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Centurion Lounge crowding: Platinum cardholders may pay $50/guest effective 2.1.2023

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Old Apr 7, 2021, 7:10 pm
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Last edit by: mia
Centurion® Members, please refer to the Centurion website for specific terms & conditions.
From the Centurion website:
Centurion Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge. Gold Card and Green Card Additional Cards on your Centurion account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Members may bring immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and their children under 18) OR up to two (2) companions into The Centurion Lounge.
The annual fee for personal Platinum card is $695. The annual fee for additional Platinum card is $175 for up to 3 additional cards (from 1 to 3). The annual fee for the 4th or more additional Platinum card is $175 for each card.

The annual fee for business Platinum card is $595. The annual fee for each additional Platinum card is $300.

Originally Posted by https://thecenturionlounge.com/info/terms/
The Centurion® Lounge
Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members

U.S. Basic Platinum Card Members and Additional Platinum Card Members on the account and U.S. Basic Business Platinum Card Members and Additional Platinum Card Members on the account may bring up to two (2) guests per visit into locations of The Centurion Lounge in the U.S., at Hong Kong International Airport and at London Heathrow Airport for no per-visit guest fee (“Complimentary Guest Access”) through January 31, 2023. Effective February 1, 2023, Platinum Card Members, Business Platinum Card Members and Additional Platinum Card Members on the account will be charged a $50 fee for each guest (or $30 for children aged 2 through 17, with proof of age). To receive Complimentary Guest Access at these locations after January 31, 2023, the total eligible purchases on the Platinum Account must equal or exceed $75,000 between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and in each calendar year thereafter. Guest access policies may vary internationally by location and are subject to change.

Beginning February 1, 2023, eligibility for Complimentary Guest Access will be processed within a week of the Platinum Account’s meeting the purchase requirement in most cases, but may take up to 12 weeks to become effective. Complimentary Guest Access status will be reflected in the Benefits tab of your online account and in the American Express App. Once effective, Complimentary Guest Access will be available for the remainder of the calendar year in which it became effective, the following calendar year, and until January 31 of the next calendar year (for example, if Complimentary Guest Access becomes effective on May 1, 2023, it will remain effective through January 31, 2025). Eligible purchases made by any Additional Card Members on the Platinum Account will contribute to the purchase requirement. Eligible purchases to meet the purchase requirement are for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of gift cards, person-to-person payments, or other cash equivalents. If a Basic Platinum Card Member upgrades or downgrades from a different American Express Card, eligible purchases made on that Card Account will count toward the new Platinum Account's Complimentary Guest Access purchase requirement.

Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge. Gold Card and Green Card Additional Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. All access to The Centurion Lounge is subject to space availability. To access The Centurion Lounge, the Card Member must present The Centurion Lounge agent with the following upon each visit: his or her valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for a departing flight on the same day on any carrier and a government-issued I.D. Note that select lounges allow access to Card Members with a confirmed reservation for any same-day travel (departure or arrival). Refer to the specific location’s access policy for more information. Failure to present this documentation may result in access being denied. Card Members will not be compensated for changes in locations, rates or policies. A Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. For locations with a self-service bar, the Card Member must be of legal drinking age in the location’s jurisdiction to enter without a parent or legal guardian. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. American Express reserves the right to remove any person from the Lounge for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive or violent. Soliciting other Card Members for access into our lounge is not permissible. Hours may vary by location and are subject to change. Amenities vary among The Centurion Lounge locations and are subject to change. Services and amenities in the Lounge are complimentary, however you are responsible for any purchases and/or servicing charges you authorize our Member Services Professionals to perform on your behalf. Some American Express Cards are not eligible for all services provided by Member Services Desk. American Express will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen or damages suffered by the purchaser or visitor inside The Centurion Lounge. If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with lounge access in any way or that you intend to do so, we may remove access to The Centurion Lounge from the Account. Use of The Centurion Lounge is subject to all rules and conditions set by American Express. American Express reserves the right to revise the rules at any time without notice.

