![]() ![]() Dubbed The Centurion Lounge, the company has opened three locations so far in Las Vegas, New York’s LaGuardia, and at Dallas/Fort Worth. I'm also not sure that actually solves your main problem.One of the most exciting new benefits offered by American Express is access to its new line of airport lounges. But as much as I love my Chinese New Year drink, I'm not sure spending $60 total for my 5 and 11-year-olds to go into the lounge with me will ever make sense. But it's also really nice to treat the family to a nice lounge visit a few times per year on a long layover or before a big departure. ![]() It's always great to be able to grab a hot plate of food and a cool cocktail in the Centurion lounge on a solo work trip, and I'm sure that will be more enjoyable with fewer people in the lounges. If that isn't enough to reduce crowding, you could even require advance guest reservations to be made in the app - we already have our summer vacation travel dates at the ready. That's a more attainable tier for many than the new $75,000 threshold you've set for complimentary guests. If you want to add an extra incentive to unlock this perk, you could perhaps open this up to those who spend $10,000 + on the card annually. Who knows - they would then want a card of their own. This would allow Platinum cardholders to treat their family once or twice a year or introduce friends to the lounge. This would allow families to add children 13 and up as paid authorized users who would then have access, and those with kids 12 and under could continue to access the lounge as before.Īnother idea would be to build in a certain number of included guest visits per year - maybe somewhere between six and ten annual guest visits sounds about right. Assuming there are no impending changes with authorized users being able to access the Centurion Lounges (please, don't change that), perhaps a natural age cut-off for continued complimentary access could be for children 12 and under. I don't like to complain without offering suggestions, so here are a couple of ideas.Ĭhildren are old enough to be authorized users on a Platinum or other American Express card starting on their 13th birthday. Charging the same $50 for a visit from a preschooler who just wants to play with toys in the family room and an adult who will make good use of the food and beverages you have to offer seems. I understand some change is needed, but I think you're over-reacting a touch. While we are old friends dating back to your debut day in 2013, I know you have become really popular in recent years and you've become a victim of your own success. (OK, maybe I'm thinking the most of the Chinese New Year drink made with Prosecco, Mandarin Napoleon, Canton Ginger Liqueur and lemon juice we get from the fantastic bartender in the Houston location, but you get the point.) It's been a while - I know we haven't visited your lounges as a family since November 2019, but we think of you often. So here's my Hail Mary attempt to rekindle what once was a match made in credit-card-perks-Heaven. Times change, priorities shift and clearly, Amex had a crowding problem it needed to solve (even before social distancing was a thing).īut while we can agree on the problem, I'd argue there is a much better way to seek out a solution than to shut the door on most traveling families.įamily room (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy) It is a sharp left-turn for a network of lounges that once courted families with colorfully wallpapers rooms stocked with toys and games. Paying $30 per child, per visit on top of the card's $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) - which may go even higher if the rumors pan out - to access a family room and the buffet isn't realistic. Amex Centurion cardholders will also retain their guesting abilities.īut for the vast majority of Platinum cardholders with young families, early-2023 will mark the end of an era. Those big-spenders will retain the ability to bring in two complimentary guests. 1, 2023, those with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express will lose the ability to bring in any complimentary guests to the Centurion lounges unless they spend $75,000 per year on their Platinum card. Amex tinkered with access rules, time limits, waitlists and now has really dropped the hammer.Īs we learned yesterday, beginning on Feb. The Centurion lounges, as anyone who visited them frequently pre-pandemic knows, became crowded during peak times. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. ![]()
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