Mar 9, 17, 7:11 pm
Last edit by: mia
Beginning March 30, 2017, The Centurion Lounge guest policy for Platinum Card Members will change. All Platinum Card Members will be limited to two total guests at no additional charge. One-day passes for any additional guests, including immediate family members, may be purchased.
Centurion Lounge new policy 2 guests ONLY (ends exception for immediate family).
Mar 9, 17, 7:20 pm
#93
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
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Mar 9, 17, 7:30 pm
#94
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Or maybe just offset the extra MR costs for the various things in the past year. I'm so travel- and financial-geeky that I listened to an Amex investor conference call some time ago. Analysts are very worried that Amex and Chase are in a mutually-destructive war. We FT geeks stand to benefit from that war.
Mar 9, 17, 7:42 pm
#95
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Or maybe just offset the extra MR costs for the various things in the past year. I'm so travel- and financial-geeky that I listened to an Amex investor conference call some time ago. Analysts are very worried that Amex and Chase are in a mutually-destructive war. We FT geeks stand to benefit from that war.
Mar 9, 17, 7:56 pm
#96
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As so many of us do. The geekiest ones among us enlist our spouses to double the effect. Those spouses do not understand our affliction, but they do not complain when we put them in premium cabins and nice lounges.
Mar 9, 17, 8:00 pm
#97
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 205
I assume their goal over all is to make money and doling out benefits equally is not a goal at all. Some customers are just more valuable than others. It is a business after all.
Mar 9, 17, 8:02 pm
#98
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"Hunny, this is how we go to Europe in lie flats and stay in nice hotels" and they're on board.
Mar 9, 17, 8:16 pm
#99
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Mar 9, 17, 8:23 pm
#100
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Mar 9, 17, 8:44 pm
#101
Join Date: Sep 2008
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I'm not totally in disagreement that there should be limits. But then AX should allow <15 to have plat cards (like visa does) so that when they are traveling with their family, they can get into the lounge. If I'm traveling with my three kids and none of them can get an AX, then I have to pay for one. And he will eat...one blueberry.
The way adults use lounges is entirely different than children, who don't consume alcohol and, often, eat 1/10 of what an adult would. They generally don't use spa services or showers.
This is the nail in my plat coffin.
The way adults use lounges is entirely different than children, who don't consume alcohol and, often, eat 1/10 of what an adult would. They generally don't use spa services or showers.
This is the nail in my plat coffin.
1. With respect to the assertion you make in your post above, sure the way people use lounges is different, but that is true irrespective of whether they are kids. A 90 lb woman that doesn't drink alcohol, isn't hungry, and just wants to read a book before her flight "uses" the lounge differently than a 260 lb guy who plans to eat everything on offer, consume a bottle of wine, take a shower and sling back a couple of martini's. It has nothing to do with being "a kid" unless we are talking about the smallest and youngest of kids. Human beings are taking up space in a finite physical area. Period. Full stop.
2. How is Amex supposed to create a viable, enforceable policy that can deal with the young small kid that eats "one blueberry" and the family with a Nascar Dad, Soccer Mom and 4 very large, football playing sons that are 16, 17, or 18. They do not only eat "a blueberry" And yes, I've seen families like this in the DFW lounge. You seem to want a policy that allows your three kids in because you don't' believe that is part of the problem. Unfortunately, Amex can't create a granular policy that would have to be enforced by the poor check-in agents that says "small kids who eat a blueberry, come on in for free. Large, heavy 18 year old guys that eat lots, sorry, no soup for you" That ain't gonna work.
3. Many in this thread keep throwing out the "I'm paying $550 per year, I deserve... yada, yada, yada." First, nobody has paid $550 yet because that fee hasn't gone in effect. Second, it's neither $450 nor $550 as it has a $200 credit, which knocks the annual fee down considerably in real dollars, so let's at least be intellectually honest about what people are getting for that effective annual fee. My last FHR stay at the Four Season's Hong Kong saved me about 4 years worth of annual fees in one stay alone. The annual fee isn't just for people to bring their families into Cent Lounges, it has to cover a number of benefits.
