American Express announced fairly draconian new Centurion Lounge access restrictions yesterday. I view the policy change as a huge mistake.
First, I note that American Express has recognized the problem of overcrowding and is attempting to ameliorate it. That is commendable…and necessary.
But as far as I am concerned, it is going about it in the wrong way. Totally in the wrong way.
As of March 22, 2019, American Express will make two policy changes across its Centurion Lounge network for Platinum cardholders:
- Amex Centurion Lounge access will be limited to three hours or less prior to the originally scheduled departure time of a flight
- Centurion Lounge access will no longer be permitted upon arrival
- Children under two years of age will be admitted free of charge
- Previously, a member was allowed up to two guests, including babies
Centurion (Black) cardholders will still be able to access Centurion Lounges after a flight.
So AMEX will make its lounge more child-friendly but far less business friendly. While I am principally opposed to limiting member access, I could accept these changes if not for one thing: restricting access on arrival.
Don’t Limit Cardmember Access Upon Arrival
As I wrote last year:
The solution remains to limit guests, at least during peak periods. Of course this will cause outrage as well. Who doesn’t love taking their friends or loved ones in as a guest? Who wants to sit in the lounge alone while your spouse waits outside? But isn’t that better than telling a cardmember, key word being member, s/he cannot have access? It is not an ideal solution, but it strikes me as a better solution.
Every time I fly up from Burbank or LA to San Francisco, almost always in the morning, I like to go into the American Express Centurion Lounge for a cup of coffee and light breakfast, sometimes a shower, whether I am connecting or ending my travel in SFO. To take away this benefit is to take away where I derive tremendous value on my Platinum card, which is hardly cheap at $550/year.
If AMEX wants to limit “camping” in its lounges, fine. But don’t totally take away arrival access. How about for 1-2 hours after arrival? That seems like a fair compromise that limits “abuse” by cardholders. I don’t believe cardmember access should be scarified for infant access. The babies may not take up an extra seat on a plane (and usually behave much better than the men who have had too much to drink or yap on their mobile phones), but they do take up extra space in the lounge. I am not opposed to children in the lounges: just not at the expense of actual cardholders.
CONCLUSION
I wish there was room for everyone, but many cardholders have a legitimate reason to use the lounge upon arrival. Taking away this benefit eliminates a big advantage to maintaining the American Express Platinum card. That certainly will not prompt me to cancel the card, so perhaps that is the true bottom line…
image: American Express
So, Platinum card holders no longer are allowed to bring any guests ?
No, Plats can still bring two guests plus unlimited children under two, but only during the three hour window before a flight.
But, isn’t it only 3 hours before your original 1st departure. I cant find the official AMEX notice, but Gary Leff, reported on this and quoted the policy.
Which states “arrive within 3 hours or less prior to their original scheduled departure time or can provide proof of a connecting flight.” Key statment being “OR CAN PROVIDE PROOF OF A CONNECTING FLIGHT”
So, if you have a 6 hour layover in SFO you still have acess to the lounge. Thus new change seems to only be limiting your 1st segment, so folks can’t come to the airport super early and camp in the lounge. But, yes, restrictions on arrival is unfortunate. I also enjoy grabbing a bite to eat, shower, drink or whatever on arrival.
That seems to be correct.
Oh, thanks for this clarification! I had a 2 1/2 layover that stretched into a 5 1/2 layover in Philly before Christmas this year, due to aircraft maintenance and then having to them reschedule my connection. I was thinking how pissed I would have been getting kicked out after 3 hours.
Perfectly acceptable to limit to 3 hours before your first flight.
The prior policy allowed unlimited children under 18 years old, so considering the newest policy is only allowing children under 2 who have a lap child boarding pass AMEX is just correcting a policy change they considered to be too harsh. It’s hardly making the lounge more child friendly and proves they’ll compromise based on customer feedback.
Plus I’m lowkey excited to see someone throw a fit over they’re bring forced to pay $50 for a guest pass for their infant, because said infant has a full assigned seat and not a lap child boarding pass.
I am old enough now to say that I miss the Good Old Days when First Class travelers had their own lounge and you felt like you were actually getting something for the cost of that bl@@dy ticker!
The people who infest the lounges are everything but first class passengers. They are back-of-the-bus types who justify a $550 fee as a reason to abuse every benny – like obese lining up at all-you-can-eat buffets, or the ones who take soaps, shampoos towels from hotels. Those with F/J have their own lounges.
Aren’t we a fine upstanding individual.
