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).
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,611
Centurion Lounge new policy 2 guests ONLY (ends exception for immediate family).
I was just told by the checkin agent at DFW Centurion Lounge that as of Mar 30 only two guests (including immediate family), meaning only two of my three kids can enter with me. Please tell me agent was incorrect. Is this another benefits change? Terms say:
"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."
UPDATE: yes it is true. Just saw sign at checkin. Agent said announced today.
DFW Centurion has a sign posted at check in stating that as of March 30, each Plat member can guest 2 people. No more "immediate family" option. If you have a spouse and more than 1 child, you will have to pay for the other children.
Agent said AX Centurion announced it today and the policy will be across the network and "will match the 2-guest access for PP."
"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."
UPDATE: yes it is true. Just saw sign at checkin. Agent said announced today.
DFW Centurion has a sign posted at check in stating that as of March 30, each Plat member can guest 2 people. No more "immediate family" option. If you have a spouse and more than 1 child, you will have to pay for the other children.
Agent said AX Centurion announced it today and the policy will be across the network and "will match the 2-guest access for PP."
Last edited by Stgermainparis; Mar 9, 17 at 8:33 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,611
I was just told by the checkin agent at DFW Centurion Lounge that as of Mar 30 only two guests (including immediate family), meaning only two of my three kids can enter with me. Please tell me agent was incorrect. Is this another benefits change? Terms say:
"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."
If people need to consume more lounge utilization than a single card holder, there is a simple solution for that; additional Platinum cards. I'm completely comfortable with those who use more, paying more. I do believe Amex should allow some level of guest privileges and two guests seems quite reasonable (Delta for example allows no free guests now), but the "...and immediate family" thing has always seemed overly generous and ripe for abuse to me for a single, primary annual fee.
The guest policy you are quoting is irrelevant if the change has not been formally announced and in force. They likely won't update the written policy unless or until the new policy is in effect.
Regards
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,611
Actually, I'd be quite on-board with this change and no offense, but I genuinely hope the agent's information is correct.
If people need to consume more lounge utilization than a single card holder, there is a simple solution for that; additional Platinum cards. I'm completely comfortable with those who use more, paying more. I do believe Amex should allow some level of guest privileges and two guests seems quite reasonable (Delta for example allows no free guests now), but the "...and immediate family" thing has always seemed overly generous and ripe for abuse to me for a single, primary annual fee.
The guest policy you are quoting is irrelevant if the change has not been formally announced and in force. They likely won't update the written policy unless or until the new policy is in effect.
Regards
If people need to consume more lounge utilization than a single card holder, there is a simple solution for that; additional Platinum cards. I'm completely comfortable with those who use more, paying more. I do believe Amex should allow some level of guest privileges and two guests seems quite reasonable (Delta for example allows no free guests now), but the "...and immediate family" thing has always seemed overly generous and ripe for abuse to me for a single, primary annual fee.
The guest policy you are quoting is irrelevant if the change has not been formally announced and in force. They likely won't update the written policy unless or until the new policy is in effect.
Regards
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.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Los Angeles California
Posts: 1,349
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.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: stl
Programs: AA LT Plat/8.1mm now with 1350 miles left in my account and proud of it.. SPG LT Titanium.
Posts: 3,053
In 2014 at DFW while traveling with my wife and two kids I had to pay for the second kid going and coming. I am wondering if this is just the formalization of their existing policy.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,611
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.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Miami
Programs: AA Gold; Hyatt Exp.; Hilton/Marriott Gold; CSR; Citi Prestige; Amex Plat, EDP, Gold, etc.
Posts: 58
If this is true, it is further value-erosion for me. I will not pay a fee (on top of the annual fee) for my second child to enter, so it effectively would rule out the lounge for me when traveling as a family.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 7,970
How much is the fee to bring a child in? I think it's the right policy, but perhaps not the right fee.
It's the crowds, not the amount of good kids eat. But I'm not sure this is enough to solve the crowding problem.
It's the crowds, not the amount of good kids eat. But I'm not sure this is enough to solve the crowding problem.
#9
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: 48,231
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: CLT
Programs: US CP, SPG Gold
Posts: 584
At some point one must justify a $550 annual fee to one's significant other, even net of the $200 travel credits, and losing the lounge benefit when one travels with one's significant other plus one's loved offspring makes it much more difficult. These places are nice but not $50-for-a-10-month-old nice.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 19

American Express can do whatever they want to control the situation but they really are consistently degrading the offering of the Platinum card. After paying $450 for access to the privileges (presumably for a year) they change the benefits. I know their terms make it possible to change terms as they need/want but I can choose to not renew also.
American Express should, at a minimum, provide adequate warning of said changes. As of this writing, the Centurion website states, "...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...".
As it stands this would be a whopping 21 days notice and really only a notice that a few very well traveled people would have noticed. I can see this causing much grief and confusion as their has been no other communication about a change that hits .
This is ridiculous and reflects so poorly on American Express. They need to hear from account holders like us that they need to provide reasonable notice before making changes.
American Express should, at a minimum, provide adequate warning of said changes. As of this writing, the Centurion website states, "...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...".
As it stands this would be a whopping 21 days notice and really only a notice that a few very well traveled people would have noticed. I can see this causing much grief and confusion as their has been no other communication about a change that hits .

This is ridiculous and reflects so poorly on American Express. They need to hear from account holders like us that they need to provide reasonable notice before making changes.
Last edited by brainjuice; Mar 9, 17 at 10:33 am Reason: minor clarification
#13
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, AC 25k, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 6,874
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.
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.
Now whether this policy will actually do much to reduce overcrowding is yet to be seen.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA 1MM, AS MVPG, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 14,996
I have never had more than one guest (most of the time I am alone).
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, AC 50K, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,621
I am 100% in favor of this change. Between the enhanced annual fee and the new lounge rules, I'm hoping for a more pleasant and less crowded lounge experience.