4. Related to #3, to those who keep espousing the "By god, I'm paying $550 bucks a year ergo I have a right to bring my entire family into the lounge," here is my question to you. My wife and I chose (a long time ago) not to have children, I pay the same annual fee as someone with a spouse and 4 or 5 children. Why should that cardholder be allowed to bring in 4 or 5 "guests" (i.e. kids) but I cannot bring that many in? My wife and I's friends and non-children family members are every bit as important and meaningful to us and we'd certainly cherish sharing some of those travel niceties with them as well. If only there was a way that we could... ah... but alas, there is, if we want to bring more than the allotted number of guests in we can pay more to do so (via day passes or additional cards) and we have done so on occasion.
Finally, here is an inconvenient truth; most lounges have always been capacity controlled. For those with airline status, traveling internationally, lounges generally permit only 1 guest per elite status member (i.e. NOT even two, but only one). Yet, we don't see the Cathay Pacific, British Airways, or Qantas forums on FT overrun with people stating they are going to stop flying those airlines because they can't bring their whole clan into the Business Class lounge in Hong Kong.
In November, my wife and I shared a wonderful meal in the CX First Class lounge in Hong Kong. There were zero, none, nada large groups/parties. And let me tell you, it was absolute bliss...
When I can no longer differentiate the inside of the lounge from the chaos of the terminal/gate area its located in, that my friends, is a problem.
Regards
Last edited by scubadu; Mar 9, 17 at 8:49 pm
Mar 9, 17, 8:58 pm
#102
Join Date: Oct 2009
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The Centurion Lounge crowding issue is real. I'm glad that American Express has acknowledged this and has made attempts to mitigate the problem. I don't think American Express has gone far enough in terms of limiting free access. As I am an American Express Platinum cardholder, I find that there are many entrants to Centurion Lounges who are non-cardholder "guests". Perhaps free access to these lounges should be limited to Platinum and Centurion cardholders only, or maybe even just Centurion cardholders only. I would rather know that I am not invited for free access, than attempt to visit a Centurion Lounge and find the experience grossly inadequate.
Mar 9, 17, 9:03 pm
#103
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I do the same with my husband. He hates it but all I make him do are the cancellations and he does it because he has now been spoiled beyond any redemption. English is his second language so all he has to do is answer the identity questions then tells them to talk to his wife.
Mar 9, 17, 9:06 pm
#104
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2. How is Amex supposed to create a viable, enforceable policy that can deal with the young small kid that eats "one blueberry" and the family with a Nascar Dad, Soccer Mom and 4 very large, football playing sons that are 16, 17, or 18. They do not only eat "a blueberry" And yes, I've seen families like this in the DFW lounge. You seem to want a policy that allows your three kids in because you don't' believe that is part of the problem. Unfortunately, Amex can't create a granular policy that would have to be enforced by the poor check-in agents that says "small kids who eat a blueberry, come on in for free. Large, heavy 18 year old guys that eat lots, sorry, no soup for you" That ain't gonna work.
250 lbs total per Plat card
500 lbs total per Cent card
j/k
I pretty much agree with everything in your well reasoned post.
Mar 9, 17, 9:38 pm
#105
Join Date: Dec 2015
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Odd. Here are the existing terms:
What is the guest policy?
Centurion Members and Platinum Card Members who receive complimentary access may enter with either up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge. Guest or family access is per Card Member, not per Card. Family and guests may not enter or remain in the lounge unless accompanied in the lounge by the Card Member.
What is the guest policy?
Centurion Members and Platinum Card Members who receive complimentary access may enter with either up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge. Guest or family access is per Card Member, not per Card. Family and guests may not enter or remain in the lounge unless accompanied in the lounge by the Card Member.
So it's either 2 guests or unlimited immediate family
or
2 guests/immediate family
?
