Amex delays opening of new Centurion Lounges in London and New York
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This post has been updated with new details about the opening dates of the upcoming Centurion Lounges.
American Express has spent several years building a network of premium Centurion Lounges in airports that people really want to visit. And that network has been steadily expanding across the country and beyond. Fortunately, even more are on the way.
Related: The ultimate guide to American Express Centurion Lounges
Three brand-new lounges already opened in the first quarter of 2020. And then the coronavirus pandemic hit, forcing the issuer to close all its outposts. Now, Amex is delaying the opening of the New York-JFK and London Heathrow (LHR) locations due to the virus.
Here are the latest details and opening dates of the hotly anticipated upcoming Centurion Lounges. Please note, though, that these opening dates are subject to change, especially in light of the current global health crisis.
In This Post
New lounges that already opened in 2020
Phoenix
The location in Phoenix was the first to open this year. At 9,500 square feet, it’s of average size and features award-winning Southwestern-inspired cuisine by Doug Robson. It’s located in Terminal 4, on the upper level across from Gate B22. It’s adjacent to a brand-new Escape Lounge, too.
Charlotte
The Charlotte Centurion Lounge is welcome news for the myriad of American Airlines travellers transiting through the airport. It’s located past security and accessible by all passengers. It features a stunning 30-foot-long mural by Amanda Moody, as well as new design elements throughout.
Los Angeles
The latest Centurion Lounge to open is the LAX location. This is Amex’s flagship West Coast outpost, with seats for 530 in a 13,900-square-foot space. It’s also the first to debut one-of-a-kind sunrise and moonrise rooms. In an effort to create a holistic wellness space, there’s also an Exhale spa.
Upcoming Lounges
Denver Centurion Lounge
Estimated opening date: Second half of 2020
The Denver lounge was supposed to open in 2019, but was pushed back to 2020. The lounge will be in Terminal C (primarily serving Southwest Airlines) and will hold the title of the second-largest Centurion Lounge at 14,650 square feet. While we don’t have an exact opening date, Amex began building excitement in early January with a pop-up Centurion Lounge in Vail.
New York-JFK Centurion Lounge
Estimated opening date: Second half of 2020
Amex delayed the JFK lounge to the second half of 2020. The bi-level lounge at New York’s JFK Airport will become an extension of the existing Terminal 4, jutting out close to the apron and air traffic control tower. The lounge will be the largest in the network at 15,000 square feet. (And don’t tell your friends, but it’ll feature a hidden speakeasy.)
London Heathrow Centurion Lounge
Estimated opening date: Second half of 2020
Originally promised for the first half of 2020, Amex has now delayed the opening of its second international Centurion Lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to the second half of the year. While details are light, we know that the lounge will be located in Terminal 3 and will be on the smaller side, at 7,000 square feet. There will be showers, private workstations and other amenities.
The three new lounges join the company’s existing lineup of 12 lounges, including:
- Charlotte (CLT)
- Dallas (DFW)
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- Houston (IAH)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA)
- New York (LGA)
- Philadelphia (PHL)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Seattle (SEA)
Upcoming Expansions
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge
Estimated opening date: 2021
The Las Vegas lounge was the issuer’s first location and opened roughly seven years ago. Given its popularity, it’s been subject to overcrowding. Fortunately, Amex has committed to expanding the location by about 50% — from nearly 9,000 square feet to more than 13,400 square feet — making it one of the largest lounges in the network. The newly designed lounge will offer additional multipurpose rooms, new private telephone booths, reimagined workspace areas and a redesigned reception area. According to the company, the expansion and redesign should be completed in 2021.
How to access the Amex Centurion Lounge network
Customers can access a Centurion Lounge by flashing The Platinum Card from American Express U.K. or The Business Platinum Card from American Express U.K. Those with the Platinum card can bring up to two guests into the lounge for free.
Even though the lounges are currently closed, 2020 promises to be an exciting year for the American Express Centurion Lounge network. With three brand-new locations already opened and three more set to be in operation by the end of the year, there’s no better time to make sure you’ve got the Platinum card in your wallet.
Mock-ups provided by American Express. Featured image by Zach Honig.
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