American Express is making changes to its Centurion Network, increasing certain fees for guest access to its airport lounges across the globe.
The lounges will continue to offer complimentary access to a number of American Express card members, including those with platinum cards, business platinum, corporate platinum, and Centurion Cards, as well as DeltaSkyMiles reserve cards and reserve business cards.
The change comes with guests. Starting February 1, platinum and business platinum cardholders will be charged $50 for each adult guest and $30 for each child ages 2 through 17.
In addition, platinum and business platinum card members will earn complimentary access for two guests if they spent at least $75,000 on their card the previous calendar year.
Delta SkyMiles reserve card members will continue to be allowed to bring up to two guests at $50 per visit as long as they are traveling on a same-day Delta flight.
Those holding the select cards (and their guests) are the only ones allowed in the lounges. Paying a fee to enter as a non-card holder is not permitted.
The Centurion Network
American Express operates Centurion Lounges and smaller Escape Lounges in more than 40 locations. They are exclusively for members who are awaiting departure for a flight and have a valid boarding pass for flying that day.
The lounges are not open to those who have arrived on a flight unless they are on a layover.
They feature food and drinks from chefs and mixologists in a venue designed for work or relaxation, the company says.
Main lounges are located in terminals in 13 domestic airports: Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Seattle.
There are also lounges in about a dozen international locations in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and Mexico.
Escape Lounges
There are more than a dozen Escape Lounges, a smaller version of Centurion Lounges, all across the country, offering fresh food, drinks, free Wi-fi, and more. The company markets them as peaceful and convenient retreats.
“Whether you’re arriving early to relax before a flight or need to refresh during your layover, our exceptional personalized experience is exactly what you need,” the company says.
The Escape Lounges are located at large airports, like Minneapolis-St. Paul and Phoenix, to smaller locations, like Palm Beach, Florida, and Reno, Nevada.