Amex says London Centurion Lounge will open by end of year

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 gearing up to reopen the (blue) doors to its lounges, beginning with the Philadelphia and Seattle outposts on 5 October. And later this year, three more brand-new lounges in Denver, London and New York will welcome their first cardholders.

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 pandemic.

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: By the end 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.

On a recent visit to the Denver airport, I noticed that construction is definitely coming along. The frosted wallpaper has been installed, and workers are actively preparing the lounge for its debut by the end of the year.

New York-JFK Centurion Lounge

Estimated opening date: By the end of 2020

The JFK lounge is on track to open by the end of the year. 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: By the end of 2020

Amex has confirmed that the second international Centurion Lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is scheduled to open by the end 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

LaGuardia Centurion Lounge

Estimated opening date: 2021

As part of the LaGuardia redevelopment project, the airport’s newest building — the Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall — opened earlier this summer. The old terminal, home to the original Centurion Lounge at LGA, is no longer operational.

As such, Amex is building a brand-new Centurion Lounge in the new LGA Terminal B. The outpost will double in size, going from roughly 5,350 square feet to over 10,000 square feet. The new lounge will feature a family room, additional workspaces, private telephone rooms and sweeping views of New York City.

But the best news? The new location will be after security (whereas the original location was pre-security).

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 or The Business Platinum Card from American Express. Those with the Platinum card can bring up to two guests into the lounge.

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.