In this day and age of computer technology available handheld,one would think AMEX could create an app that accepts reservations and caps lounge access to card members with a departing flight first and space available for arriving card holders.
To say it’s absurd is absurd. They needed to create a policy. Having access on arrival is nice. But not necessary most of the time. Most people are going to leave the airport on arrival. Yes I like to stop and grab food on arrival too. But it’s one way to limit people. And they need some way. I suggest limiting people to one guest, period. Babies included. But whatever they do to make it livable is fine.
But I’ve argued for two years it is necessary for me, the cardholder, and staked out a legitimate reason why. Limiting guests strikes me as a far more reasonable policy than restricting cardholders, hence my argument that the new restrictions are absurd.
You chose the “absurd” option that fit your lifestyle and were willing to sacrifice the other option. It doesn’t matter if you have made a legitimate argument as to why. There are those who can make legitimate arguments as for why they need to arrive 5 hours early or why the need extra guests.
I am not saying you are wrong, just that you can’t approach this as if the proper solution is the one that fits your lifestyle.
As I mentioned to you before I find sitting at the gate or in a restaurant in the terminal much more enjoyable than the lounges. The lounges are nice if they are not crowded but that is rare these days. People go through the food lines like it is feeding time at the troughs. Bunch of animals. These people are savages. I will keep the amex card but for other benefits. I do have the Admirals Klub and United Klub memberships but debating whether to renew this year…
I hear you, but as I mentioned in my recent Yankee Pier review at SFO, I find the Centurion Lounge much better…
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2018/09/08/yankee-pier-sfo-review/
The issue is limited departure access and none upon arrival. A lot complain about children, forgetting they themselves were children at one time.
I doubt children are causing crowding problems. Children don’t drink alcohol nor do they eat as much as adults and most of the time their parents aren’t doing the same either. From an expense standpoint the lounge needs more families.
In the end, everyone pays the same fee. When you hand out platinum cards like candy, what is to be expected.
New article title: “Amex cuts benefit that most people don’t use and blogger who uses that benefit a lot calls it absurd”
Comments suggest otherwise Josh.
Sorry Josh, if you have that card and don’t use the lounges as a benefit, then you’re missing out. Matthew – I don’t mind limiting guests further down to just one; my best travel bud was added as an auth user to make sure they always got to tag along. But this is a significant reduction in value to the card for us because we usually don’t take advantage of the lounges until our arrival to refresh. If AmEx insists on putting this policy into effect in March, we won’t be renewing in April.
This is a reduced service, ok to do so but they need to either (1) stop using the lounge as a bait or (2) reduce membership fees (3) limit new memberships. Since they dont want to lose $ so in their minds it’s ok to continuing the robbery.
I dont understand why US customers never come straight to the center of an issue, always mucking around, just pretense of civil manners.
I don’t appreciate your generalization of US customers ktc. Care to mention where you are from so I can start dishing out some stereotypes and generalizations about you?
Mucking around…. Must be German… Only Germans talk like that….
I’m surprised there is no mention, nor proactive approach by AmEx to restrict authorized users vs. primary cardholders. Limiting guest access does little to resolve overcrowding if cardholders simply opt to pay $175 and purchase up to three additional cards. Given this scenario, I could hypothetically add nine additional heads to a lounge for $175 vs. the standard $450/$550 that a primary card holder would pay. Allowing such a loop-hole devalues the benefit of an individual like myself who often travels alone, yet is inconvenienced by noisy, uncomfortable lounges where food is picked over, and shared spaces are soiled.
I am disappointed by the restriction to arrivals – surely there is a better solution. Unfortunate situation indeed.
give Plats x free visits per year, additional visits $25
If you had a 1-2 hour limit on arrival lounge visits, how/who would find the visitor and escort them out of the lounge once their time was up?
I wish the honor system were not so easily dismissed in the USA.
In all fairness, Americans are actually pretty good with honor system in my experience. You should see people elsewhere…
The problem right here is in fact individuals using the lounge upon arrival. This benefit is absurd and unnecessary. No wonder the lounges are over crowded in the states. To blame children or to blame spouses sounds to me like a singleton throwing his toys out the pram because he can’t fill his boots before and after a flight. I say well done Amex, common sense prevails.
Who showers on departure?
Most Centurion lounges don’t even have showers. That’s not what the majority of people use them for.
I haven’t been to one that doesn’t have at least one shower before. Which one doesn’t have a shower?
A shower on departure is welcome if you have checked out from a hotel at noon and was out and about all afternoon/evening before your late evening flight.
