The American Express Centurion Lounge Network is arguably our favorite benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express. And, boy oh boy, have we missed lingering in Amex’s posh lounges in Charlotte (CLT), Dallas (DFW), Hong Kong (HKG), Houston (IAH), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), Miami (MIA), Seattle (SEA), and San Francisco (SFO) the past few months.
Unfortunately, there’s no official word yet on when existing lounges within the network will reopen or how they will operate under the “new normal.” However, there has been official word on the delay of three previously planned openings plus an expansion announcement for The Centurion Lounge at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) and rumors of an expansion for the Seattle outpost. Here’s what you need to know.
Centurion Lounge at New York JFK Airport (JFK)
American Express promises “spectacular views of the airfield, exceptional amenities, and one-of-a-kind design elements” for its largest lounge ever. Originally set to open in 2019, then pushed to early 2020 and now to later in 2020, the new lounge will be cast over two stories and across an impressive 15,000 square feet. Like its peers, this Centurion Lounge will feature contemporary furnishings, bespoke food and beverage programs by a local celebrity chef, craft cocktail menus, shower suites, high-speed Wi-Fi, and noise-buffering workspaces.
The lounge will be located post-security on the fourth-floor Departures level of Terminal 4 at JFK Airport. Terminal 4 is the newest terminal at the airport and one of six active terminals. (There are eight terminals total at JFK, but Terminals 3 and 6 were demolished in 2011 and 2013 following the expansion of Terminal 5.) Terminal 4 is also the airport’s busiest terminal, servicing over 21 million passengers annually and comprising more than one-third of all JFK traffic.
Centurion Lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The American Express Centurion Lounge at LHR was originally set to open in 2019 in Terminal 3 but has now been pushed to later in 2020. Terminal 3 serves most Oneworld airlines, including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, and SriLankan Airlines. Select flights on Oneworld member British Airways do leave from Terminal 3, but the majority depart from Terminal 5. Terminal 3 also serves Delta Airlines, Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic. The lounge will be a modest 7,000 square feet (half the size of the newer standard of Centurion Lounges) and will house showers, private workstations, and a bar and buffet featuring a new generation of London-inspired food and drink.
Centurion Lounge at Denver Airport (DEN)
Plans are still underway for the opening of The Centurion Lounge at Denver Airport despite hopes for an early 2020 opening. A 14,650-square-foot lounge is now scheduled to debut in late 2020 in Concourse C, which services Alaska, Allegiant, Southwest, and Spirit. However, since all terminals are connected airside at the airport, it will be possible to visit the lounge after passing security, regardless of airline flown. It will just take a bit more time to get between your gate and the lounge if not flying the Concourse C airlines. The new lounge is set to include high-end amenities aplenty, including a spa, wine- and beer-tasting areas, and a tranquility space for sleeping.
Centurion Lounge at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
The first-ever Centurion Lounge is finally getting an expansion and yet another makeover. The lounge had closed in late 2018 for a first round of renovations. Now, it’s time for round two. According to American Express, the lounge at LAS “will increase its footprint from nearly 9,000 square feet to over 13,400 square feet. To be completed in 2021, the newly designed lounge will feature additional multi-purpose areas, new private telephone rooms, newly designed reception and workspace areas and more for Card Members to enjoy when their travels resume.” The Centurion Lounge at LAS is located in Concourse D, accessible from Terminal 1 (American Airlines, Delta) or Terminal 3 via the transit system (Air Canada, Alaska, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Sun country, United, and Volaris).
There are also rumors of a massive expansion for the Centurion Lounge at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Details are scarce at press time but we’ll keep you posted as more become available. In the meantime, to help us get through the lounge-less times of the pandemic, The Centurion Lounge network is offering recipes for some cocktail and culinary favorites here. Until we can linger in our favorite lounges, the “lounge-at-home” recipes will simply have to do!
