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 23, 2019, 10:54 am
#1711
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Marin County, California
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 412
In addition to SFO and MIA being "problems" I would certainly add LAS. The only Centurion lounges that aren't yet problems are those that have opened more recently and haven't yet been gamed by air commuters who visit them every week (every day?). The only lounges that may not ever have a crowding issue are those located in obscure terminals in lower volume airports.
Mar 23, 2019, 11:06 am
#1712
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
“Ever” is an odd standard here. No idea why Amex Plat cardholders would prefer annual limits to being turned away occasionally due to crowding. People are still going to want to use the lounges at peak times, so even with limits, entry and comfort would never be guaranteed.
Mar 23, 2019, 11:58 am
#1713
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,667
In addition to SFO and MIA being "problems" I would certainly add LAS. The only Centurion lounges that aren't yet problems are those that have opened more recently and haven't yet been gamed by air commuters who visit them every week (every day?). The only lounges that may not ever have a crowding issue are those located in obscure terminals in lower volume airports.
Mar 23, 2019, 12:00 pm
#1714
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,667
“Ever” is an odd standard here. No idea why Amex Plat cardholders would prefer annual limits to being turned away occasionally due to crowding. People are still going to want to use the lounges at peak times, so even with limits, entry and comfort would never be guaranteed.
As I posted elsewhere on this thread: given the current crowding problems, the terminals are starting to be not that different from the lounges, as far as a place to sit and get work done. The complimentary food/beverage is a meh benefit for me, most of the US lounges aren't all that great in that department.
Mar 23, 2019, 1:54 pm
#1715
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1,982
Limiting access is a bad idea. If with even the three hour limits and no arrivals they are turning people away they should expand the lounge or open a second location. At many airports that would actually be a third location since many delta members are using those lounges anyways.
DL lounges have overcrowding issues but nothing as constantly bad as what you hear about Amex lounges. They need to solve the problem. They are building their brand around lounges.
DL lounges have overcrowding issues but nothing as constantly bad as what you hear about Amex lounges. They need to solve the problem. They are building their brand around lounges.
Mar 23, 2019, 2:19 pm
#1716
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
Mar 23, 2019, 5:22 pm
#1717
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
(you said folks were being actively turned away, which means with no policy they'd be jammed in too)The reality is that most cardholders won't even bother with the lounge if there is no seating or even if there is seating and it's so crowded, and that's what is already keeping the SFO lounge from being "even more crowded". I left the lounge after being unable to find seating and witnessed others doing the same, which was far more people than the two I overheard being denied access for being more than three hours early. As is also obvious from this thread, there are already many cardholders who are voluntarily keeping themselves away from the SFO lounge overcrowdedness, because who even wants to be in there if it's like what it was yesterday.
And to be honest, I'm amazed the place even keeps under fire capacity. It was that difficult just to navigate one quick loop around the lounge yesterday.
I haven't had problems getting seats at SFO at non-peak times, which is the root of my complaint. If AMEX is going to introduce a policy that restricts access and reduces benefits for its cardholders, that policy better make a dramatic improvement when it needs to. That's why it's such a bad policy.
Mar 23, 2019, 10:49 pm
#1718
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
That's completely unrealistic.
Centurion access at SFO is a scarce resource. It is properly being rationed. Turning away people who want to sit in the lounge and drink free alcohol for 4 hours seems eminently appropriate to me.
Mar 23, 2019, 11:33 pm
#1719
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,667
I mostly fly Delta, and it so happens that the SC at SFO is one of the best in the system. I visited the SFO Centurion club a couple of times last year when I flew UA, and I did manage to find a seat on each visit, but it was pretty crowded. I know pax with airlines in other terminals will make the trek to the Centurion club, but I got the curiosity out of my system. SFO has decent free wifi in the terminal, so I doubt I'll go into the lounge next time I'm in that terminal.
Mar 24, 2019, 9:01 am
#1721
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
Mar 24, 2019, 9:48 am
#1722
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,347
Mar 24, 2019, 1:59 pm
#1723
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Marin County, California
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 412
As I have shared tables at the lounges, I have talked to people at who would never have signed up for the Platinum card have done the math and realize the food and alcohol consumption could easily be worth $25+ per visit. Many of them visit twice per day and multiply that by several times per week. The value of F&B can exceed $5000 per year per Cardmember.
I realize it is technically not "gaming" as the current rules allow an unlimited amount of visits. I personally hope Amex gets smart and limits annual free visits to return it to a lounge to be used as a convenience for travelers rather than the food trough it has become.
Mar 24, 2019, 2:40 pm
#1724
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
If the lounge is constantly crowded and other customers are being turned away due to the crowding. The way I see it, those who visit the lounge in such a high numbers per year are disproportionately the main cause of the crowding and are therefore denying others the benefit of having access to the lounge.
As I have shared tables at the lounges, I have talked to people at who would never have signed up for the Platinum card have done the math and realize the food and alcohol consumption could easily be worth $25+ per visit. Many of them visit twice per day and multiply that by several times per week. The value of F&B can exceed $5000 per year per Cardmember.
I realize it is technically not "gaming" as the current rules allow an unlimited amount of visits. I personally hope Amex gets smart and limits annual free visits to return it to a lounge to be used as a convenience for travelers rather than the food trough it has become.
As I have shared tables at the lounges, I have talked to people at who would never have signed up for the Platinum card have done the math and realize the food and alcohol consumption could easily be worth $25+ per visit. Many of them visit twice per day and multiply that by several times per week. The value of F&B can exceed $5000 per year per Cardmember.
I realize it is technically not "gaming" as the current rules allow an unlimited amount of visits. I personally hope Amex gets smart and limits annual free visits to return it to a lounge to be used as a convenience for travelers rather than the food trough it has become.
Mar 24, 2019, 4:31 pm
#1725
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852