LGA doesn’t have a shower.
and charge for drinks
Matthew, shouldn’t this take effect exactly one year from yesterday considering people who have paid their annual fees already should enjoy what was promised to them? Putting only a couple months notice shortchanges the individuals who paid the annual fee hoping for one year of promised consistent benefits.
Agree, though I suspect AMEX will offer annual fee refunds to those who choose to cancel their cards.
The airlines are behind these changes.. they’ve been slowly adding restrictions to lounge use. My guess, Amex will be totally out by next year. Lounges are losing propositions for airlines. Basically they are a cost not a revenue maker. Rent is extremely expensive and airlines need to maximize use by restricitng to highly elite flyers, a lot of members complained about overcrowding, thus this was the response. I used to work for an airline. The manager who ran the club told me the reasons why.
Matthew, is there an effective way for us to file a complaint with Amex regarding this change? Should I call up the number on the back of my Amex to voice frustration, or is it better directed to a different audience?
I am with you 100% on this killing the value proposition of the Centurion lounge access benefit for me. I rarely get to the airport more than 45 min – 1 hr before a flight, but often stop for a quick Zahav-inspired dinner once I land at PHL before heading home. Now it seems the only way to do that would be buying (and then, later, cancelling) a refundable ticket….sigh.
I would start with Twitter.
This is indeed absurd. The main benefit of having showers is on arrival – I am yet to meet someone who wants to shower on departure.
Unfortunately, babies are treated as sacred cows, so god forbid you make them count as a guest.
All this said, the unfortunate reality is Amex wants card members, but not too many who use this. So by targeting the families, you get 550 USD (plus 175 potentially) per year and the associated ancillary revenue, while having them use the lounge less often or during vacation.
The planet fitness model is successful, yes, but the historic success of American Express has not been predicated on such tactics.
woah what you don’t want to shower before a long haul departure?
I’ve had probably ten instances in the past year where i was out all day before an evening flight after checking out of my hotel. It’s so nice to have a shower before sleeping in your own filth for 13 hours.
I’d argue the other way is less important… wherever you’re going to, there will be a shower either at the hotel or arrivals lounge… sure you might have a meeting right away, but it goes both ways
I think the bigger problem is limiting access to three hours before the “originally scheduled” departure. Especially at SFO, delays exceeding three hours are not uncommon and that’s when lounges are most useful.
I couldn’t agree more, well said. It’s nonsensical they’ve cut cardemenber benefits in terms of arrival, but actually loosened the guest policy (in terms of children).
They should cut guests to one immediately. If a family of four frequently travels together then an additional card is always an option to allow Centurion lounge access. It’s interesting to me what this suggests about their thinking in terms of how broad a demographic they are meant to be targeting; this will solve nothing, and they will have to choose between business and leisure travellers in terms of travel benefits like this, or split the platinum card into different products with varying access to such benefits.
I think you are just pissed to lose a free shower and breakfast. The lounge crowding is a big problem, and it needs to be solved, even if it doesn’t benefit YOU.
Maybe if you lived in the real world of business travel where most of us have real commitments to attend to upon landing, rather than hanging out in the lounge writing a blog post. Most business travelers like myself only want to use the lounge for a short time before departure in order to enjoy a drink or a meal. This overcrowding has to stop.
I was at the Centurion lounge in SFO yesterday and the agents had a cheaply-laminated placard outlining the PriorityPass dining options in-terminal in order to try to turn people away. Pretty sad state to be in!
I have to disagree with you on this being a ‘huge loss’, although I believe restricting access on arrival is not something many people use and therefore will not impact the overcrowding issue that much. I still disagree with you because, to me, the main purpose of a lounge is to have somewhere nice to wait for your flight, more so when you have a layover so you get to be somewhere comfortable between flights and your options of where to rest and eat are limited to what is in the terminal. But if you’re on arrival, you don’t need to be at the airport anymore! You either have a home or hotel waiting for you to relax in, so I definitely don’t see this as a huge loss, and people who are actually stuck at the airport waiting for a flight shouldn’t have to be left without a seat at the lounge because there’s people there that don’t really need to be there.
Get rid of the free guests and voila, problem solved.
Not a fan of this move to say the least and I will inform AMEX of my displeasure next week.
I have no dog in this fight as I don’t have the Plat (if anything, this whole thing further validates my opinion that the card is overrated), but I agree there should be a reasonable period of use allowed on arrival, say, 1-2 hours. Make it primary cardmember only, no guests, if you want.