Corporate Platinum Card Members

Corporate Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge. Gold Card and Green Card Additional Cards on your Corporate Platinum Card account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Members may bring up to two (2) complimentary companions into The Centurion® Lounge locations in the U.S., at Hong Kong International Airport and at London Heathrow Airport. Refer to the specific location’s access policy for more information. All access to The Centurion Lounge is subject to space availability. To access The Centurion Lounge, the Card Member must present The Centurion Lounge agent with the following upon each visit: his or her valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for a departing flight on the same day on any carrier and a government-issued I.D. Note that select lounges allow access to Card Members with a confirmed reservation for any same-day travel (departure or arrival). Refer to the specific location’s access policy for more information. Failure to present this documentation may result in access being denied. Card Members will not be compensated for changes in locations, rates or policies. A Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. For locations with a self-service bar, the Card Member must be of legal drinking age in the location’s jurisdiction to enter without a parent or legal guardian. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. American Express reserves the right to remove any person from the Lounge for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive or violent. Soliciting other Card Members for access into our lounge is not permissible. Hours may vary by location and are subject to change. Amenities vary among The Centurion Lounge locations and are subject to change. Services and amenities in the Lounge are complimentary, however you are responsible for any purchases and/or servicing charges you authorize our Member Services Professionals to perform on your behalf. Some American Express Cards are not eligible for all services provided by Member Services Desk. American Express will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen or damages suffered by the purchaser or visitor inside The Centurion Lounge. If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with lounge access in any way or that you intend to do so, we may remove access to The Centurion Lounge from the Account. Use of The Centurion Lounge is subject to all rules and conditions set by American Express. American Express reserves the right to revise the rules at any time without notice.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card Members

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Basic and Additional Card Members receive complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express charge or credit Card. A Card Member may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location. Guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Eligible lounges only include all Centurion Lounges located in the United States and Hong Kong. To access The Centurion Lounge, the Card Member must present The Centurion Lounge agent with the following upon each visit: his or her valid Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for eligible Delta Air Lines flight, and a government-issued I.D. Failure to present these items may result in access being denied. Card Members will not be compensated for changes in locations, rates or policies. A Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. For locations with a self-service bar, the Card Member must be of legal drinking age in the location's jurisdiction to enter without a parent or legal guardian. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. American Express reserves the right to remove any person from The Centurion Lounge for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive or violent. Access is subject to space availability. Hours may vary by location and are subject to change. Amenities vary among The Centurion Lounge locations and are subject to change. Services and amenities in The Centurion Lounge are complimentary, however, you are responsible for any purchases and/or servicing charges you authorize our Member Services Professionals to perform on your behalf. American Express will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen or damages suffered by the purchaser or visitor inside The Centurion Lounge. Use of The Centurion Lounge is subject to all rules and conditions set by American Express. American Express reserves the right to revise the rules at any time without notice.

Delta SkyClub

The Platinum Card Member must present his or her valid American Express Card, government-issued I.D., and same-day corresponding airline ticket to club ambassador. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Access to Delta Sky Club partner lounges is not permitted. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to access Delta Sky Club, and 21 years of age to access locations with a self-service bar, unless accompanied by a responsible, supervising adult who has access to the lounge. Card Members must adhere to all House Rules of participating clubs. Participating airport clubs and locations subject to change without notice. Additional guest access and fees subject to terms and conditions of participating airport clubs.

For the most current Delta Sky Club access and pricing policy, please visit Delta.com/skyclub. All Delta Sky Club rules apply to Delta Sky Club membership and use. To review the rules, please visit Delta.com/skyclub.

Airspace

This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Member must present his or her valid Card, government-issued I.D. and confirmed boarding pass for same-day travel. In some cases, Card Member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. The Card Member may bring up to two companions into the club as complimentary guests per visit. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and his or her guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Airspace Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non-complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Airspace Lounge locations are subject to change.

