CSR card. And if I wanted to pay annual fees for Hilton Gold, there's the Aspire, which gives Diamond status instead of Gold, and is a way better deal because it provides enough fee rebates and room credits to more than pay for itself.
There's almost no reason to actually spend money on the Platinum card. Outside of Amex offers, I spend almost nothing on the card, and only recently did I start spending on airfares due to the 5x MR points/$ on airline spend, but most of my airline spend still goes on the CSR.
There's almost no reason to actually spend money on the Platinum card. Outside of Amex offers, I spend almost nothing on the card, and only recently did I start spending on airfares due to the 5x MR points/$ on airline spend, but most of my airline spend still goes on the CSR.
#1589
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas
Programs: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
Posts: 154
The lost revenue from the annual fee is something that might matter to Amex. Whether it matters a lot or a little to them, it is at the very least "something" that would run contrary to "no reason".
#1590
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 1,743
The effective AF after subtracting the credits and benefits is quite low. I think AMEX cares more about the number of PLT card members than the annual fee contribution from someone who doesnt spend much on the card.