To those who suggest people will abuse the arrivals privilege, while there will always be a few grifters, I don’t think you really get why most people use arrivals lounges. There’s really two situations where I’d find one useful: 1) I’m getting off a redeye and need to freshen up before going to the office, or 2) I’m returning home, feeling hungry, and don’t feel like cooking when I get home. I really have no desire to camp out in a lounge for hours in either case, and I think I’d speak for most users in that regard.
As someone has watched Amex shaft customers for decades this doesn’t surprise me at all. Of occurs every this will fail to resolve the basic problem which is that there are too many cardholders (esp in wealthy areas like SF) seeking entry into Amex’s small lounges. Ultimately Amex will have to build larger lounges or cut the # of folks who can access.
Most frequent travelers I know (including myself) spend 15-60 minutes in a lounge before we go to the gate. This time represents the margin of error for getting to the airport (ie unpredictable traffic) and through security (and on rare occasions the line to check bags or get a BP that requires a passport check). Maybe add 30 minutes as a cushion for an international flight. But The less time I spend at the airport the happier I am. So 3 hours is more than enough lounge time – even if you flight is delayed.
The only time this doesn’t work is for long connections or delays. That’s only happened to me once and it was on a continent that doesn’t have an Amex lounge.
As for arrivals – yes I occasionally stop for a cookie and a soft drink but generally I’m out the door in 5 minutes as I want to get home or to my hotel. And of course it’s pretty easy to buy something on the way to baggage claim,
So ultimately I see this as much ado about nothing – at least in the real world of business travel as opposed to blogger world.
So here’s a thought….
Limit guests to 1 per person, this would reduce the numbers and make subsequent guests chargeable at say $50 per person.
Secondly ban all children. Premium airport lounges are no place for children – take em to McDonalds.
The DFW lounge has already implemented these changes in December.
As a single parent with a 10 year old that travels somewhat frequently, I am very thankful for the lounge access. It’s a safe place for the two of us, where I can walk down the hall to use the restroom without worrying about my child’s safety while I step away for a few minutes. I am nearly certain that we eat and drink far less than the usual travelers (we often carry food in from the terminal) and have never used the lounge upon arrival. While my child may be eating McDonald’s, I prefer to do so while we are in the quiet comfort of the lounge. The main issue here are the lounge lizards that treat the place like their living room and kitchen, preferring to hang out for hours, consuming free food and alcohol and taking up space at the expense of others who are passing through and occasionally spend time during a layover or delayed flight in the lounge.
Oh Henry….
By chance, you wouldn’t be one of those children-less “adults” taking up additional lounge seats with your laptop bag/oversized carry-on that FaceTimes in public, would you?
As an annual fee-paying parent of two littles, including a 7 month old lap infant who cannot wait for March 22, I actually have every right to sit in your presence and enjoy the same pre-flight culinary experience that you do.
It’s amazing how many people hate on kids (and the terribly inconsiderate parents) for accessing a lounge, or sitting up front (GASP!). Should children instead be gate checked or transported in cages as emotional support animals?
Appreciate the McDonalds offer, but I’ll respectfully settle for some Zahav with my family.
We get 10 gogo passes per year free, the rest we have to pay for. Something similar makes sense for lounge use. Those of us who don’t live in a Centurion Lounge city may only use that perk a few times a year anyway.
I’m not sure why it makes sense to allow unlimited lounge use during the three hours before a flight, but not at all after. On arrival, one often needs to shower and don more appropriate clothes before seeing one’s host. That is a natural use of the lounge.
Three hours is reasonable for typical departing traffic in the US, since TSA sometimes won’t even let you through if there’s more than 4 hours before departure. But when you arrive at an airport via a positioning flight on Southwest, or when your original departing flight is cancelled and you are waiting 5 hours for an alternate, lounge access is valuable.
Lounges also have predictable busy and non-busy periods. A better policy would be to allow reasonable limitations, at the discretion of the local manager during busy periods, but continue to allow members to use the lounges as promised otherwise.
I agree that guests are the problem. Why can’t Amex limit cardholders to a specific number of guests each year? Another option would be to charge a nominal fee ($15?) For each guest of a cardholder. AMEX could put the charge right on the card they verify at the check in desk. I travel frequently and young business travelers often bring their “buddies” into the lounge for the free booze. A nominal fee would discourage this and not be a stretch for those legitimately using the lounge to entertain guests or true business associates.