Priority Pass Select

These Terms and Conditions govern Platinum Card Members' participation in and use of the Priority Pass™ Select program. Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge access program. At any visit to a Priority Pass Select lounge that admits guests, you may bring in two guests for no charge. After two guests, you will be automatically charged the guest visit fee equal to the guest visit fee of the Priority Pass Standard program for each additional guest. Some lounges do not admit guests. By enrolling in Priority Pass Select, you agree that you will be responsible for any additional accompanying guest visits and that your Card will be automatically charged after you have signed for the additional guest visit and it has been reported to Priority Pass by the participating lounge. Additionally, you acknowledge and agree that American Express will verify your Card account number and provide updated Card account information to Priority Pass. Priority Pass will use this information to fulfill on the Priority Pass Select program and may use this information for marketing related to the program. Once enrolled, Platinum Card Members whose Card account is not cancelled may access participating Priority Pass Select lounges by presenting your Priority Pass Select card and airline boarding pass. In some lounges, Priority Pass Select member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Priority Pass Select members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Amenities may vary among airport lounge locations. Conference rooms, where available, may be reserved for a nominal fee. Priority Pass Select lounge partners and locations are subject to change. All Priority Pass Select members must adhere to the Priority Pass Conditions of Use, which will be sent to you with your membership package, and can be viewed at www.prioritypass.com. Upon receipt of your enrollment information, Priority Pass will send your Priority Pass Select card and membership package which you should receive within 10–14 business days. If you have not received the Priority Pass card after 14 days, please contact American Express using the number on the back of your American Express® Card. Please note, Additional Gold Card Members are not eligible for membership.

Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner

Platinum Card Members

This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Members receive complimentary access to any US location of the Escape Lounges. Card Member must present his or her valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel on any carrier and government-issued I.D. In some cases, Card Member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Card Members may bring either (i) up to two guests or (ii) immediate family members, which are spouse or domestic partner and all children under the age of 18, as complimentary guests. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Basic and Additional Card Members receive complimentary access to all Escape Lounge locations when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express credit card and Card Members may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate equal to the guest fee of the respective Escape Lounge location. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and his or her guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Escape Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non-complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Escape Lounge locations are subject to change.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card Members

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Basic and Additional Card Members receive complimentary access to all U.S. Escape Lounges - The Centurion® Studio Partner locations when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Card Member must present his or her valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel on Delta and government-issued I.D. In some cases, Card Member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express credit card and Card Members may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate equal to the guest fee of the respective Escape Lounge location. For more information on guest fee rates and lounge terms and conditions, see https://escapelounges.com/us/access/. Guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and his or her guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Escape Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non-complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Escape Lounge locations are subject to change.

Plaza Premium Lounges:

This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Members receive complimentary access to any global location of Plaza Premium Lounges. Card Member must present his or her valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel on any carrier and government-issued I.D. In some cases, Card Member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Card Members may bring up to two (2) companions into Plaza Premium Lounges as complimentary guests. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and his or her guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Plaza Premium Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non-complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Plaza Premium Lounge locations are subject to change.

Lufthansa:

This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Platinum Card Members have complimentary access to select Lufthansa Business Lounges (regardless of ticket class) and Lufthansa Senator Lounges (when flying business class). To access the Lufthansa lounges, Platinum Card Member must present a government issued I.D., a same-day departure boarding pass showing confirmed reservation on a Lufthansa Group flight (Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian airlines) and a valid Platinum Card. For the most current list of participating lounges and access requirements, please use the Lounge Finder feature in the American Express App or visit www.americanexpress.com/findalounge. Card Members must adhere to all rules of participating lounges. Participating lounges and locations subject to change without notice. Additional guest access and fees subject to terms and conditions of participating lounges. In some Lounges the Platinum Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. For the most current Lufthansa rules and guest access and pricing policy, please visit https://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/lounges.

Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges:

American Express offers access to additional lounges in the Global Lounge Collection where Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to participating locations. Card Members must present their valid Platinum Card, a government-issued I.D., and a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel on any carrier. Guest access and associated fees are subject to the terms and conditions of the participating lounge provider. Participation, locations, rates, and policies of lounges are subject to change without notice, and Card Members and their guests will not be compensated for such changes. Access is subject to space availability, including capacity restrictions and limited hours that may be placed on the participating lounge. Amenities, services, and hours may vary by participating lounge and are subject to change without notice. American Express will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen, or damages suffered by the Card Member or guests inside the participating lounge. For participating lounges with a self-service bar, the Card Member may be required to be of legal drinking age in the participating lounge jurisdiction to enter without a parent or legal guardian. All Card Members and their guests must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. Each participating lounge may have their own policy allowing for children under a certain age to enter for free with the Card Member who is a parent or legal guardian. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Participating lounges reserve the right to remove any person from the premises for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive, or violent. If American Express, in our sole discretion, determines that the Card Member or their guests have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with access to participating lounges in any way, or that the Card Member or their guests intend to do so, we may remove access to the Additional Lounges from the Account. American Express and the participating lounge reserve the right to revise the rules at any time without notice. For the most current list of participating lounges and access requirements, please use the Lounge Finder feature in the American Express App or visit www.americanexpress.com/findalounge.






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Centurion Lounge crowding: Platinum cardholders may pay $50/guest effective 2.1.2023

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Old Aug 14, 2022, 8:16 pm
  #931  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 114
Originally Posted by Mama
I would love to meet and hangout with posters who spend $75K+ with Amex Plat per year. Please take me in.
Do post your Amex spending status here.
It’s more then you might expect. Relatively easy spend requirement for small businesses, and given the 1.5 points on $5k+ charges, not a bad deal at all, considering how AmEx is throwing out incredibly high NLL signup bonuses.
nemenor is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2022, 12:12 pm
  #932  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, IHG
Posts: 54
Not sure which thread to ask so picked this one.

I have a trip this year in November. It will be me, wife, and 2 little kids. I have both the personal and business plat. Will I get + 2 guests or + 4 guests at the CL?
climbingbear is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2022, 12:34 pm
  #933  
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
Originally Posted by climbingbear
Not sure which thread to ask so picked this one.

I have a trip this year in November. It will be me, wife, and 2 little kids. I have both the personal and business plat. Will I get + 2 guests or + 4 guests at the CL?
You will get + 2 guests unless your kids are both under 2 and you can provide a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of age for both of them.
climbingbear likes this.
Statman is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2022, 12:48 pm
  #934  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,888
Originally Posted by climbingbear
Not sure which thread to ask so picked this one.

I have a trip this year in November. It will be me, wife, and 2 little kids. I have both the personal and business plat. Will I get + 2 guests or + 4 guests at the CL?
Originally Posted by Statman
You will get + 2 guests unless your kids are both under 2 and you can provide a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of age for both of them.
You will get complementary access for two guests and have the option to purchase access for the third guest for $50 (assuming the kids are over 2 years old, as Statman indicated).
climbingbear likes this.
Adelphos is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2022, 7:38 pm
  #935  
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Posts: 102,095
Originally Posted by Super Mario
This is reaching. Especially considering many people can either expense (a better) breakfast, or could have one included at their hotel.

