American Express AX Centurion Lounge at SFO & IAH (IAH Opened Jun 24, 2016 @ Term D)
Jan 10, 2015, 4:17 pm
#151
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Marin County, California
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 412
I'll quote you on that!!!
Give it a year or two. As I said, they might be willing to give out a couple of visits a year on a $400 annual fee but not much more. Maybe they'll allow the $200 per year Airline fee apply.....that would be four visits per year.
Give it a year or two. As I said, they might be willing to give out a couple of visits a year on a $400 annual fee but not much more. Maybe they'll allow the $200 per year Airline fee apply.....that would be four visits per year.
Jan 10, 2015, 4:20 pm
#152
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
Not going to happen. AMEX is doing everything it can to shore up the devaluations that have occurred due to airline mergers and closer relationship with other card companies. That is why the Centurion Lounges are being built in the first place. If they started charging, they would certainly lose a bunch of people who are already probably wary about the fact that they don't have AA and US access anymore. Indeed, I initially upgraded to AMEX Plat in order to get access to AA lounges after I took my business to AA. Formerly, CO people could also get in to CO lounges with it. That was dropped.
Jan 10, 2015, 4:31 pm
#153
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Marin County, California
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 412
That's why I predict limits coming. Of course I have no way to know for sure....just a prediction!
Jan 10, 2015, 4:42 pm
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,781
That is true. What seems to be happening though is when they initially thought they had enough extra capacity to open it up to Platinums they thought they could handle the extra volume. However, my own experience is they are already becoming over-crowded. That also seems to be a common complaint on FT.
That's why I predict limits coming. Of course I have no way to know for sure....just a prediction!
That's why I predict limits coming. Of course I have no way to know for sure....just a prediction!
Jan 10, 2015, 9:01 pm
#155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,947
Amex currently charges $50 per visit for any Amex CardMembers (Green, Gold, etc) to their Centurion lounges. Only Centurion and Platinum CardMembers are given free access. Given that the lounges are already regularly filling up, it seems to me they will begin charging Platinums a fee per visit sometime soon.
Jan 10, 2015, 9:05 pm
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,947
DFW also suffers from overcrowding. And if your are at LGA during major weather delays the AMEX lounge is packed.
Jan 10, 2015, 10:06 pm
#157
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Jan 10, 2015, 10:36 pm
#158
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,307
As other have predicted, I expect limits of some type (beyond "space available") to be imposed.
Jan 11, 2015, 10:40 am
#159
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
That's a long list...
I too could speculate, like you have, but perhaps from a different perspective.
In reality though, the lounge was slow when I entered (Saturday at 8:30 PM or so), and the front desk agent seemed talkative.
I should have just asked her to clarify, and will try to get more information on my next visit. (The front desk agent happily told me that it was my 4th visit since they opened!
This is three more times than I ever visited the SFO United Club, by the way.)
I'm thinking the lady meant one of two things, both of which are detrimental to UA.
1) The people working in the UA lounge are recommending their passengers go to Centurion instead, as it is much nicer and has faster internet.
2) Fed up UA PAX are going to Centurion instead. I mean, the natural customer for that lounge will be a UA passenger, as that terminal is UA only.
1) The people working in the UA lounge are recommending their passengers go to Centurion instead, as it is much nicer and has faster internet.
2) Fed up UA PAX are going to Centurion instead. I mean, the natural customer for that lounge will be a UA passenger, as that terminal is UA only.
In reality though, the lounge was slow when I entered (Saturday at 8:30 PM or so), and the front desk agent seemed talkative.
I should have just asked her to clarify, and will try to get more information on my next visit. (The front desk agent happily told me that it was my 4th visit since they opened!
This is three more times than I ever visited the SFO United Club, by the way.)
Last edited by LarkSFO; Jan 11, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Jan 11, 2015, 12:13 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Agreed, but that's the whole point. If the "Value" received exceeds the amount the customer pays (annual fee) the issuer loses money. At least for customers who use the lounge frequently.
Another possibility might be, say, two free visits per Platinum CardMember per year after which each visit is charged.
Another possibility might be, say, two free visits per Platinum CardMember per year after which each visit is charged.
Jan 12, 2015, 9:39 pm
#161
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA MP (1K, 1MM)
Posts: 268
I've been to the SFO Centurion lounge a few times and it's not been over crowded yet. A bit busy, yes, but definitely less crowded than the UC.
Jan 20, 2015, 3:00 pm
#162
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA MP (1K, 1MM)
Posts: 268
After spending a few hours yesterday and today at the LAS Centurion lounge, I'm not quite sure why so many people say it's crowded and small. I found both days to be relatively half-empty with much better food and beverage options. (Though the rest room was a bit on the small side...)
Jan 20, 2015, 3:08 pm
#163
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, US Silver
Posts: 68
After spending a few hours yesterday and today at the LAS Centurion lounge, I'm not quite sure why so many people say it's crowded and small. I found both days to be relatively half-empty with much better food and beverage options. (Though the rest room was a bit on the small side...)
Jan 20, 2015, 7:30 pm
#164
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
After spending a few hours yesterday and today at the LAS Centurion lounge, I'm not quite sure why so many people say it's crowded and small. I found both days to be relatively half-empty with much better food and beverage options. (Though the rest room was a bit on the small side...)
I had a wonderful Belvedere on the rocks, and my coworker had a nice mimosa...Neither of us are big drinkers, but when the offered beverages are truly premium, and no charge, we'll both splurge.
The chicken was good, the pasta was al dente and flavorful, and the salads refreshing.
As a new Plat Amex cardholder, I can't wait to try the SFO lounge in a few weeks.
Jan 24, 2015, 11:20 am
#165
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA MP (1K, 1MM)
Posts: 268
I was there at night and the early morning, didn't experience the light issues, but can see how that would be the case. The windows at the UC are often suffering from the same issue when I've been there!