So single parents or parents flying alone with children should not be allowed given how so many comments say the lounges are not for children, families or guest limits should include children? Interesting given I am a single parent (with no outside assistance or family support) who would like the benefits being paid for in having a nice travel card and have three children 10 and under in age. What does the galley say individuals in my shoes do? Not have the card? Be content with whatever benefits do not interfere with those who feel higher and mightier than the rest of the “lowly” ones on the other end of their noses? Let whoever is not allowed in to fend for themselves regardless of age? After all, someone might have 2.5 year old twins and would like for one to play an airport version of The Hunger Games while the other remains safely in the arms of the only parent, said no Mother or Father ever. Do I understand the need to limit? Absolutely. But doing so by limiting those of your own blood who are under the age of 18 is not it. Nor is, in my opinion, the legal spouse. Find other solutions.
Stupid and certainly not customer centric. So you get to the airport 2 hours early (3 in some places), and low & behold your flight is cancelled and the next flight is in 2 hours. So your cancelled flight means you get tossed from the lounge?
The purpose of the lounge is to provide a place to rest, refresh yourself, and have a place to maybe do some work if necessary. It is pretty nice to have a place to hang.
Personally I would much rather hang in the 1st class lounge of the airline I am flying, as you get better information and support getting to and from your flights.
If a Centurion lounge is located conveniently near my gate, then I would use them. But my preference is to use a lounge of the airline I am flying as it is usually going to be co-located near my gates, and the people working in the lounges have a vested interest in taking care of you.
And to get to the issue of overcrowding in the lounges, the solution us simple; build more and or bigger lounges. If these lounges are so popular, then it seems that you either change the product or change the rules.
AMEX is in a tough place as other cards are more competitive and they need to differentiate their cards. Like I have had to pay service fees to use their card, and with others I have not been asked to pay an additional 3 percent to use the card. So they need these lounges to compete with other cards as people feel they get value that off sets other expenses, services, etc.
But if they make the lounges hard to use then this benefit is not a benefit worthy to differentiate their cards, lounges, etc.
Easy fix. Buy refundable ticket and cancel once inside.
I fly standby most of the time so I am not allowed access on departure. I am only granted access upon arrival so I would never have access to those lounges.
I realize that people including myself are looking out for their interests as the new policy relates to them. However, if as one comments states that the majority of people aren’t concerned or do not use the lounge upon arrival then eliminating arrival access won’t help much with the overcrowding.
It seems to me that AE should try to set policies that benefits everyone.
Member since 88 , Closed my Platinum account today. What boardroom full of idiots has made these decisions and allow 30 year customers to walk away. I have been experiencing these “New Rules” all year at Miami International. Nice work chasing away dedicated customers.
Matthew, does this affect non-US AMEX cardmembers and non-US based lounges? I have a Hong Kong AMEX issued platinum and I live in HK.
I frequently use lounges for a brief time on arrival to check in on and address work issues in a comfortable and fairly spacious setting with respectable wifi speed; to freshen up and change clothes; to await a companion arriving from a different city or a delayed driver; to kill a bit of time after an overnight flight when it’s too early to try to check into my hotel or because I KNOW my AirBnB won’t admit me til x o’clock, and it’s no joy to lug around my extremely heavy sack of tech gear during that purgatory period after a flight but before one can dump one’s stuff off at one’s accommodation. I’m not there to raid cookies or the beer fridge, but that post flight access, brief as is, is SO helpful.
I couldn’t agree more that it’s the guests who should bear the increased restrictions, not the cardholder, and I believe that’s the crux of the “absurdity” assertion: why penalize the very people who are directly paying for this benefit?
American Express came up with the wrong solution to their overcrowding problem. The Centurion Lounge is a place to relax before/after a flight for the frequent traveler. It’s not meant to be a romper room or a feeding trough for families which it has now become.
American Express can fix their overcrowding problem by restricting lounge access to the card holder and one (1) guest only.
American Express’ new solution continues to benefit families at the expense of the single traveler who is paying $550 a year for their membership. If a family wants to utilize the lounge, they should be treated like everyone else and not given special treatment. If $50 per additional guest is too costly for a family, the card holder has the option of adding an additional card holder for the discounted price of $175 a year.
Fewer Platinum Card Holders will solve the problem.
IMO, the biggest cause of (over) crowding is families and people bringing in the maximum guests.
Limit this and problem solved.
I use the arrival function often to shower and change clothes before a meeting after a transcon or international flights. If AE wants to solve the overcrowding issue, Primary cardmember access only, no guests, no AU access. You want access? Apply for a card. Simple and immediately effective.