Then, you're hoping you can even get in with your expensive membership. While it is nice they are adding one in DC, that just screams of another overcrowded lounge. Especially one where this new guest policy may not have as much of a positive impact.
A lot of people on personal travel can’t legitimately “expense account” breakfast, especially when the accompanying breakfast companions aren’t work-related colleagues/associates. And a lot of hotels don’t include breakfast for all guests. There is a reason why more and more hotels in the US have cut the breakfast benefit value that their program elites used to get. There is a reason why airline and other lounge operators/providers have gotten increasingly restrictive about lounge use. It’s because it’s been no reach to assume that there are some proportion of hotel program elites and airport lounge users who have been substituting a bit and then some out of paying for food and drinks on their own dime — or even (at times) on their employer’s/client’s dime whether on a per dime or not — by using the lounges to get some food and drink on the relative cheap for themselves and/or their personal travel companions. And it’s this kind of thing that won’t end just because of a $50 fee. Instead what I anticipate is a lot more AU cards on accounts and Amex getting more fees that way alongside the $50 entrance fee. The crowding issue will not disappear anytime soon.
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GUWonder is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2022, 2:19 pm
  #936  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,275
Yeah, okay, (potentially) dumb questions, I prefer to be a careful planner and I’ve never guested anyone into a CL before. Is the CURRENT policy still 2 guests per Plat or Biz Plat cardmember? Do guests have to show a boarding pass and if so, does their flight have to be within 3 hours? (Yes, I fully realize that they wouldn’t really be “guests” if they had to show a boarding pass and had a 3 hour limitation, but AmEx already has a unique definition of “guest” and I’m uncertain about just how unique that definition is.) Thank you.
Dr Jabadski is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2022, 3:04 pm
  #937  
mia
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Originally Posted by Dr Jabadski
....CURRENT policy still 2 guests per Plat or Biz Plat cardmember? ....
Yes, until 1 February 2023.
mia is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2022, 9:50 am
  #938  
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: DEN
Posts: 36
Originally Posted by Dr Jabadski
Yeah, okay, (potentially) dumb questions, I prefer to be a careful planner and I’ve never guested anyone into a CL before. Is the CURRENT policy still 2 guests per Plat or Biz Plat cardmember? Do guests have to show a boarding pass and if so, does their flight have to be within 3 hours? (Yes, I fully realize that they wouldn’t really be “guests” if they had to show a boarding pass and had a 3 hour limitation, but AmEx already has a unique definition of “guest” and I’m uncertain about just how unique that definition is.) Thank you.
Never been asked for a guest’s BP or any information at check-in.

It’s actually faster to just guest my spouse in, rather than each showing a Plat, since they don’t require another swipe of the card and scan of BP.
Mile_Hiker is offline  
Old Oct 8, 2022, 6:59 am
  #939  
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Had a chat with a Centurion Lounge host last week for a few minutes, and he mentioned that they (Amex) expect a big decrease in number of people come February 1. The evidence he gave that people won't pay is that they have less than 5 paid entries per day on average now and that's with 2 free guests, so a group of 4 would have an entry fee of $12.50 per person. When no free guests are allowed, that becomes $25-$33.33 per person with 1-2 guests, respectively.

He has had people complain in the past over not coming a prior trip bc they had an extra person (and a bunch about even one additional child precluding them from going in).

Given that, I can't imagine cardmembers as a whole suddenly coughing up more money averaged out per person in the group.
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Old Oct 8, 2022, 7:43 am
  #940  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,029
Originally Posted by lowfareair
Had a chat with a Centurion Lounge host last week for a few minutes, and he mentioned that they (Amex) expect a big decrease in number of people come February 1. The evidence he gave that people won't pay is that they have less than 5 paid entries per day on average now and that's with 2 free guests, so a group of 4 would have an entry fee of $12.50 per person. When no free guests are allowed, that becomes $25-$33.33 per person with 1-2 guests, respectively.

He has had people complain in the past over not coming a prior trip bc they had an extra person (and a bunch about even one additional child precluding them from going in).

Given that, I can't imagine cardmembers as a whole suddenly coughing up more money averaged out per person in the group.
I guess we'll see and certainly many of us hope this is the case, but to date, Amex has tried numerous strategies to reduce crowding and literally none of them, not a single one, has worked... so I guess we'll see.

