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American Express cutting Centurion Lounge guest access for Platinum cardholders in 2023
American Express Centurion Lounges are a great perk and something I have enjoyed around the world. Currently, Amex Platinum/Business Platinum cardholders can bring in two guests at up to no additional charge,; however, it’s been revealed that this will change in February 2023. At that point, Centurion Lounge access around the world will be limited to the Platinum cardholder only, and authorized users as well. Want to bring in a guest? That’ll cost you $50. The exception? If you spend $75k+ a year you’ll continue to receive two guests. If you’re a history buff, you’ll remember that in 2017 it was announced that Amex would address crowded lounges by limiting access to just two people ( before that your entire immediate family could come in, or two guests). Clearly, many business travelers were smiling while families weren’t the happiest. Let’s take a look at the new rules and also the other lounges you have access to worldwide with an Amex Platinum.
Current list of Centurion Lounges
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (Located near the intersection of Concourses D & E, mezzanine level), 7 am – 7 pm
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Terminal D, across from Gate D12 on the mezzanine), 9 am – 7 pm
- Denver International Airport (Concourse C, Mezzanine Level, near Gate C46), 7 am – 7 pm
- Hong Kong International (Terminal 1, Take the escalator just before Gate 60), Temporarily Closed
- IAH/Intercontinental Houston Airport (Terminal D, access via elevators near Gate D6), 10 am – 5 pm
- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (Concourse D, opposite Gate D1), 7 am – 6 pm
- Los Angeles International Airport (Tom Bradley International Terminal on Level 2 and accessible airside from Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8), 7 am – 3 pm
- Miami International Airport (Concourse D, near Gate D12), 7 am – 7 pm
- New York’s John F Kennedy International (Level 4, just past TSA Security checkpoint to the left of the escalators), 6am – 8pm
- New York’s LaGuardia Airport (Terminal B, pre-security, on the upper level), Closed for construction
- Philadelphia International Airport (Terminal A-West Near Gate A-14), 5:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Terminal 4 across from Gate B22 on the upper level), 9 am – 5 pm
- San Francisco International Airport (Terminal 3, adjacent Gate F1/F2), 8 am – 6 pm
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Concourse B, opposite Gate B3), 7 am – 8 pm
Centurion Lounge access will be limited to 1 person starting Feb 1, 2023
Here’s what we know, thanks to DOC.
- You’ll continue to be able to bring in two guests until 2/1/2023
- If you have have paid Platinum Authorized users
- they will have access as well, but not Gold
- Amex Platinum cardmembers who spend at least $75,000 per year on the card will continue to receive complimentary lounge access for two guests
- If you don’t spend $75k you’ll pay $50 per guest
- This only applies to Platinum…if you’re a baller Black card holder – you’ll continue to have access for 2 guests.
American Express Platinum Card
( Learn More )
American Express Global Lounge Collection
Centurion lounges aren’t the only lounges you have access to worldwide. Platinum cardholders also have access to many additional lounges. Most notably is the ability to access Priority Pass lounges around the world – you don’t have access to the Priority Pass restaurants however ( meaning you don’t get the $27 credit). Priority Pass also announced that Plaza Premium lounges will be removed from the network…so if you carry a Platinum card you’ll have access – you can bring in one guest.
Amex Annual Fee going up
It’s looking like Amex Platinum annual fee will be going up to $695 later this year and will offer a different set of benefits – this is an unconfirmed rumor. Likely we’ll see the hard to use incidental airline fee credit disappear, and a new set of lifestyle benefits added. Rumors are swirling that we’ll see a $20 a month entertainment credit, $300 Equinox credit, Clear membership, and more. Time will tell, but it’s looking like a high probability rumor.
Amex Optio
Prior to the pandemic, there were rumors we’d see a new Amex hit the marketplace called Optio. The rumor suggests that it’ll carry a fee in excess of $1000 a year and split the difference in benefits between Centurion and Platinum. When I see benefits like lounge access change…it makes me wonder if these rumors aren’t true and it’s creating space to differentiate benefits on a new card.
Personally…I think we’ll see an Optio-esque card launch later this year or early next.
Overall
By the time these benefits take effect, travel will have recovered significantly. It’s sad to see benefits decrease, but I also understand the need to keep access limited, and I’d guess by the time this takes effect, there will be a new premium Amex on the market that offers more comped benefits.
If you’re likely to use Centurion Lounges a lot with more than a single person, I’d add on a Platinum AU for $175 and you’re good to go – 4x and you’re $25 ahead.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
60k Points after $4k spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 60k points after $4k spend in 3 months
- Worth $750 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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