Perhaps you should create your own lounges. Nothing to bitch moan whine about. Typical whinny “me me me” white American trash.
AMEX is going to put two sets of rules in place, one for AMEX Platinum and one for AMEX Centurion. I think they should go one step further, a set of rules for the AMEX Business Platinum.
Make the changes listed above for the personal AMEX Platinum cards. However, for the Business Platinum remove the three hour rule, and the use upon arrival rule. The limit of the Business Platinum should be lack guest access.
Business travelers can still shower/freshen up upon arrival. They can also head to the airport early and not worry about any time limits.
This would further separate the business and personal platinum cards, something AMEX is working on with the business card changes coming in February.
you rich people are so lame.
Of course the entrance on arrival is wrong, given the actual purpose of the room that is a more comfortable place to wait for your flight.
Waah, waah, waah!
Fine to take away other’s privileges, but not yours, eh? Smh.
Reading the wave of whining sure shows how much abuse was going on. A shitty 1 hr flight from LAX-SFO has people having breakfast and showers on arrival? F me.
I don’t know if anyone has suggested this, but I think the simple solution is to let the card member **CHOOSE** access either on arrival or departure. The card computer system should note if you accessed already in your departure city so you cannot access at your destination. Eliminating arrival access is both unfair and deal-breaker for me, because often my origin city does not have a lounge. To eliminate it in my arrival cities such as SEA and SFO, pretty much negates any benefit for me.
Connecting flights would not apply. I know there is a way this could be implemented and enforced. Plus it lets the card member have some control over their situation. Maybe you’d prefer not to use the lounge at 11pm before a red-eye and rather at 6 a.m. upon arrival. Done and done.
This is actually a wonderful idea.
So who cares? I ripped up my Platinum card that I had held for decades, in 2017 when they eliminated the Costco 2% rebate. The idiot CEO chenault who raped us and the company for millions for his personal use, continued to penny pinch card holders while he pocketed $20 million in just his last year alone. Cool guy. I now have the 2% cash back card and I love it! I cashed in substantial thousands last year and never had a problem…oh and it doesn’t cost a dime to get the card. Until AMEX wakes up to meet the competition, they will never get a dime from me and who needs their club. There are plenty of alternatives.
I don’t have any problems with the announced changes, but they don’t go far enough. I’d limit admission to cardholder and one guest, regardless of age, and charge a substantial ($50) fee for additional guests.
I think lounges are intended for use on departure and find it weird that anyone wants to hang around in a lounge after arrival. Go to your hotel if you want to shower.
I cancelled my Platinum card last year because the Centurion lounges had become unusably overcrowded, so clearly these changes (and perhaps others) are needed. I also think anything they can do to discourage use by families with children is a good thing. I have nothing against either families or children, but when the atmosphere becomes strollers and running, screaming kids instead of (relative) quiet and adult business travelers, there ceases to be much value-add to me. Too many distractions and too much noise to do work or make business calls, I might as well just sit in an airport restaurant. I can eat a lot of meals for $550/year.
The new policy Discourages, not Encourages, kids.
I’m sure someone has picked up on this in the list of good comments, but letting 1 year and 364 day old kids in free is a way to DISCOURAGE kids. Because now it is clear you have to pay for your 2 year old and up kid if he/she represents the third guest. Most people will likely not want to do that. Great move, AMEX.
New policy allows unlimited children under two years old – old policy did not make that exception.
I’ve used lounges at arrival, for example if I had a conference call after arrival and I didn’t have enough time to get to my final destination, or if I wanted something to eat or drink (although being a kosher consumer the options are limiting). A three hour maximum would be awful if you are the victim of a cancellation or significant delay. I hope this isn’t the start of a trend.
I do not like the new policy, I like to use a clean restroom upon arrival and sometimes a quick bite to eat if I am going to be driving for a period and do not want to stop on the road. Bad policy change.
I do not like the new policy, I like to use a clean restroom upon arrival and sometimes a quick bite to eat if I am going to be driving for a period and do not want to stop on the road.
My global airline alliance lounges are limited to one guest. That seems right for the Centurion lounges, too. I honestly don’t think banning arriving pax will reduce crowding by a material amount. First, I don’t think many arriving passengers visit. Second, arriving pax — unlike departing pax — don’t LINGER. You use the restroom. You grab a coffee. You grab a snack. You’ve got places to be. I would guess my average arrival visit is 15-20 minutes while my average departure visit is 45 to 50 minutes.
but the lounges use chicken thights vs other parts not great