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)
Feb 14, 2019, 12:14 am
#1621
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: HH, Asiana club, Elevated, Skymiles, Fairmont President's Club
Posts: 42
Painfully accurate
And herein lies the problem... you see everyone here on FT likes to propose solutions that "work for them" and somehow magically believe it will alleviate overcrowding. Because for some strange reason everyone in this forum believes their use case isn't the problem. It's everyone else's use case that is the problem. Kinda like 80% of drivers believe they are "above average" drivers. See the irony there?
I see we are immediately back to the same tired solutions that many have been championing for years rather than acknowledging the most obvious way to alleviate overcrowding is to make the card a) more difficult to obtain (clearly they have precedence for that concept with the Centurion Card) or b) make cardholders pay a real, and higher annual fee rather than a "fake" annual fee that sometimes ends up very close to zero.
One thing I agree with mia on, and she has brought this up more than once, is that Amex probably largely doesn't care about overcrowding nearly as much as people here do. Of course they will do things to ensure the club isn't overflowing, but Amex has very little interest in making the club a truly exclusive oasis from the terminal. So several of the ideas people are throwing out, including me, would likely result in card cancellations, which Amex will likely try to avoid if at all possible and thus they will implement the most light touch guidelines they possible can, as slowly as they possibly can.
Regards
I see we are immediately back to the same tired solutions that many have been championing for years rather than acknowledging the most obvious way to alleviate overcrowding is to make the card a) more difficult to obtain (clearly they have precedence for that concept with the Centurion Card) or b) make cardholders pay a real, and higher annual fee rather than a "fake" annual fee that sometimes ends up very close to zero.
One thing I agree with mia on, and she has brought this up more than once, is that Amex probably largely doesn't care about overcrowding nearly as much as people here do. Of course they will do things to ensure the club isn't overflowing, but Amex has very little interest in making the club a truly exclusive oasis from the terminal. So several of the ideas people are throwing out, including me, would likely result in card cancellations, which Amex will likely try to avoid if at all possible and thus they will implement the most light touch guidelines they possible can, as slowly as they possibly can.
Regards
One last thought, IMO, the whole point of showers/Spa at lounges is to be used on arrival.ymmv
Feb 14, 2019, 2:31 am
#1622
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,346
We will not admit PlatinumCard Members more than 3 hours before the departure time on the PlatinumCard Member’s same-day, confirmed boarding pass. This does not apply to PlatinumCard Members with a connecting flight.
Feb 14, 2019, 6:24 am
#1623
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,841
I completely agree with your comments, and others that have made similar remarks, I would like to add, as they improved Amex Gold the odds are most ppl have Plat mostly for lounge access, if the annual fee is not offset by credits card members will drop Amex main product, that would be a disaster for them, and the only solution is to make improvements to the card, I am expecting the AF to keep climbing year after year.
One last thought, IMO, the whole point of showers/Spa at lounges is to be used on arrival.ymmv
Of course, it it were true that the showers are mostly used by arrivals, then the policy change is good for me because it reduces the chances of having to wait for a shower
Feb 14, 2019, 6:29 am
#1624
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,841
I know what their intent is, but this wording seems overly permissive...when you arrive at the airport for the first flight of your itinerary, you "[have] a connecting flight" (just not from that airport), which according to their policy means the 3 hour pre-departure limit doesn't apply.
Feb 14, 2019, 6:44 am
#1625
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,039
The whole point? I have only ever used the showers when connecting. Specifically when arriving on an international flight and waiting to connect to my final destination.
Of course, it it were true that the showers are mostly used by arrivals, then the policy change is good for me because it reduces the chances of having to wait for a shower
Of course, it it were true that the showers are mostly used by arrivals, then the policy change is good for me because it reduces the chances of having to wait for a shower
Regards
Feb 14, 2019, 6:59 am
#1626
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 256
You are making the assumption that everyones needs and use cases are the same as yours. For many business travelers, there might be cases where their final destination is a city with a Cent Lounge. They arrive in the morning via a red eye flight, are not connecting anywhere else, and need to shower and freshen up prior to heading into the city for morning meetings. Totally legitimate use case. Just because it isn't your situation doesn't mean it shouldn't matter to anyone else.
Regards
Regards
I agree. Plus it was sure nice to grab a quick bite to eat on arrival.
Feb 14, 2019, 7:00 am
#1627
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,841
You are making the assumption that everyones needs and use cases are the same as yours. For many business travelers, there might be cases where their final destination is a city with a Cent Lounge. They arrive in the morning via a red eye flight, are not connecting anywhere else, and need to shower and freshen up prior to heading into the city for morning meetings. Totally legitimate use case. Just because it isn't your situation doesn't mean it shouldn't matter to anyone else.
Regards
Regards
To make it very clear, I don’t know what the more common use case is.
Last edited by notquiteaff; Feb 14, 2019 at 7:06 am
Feb 14, 2019, 10:36 am
#1628
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AMEX Plat Marriott Gold HHGold UA Silver
Posts: 40
I could be more understanding of these new rules if they were during “peak” time only and not blanket.
Amex needs to work on delivering the products people expect rather than cutting it back to match what they have on hand currently.
Amex needs to work on delivering the products people expect rather than cutting it back to match what they have on hand currently.
Feb 14, 2019, 10:53 am
#1629
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Feb 14, 2019, 11:34 am
#1630
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AMEX Plat Marriott Gold HHGold UA Silver
Posts: 40
Feb 16, 2019, 8:54 pm
#1631
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Feb 16, 2019, 9:18 pm
#1632
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Feb 17, 2019, 7:53 pm
#1633
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1,982
I think the 3 hour limit is reasonable, and I would imagine Amex will be somewhat flexible with it. The fact you can hang out as long as necessary if you have a connecting flight helps significantly. What they are undoubtedly trying to avoid is someone checking out of the hotel at noon and sitting around from 1:30 until 11:30 PM in the Vegas lounge for example. I sympathize why people may wish to do that, but frankly that isn’t the purpose of any airport lounge primarily. If they were to extend this to people flying with connections, that would be problematic I think.
Feb 17, 2019, 8:32 pm
#1634
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,059
Feb 18, 2019, 6:45 am
#1635
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
This what I would expect now, because the policy is only implemented at peak periods. It could well be different when the policy is implemented at all times, and the attendants can see that admitting people a bit early at off hours won't contribute to crowding.