Amex Tightens Centurion Lounge Access Rules
American Express is introducing new entry restrictions at its Centurion Airport Lounges as overcrowding continues to strain premium lounge networks.
Beginning July 8, Amex will implement two policy changes affecting guest access and layover entry windows. The updates reflect a broader effort by credit card issuers to manage surging demand while working within the physical limits of lounge space.
The first change impacts guest eligibility. Going forward, any guest entering a Centurion Lounge must be booked on the same departing flight as the eligible cardmember. Previously, guests could access the lounge with a same-day boarding pass, even if they were traveling on different flights. That flexibility allowed friends, family members or colleagues to meet before heading to separate gates, but it also contributed to higher traffic levels.
Amex said guest fees and complimentary guest privileges tied to specific cards will remain unchanged.
The second update focuses on long layovers. Under current rules, cardmembers may enter a Centurion Lounge up to three hours before their initial departure. That policy will remain in place. However, travelers on connecting itineraries have historically been able to enter lounges at any time during a layover, even if the connection lasted 10 hours or more.
Starting July 8, layover access will be limited to five hours before departure. Travelers with longer connections will need to wait until the five-hour window opens rather than entering immediately after landing.
American Express said the adjustments are designed to ease congestion, particularly at busy international hubs such as Los Angeles International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where extended layovers are common.
The move follows similar actions across the industry. On February 1, Capital One updated its policies to restrict complimentary guest access for most Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders. Over the past decade, premium travel cards have expanded significantly, increasing the number of travelers eligible for lounge access and leading to crowding and waitlists.
Amex has expanded its Centurion network to 30 locations worldwide, recently adding lounges at Salt Lake City International Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport, with Newark and Boston planned in coming years. Even with expansion, demand continues to outpace capacity, prompting tighter access controls across the premium lounge sector.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationweek.com, cnbc.com