American Express officially announced today it will open a lounge at LAX in 2019.
We’ve known about this lounge for several months thanks to various leaks from LAX board meetings, but the official announcement comes with exciting details.
First, the lounge will have a spa (much like the spa in Dallas, which is great). Second, at 13,900 square feet, the lounge will be large. Bluntly, I still expect massive overcrowding, but I’ve been able to deal with that at other locations. This lounge will also introduce a new “tranquilly” area to help beat jet leg:
For the first time, American Express will be introducing an enhanced tranquility area, offering both brightly-lit and dimly-lit quiet areas to help global travelers adjust to new time zones as they travel internationally. The new lounge will also feature a spa, a kid and adult-friendly family room, custom, visual wall installations, complimentary chef-crafted food menus, premium wines and specialty cocktails from sommelier Anthony Giglio and mixologist Jim Meehan, enhanced workspaces, access to high-speed Wi-Fi, premium restrooms and showers, power outlets, private noise-buffering work stations and American Express Member Services Professionals to provide onsite Card-related and travel-related services.
American Express Spa in DFW Centurion Lounge
Despite overcrowding issues, I love the network of American Express Lounges across the USA. But I am particularly excited about the new LAX lounge opening. This is not just because LAX is at my home airport, but because it will become an easily-reachable top-tier lounge each time I travel.
I already have access to the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX whenever I fly United. Sometimes that is worth the walk, but the coffee is horrible and and the buffet selection not great. Other great lounges like the Qantas and Emirates lounges I rarely have access to. The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, which I also have access to, is not one of my favorite lounges. Same story with the Alaska Airlines Lounge, a Priority Pass lounge.
So I am excited that the new AMEX lounge will be a great place for a meal and cup of coffee before or after my flight…maybe even a 10-mintue back massage.
Addressing the Inevitable Overcrowding
American Express admitted that its greatest concentration of Platinum cardholders is in Los Angeles. As I recently argued, American Express should consider taking proactive steps to limit lounge access at LAX, at least during busy periods. I argue that guests should be limited before cardmembers are…see below for my defense of that position.
> Read More: American Express Makes a Foolish Mistake in Limiting Centurion Lounge Access
CONCLUSION
We don’t know when in 2019 this will open. Conceivably, it could be in six months or it could be in 19 months. We’ll wait and see. In the meantime, I’ll try my luck again at Barney’s Beanery.
(H/T: One Mile at a Time)
I wish the lounge were in T6 or T7, near AS and UA. TBIT has enough lounges
My thought EXACTLY.
Where will it be?
Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Matthew,
I know that AMEX lounges as of last year limit you to 2 guests (even if you have multiple children). Do you know the official policy if you have more than one AMEX Platinum card can you use them for 2 more guests/children? I was at the AMEX Centurion Lounge last year at DFW and although I have two different AMEX Platinum cards (one for personal and one for business) and pay 2 annual fees the lady at the desk wouldn’t let me use both of them.
Fortunately my wife also had an AMEX Platinum card so we could use that one as well but does anyone know any official policy when you have more than one AMEX Platinum card?
Matthew, I can’t wrap my head around an “enhanced tranquility area” and a AMEX lounge. Those two thoughts don’t seem to go together or are in anyway possible, but we can always hope.
You are spot on in your critique of their current methods to deal with crowding. To their defense, their are limited options, all which will upset customers to a degree.
This lounge will be a pivotal point for AMEX given the number of members in LAX. I hope they figure it out.
Thanks for your comment Mike!
Happy to see this finally opening but also very worried about crowding. Will the spa have a sauna?