Regards
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scubadu is offline  
Old Oct 8, 2022, 8:16 am
  #941  
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Originally Posted by scubadu
I guess we'll see and certainly many of us hope this is the case, but to date, Amex has tried numerous strategies to reduce crowding and literally none of them, not a single one, has worked... so I guess we'll see.

Regards
I think the difference here is that all of the previous ones have been marginal, at best (you simply don't have hundreds of travelers not on a connection arriving way more than 3 hours early on a daily basis) and much of it has been negated by not just growth in the Platinum card, but in the past year people arriving way earlier due to news reports talking about crazy security lines plus airlines struggling operationally, causing more people to spend additional time in the lounge due to delays.

If the average Amex holder arrives 30 minutes earlier now, but it only takes 10 more minutes to go through security on average (especially with many likely having Precheck), that's 20 extra minutes in the lounge for the average originating passenger plus additional people who enter bc they now have enough time to stop for a drink and bite. Toss on operational delays, no free guests (for most people) and likely a good number of people cancelling the card due to that (I know 2 people planning to do so) and I think/hope lounges will be materially less busy come February and it will improve throughout 2023

Last edited by lowfareair; Oct 8, 2022 at 8:21 am
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Old Oct 8, 2022, 9:02 am
  #942  
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Originally Posted by scubadu
I guess we'll see and certainly many of us hope this is the case, but to date, Amex has tried numerous strategies to reduce crowding and literally none of them, not a single one, has worked... so I guess we'll see.

Regards
I think the economic situation will alleviate some of the crowding pressure in 2023. Maybe not “enough” for some, but I don’t expect October 2023 coming with more crowded Centurion lounges than October 2022.

I would love to find out what happens with the ratio of AU Platinum cards to Platinum accounts in the US.
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Old Oct 8, 2022, 10:31 am
  #943  
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,478
Originally Posted by lowfareair
Had a chat with a Centurion Lounge host last week for a few minutes, and he mentioned that they (Amex) expect a big decrease in number of people come February 1. The evidence he gave that people won't pay is that they have less than 5 paid entries per day on average now and that's with 2 free guests, so a group of 4 would have an entry fee of $12.50 per person. When no free guests are allowed, that becomes $25-$33.33 per person with 1-2 guests, respectively.

He has had people complain in the past over not coming a prior trip bc they had an extra person (and a bunch about even one additional child precluding them from going in).

Given that, I can't imagine cardmembers as a whole suddenly coughing up more money averaged out per person in the group.
I agree with the host's sentiments. I think there are a few tangible headwinds to the crowding in the short term:
  • Most everyone will be paying the $695 AF from now on
  • $50/visit is at a price point that if you're bringing guests in, you could be better off in an airport bar/restaurant
  • I don't think the appetite for AU's is what this site thinks it is - I think 1 couple out of my close friend group has an AU set up, I can't see lounge visits a few times a year changing that
  • Which is to say, anecdotally, a lot of the crowding seemed to me to be cardholder + 2 friends/work colleagues - it's a flex essentially
  • The travel rebound of 2022 will have burned itself out within the next 12 months imo, the hassles of travelling this year plus the higher prices and economic headwinds, I think people will travel less next year
  • Amex continue to build out square footage and add lounges
I could honestly see them having to add some 1 time guest passes to the Platinum benefits if the above effects are more pronounced than even I expect.
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ChurnieEls is online now  
Old Oct 8, 2022, 10:47 am
  #944  
 
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I think it goes without saying that this will reduce the number of people wanting to go to the lounge. $50 is a lot of money, no matter how much you try to justify the value. However, that does not necessarily mean crowding will be fixed.
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Old Oct 8, 2022, 10:47 am
  #945  
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Originally Posted by ChurnieEls
  • I could honestly see them having to add some 1 time guest passes to the Platinum benefits if the above effects are more pronounced than even I expect.
One guest pass per $1000 spend, capped at two per month, or something like that would work for me. And by work I mean it might motivate me to put some spend on the Plat card that otherwise goes elsewhere for better rewards earnings.
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