![]() In reality, the Platinum cards bestow many types of lounge access, all of which are treated as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection: The complicating factor is that the benefit isn’t just simply access to one set of airport lounges. While it’s certainly complex, it’s useful to understand the eligibility rules, access fees, and guesting privileges on the Canadian-issued Amex Platinum cards so you can make the most out of the perks. The lounge access rules on these cards, however, can get quite confusing to people trying to make use of these benefits. The lines are still massive and don’t seem to get any smaller.The American Express Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card are marketed as premium travel rewards cards, and one of the benefits that makes them worth their salt is the airport lounge access that cardholders enjoy. Then it happened and the result was – none. American Express promised things would be better by removing guest access which irked many cardholders. The policy has now kicked in almost four months ago yet we haven’t really seen much if any relief. cardholders spending less than $75k) in July 2021 when all this was still a bit less than two years out. ![]() Amex originally published the changes to the lounge access system (canceling guest access for U.S. Their priorities are out of whack, and at the very least, the company is dishonest about the problem.Īmerican Express has kicked off a massive overhaul of both the lounge system, the Platinum card service portfolio, and of course, let’s not forget about the increased annual fee. At the same time, they have these insane sign-up bonuses of 150,000 points while pretending that lounge occupancy is an issue and that they need to combat it by cutting access. ![]() A lot of these credits end up as breakage or are semi-paid by the partner companies as sponsors. Sure, it’s easy money for Amex to get the $695. If your credit is somewhat ok (mid to higher 600s), you can get any charge card product, no matter if the color is Green, Gold, or Platinum, depending on what you’re willing to pay. When you talk to those you see regularly and ask this question, all you get in reply is a laugh and a head shake.Īmex is overmarketing its Platinum Card product in the U.S., and there are really no elevated criteria to get the card. I doubt that Amex as a company will come forward and say it didn’t work, but I think that customers and lounge representatives get a pretty clear picture of what’s going on. The real question is: Has this policy really caused relief on Centurion lounges across the country? Ok, it would be hard to believe someone carries a Centurion card and charges less than $75k/p.a. I would sare to say a ridiculously low amount that’s way too small to even feel in daily operations.Ĭenturion Cardmembers are still able to cut the line, get preferred seating and also are exempt from the guest access restriction. How many guests who would use the lounge that way does this even impact? Not many. ![]() Under the new rules, Amex Platinum cardholders will be charged a $50 fee for each lounge guest, children will no longer be permitted free of charge, but those who charge a minimum of $75k/per year to the card will retain lounge access privileges for two guests.Īmerican Express has heavily expanded its lounge portfolio in the last two years, which included the expansion of existing space and the opening of new lounges, mainly throughout the U.S.īut this overcrowding has become a problem, yet Amex implemented three policies that only deal with a minuscule part of the entries, namely passengers entering on arrival, more than three hours before departure, and now they culled the guest access. Seattle has gotten better since they moved to a larger location, but as I was told, the Port of Seattle even refuses Amex to attach proper signage in the terminal or even the corporate blue colors. Lines are still massive, and customers, for example, in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Houston have to wait around, get on actual waiting lists, and in many cases, don’t get in at all before boarding starts. So this has now been in place for three, almost four months, but has it actually helped to produce the desired effect on lounges?įrom my personal experience, it didn’t make a dent. Reminder: American Express Centurion Lounge Access Rules Change As Of February 1, 2023 See our coverage here about these new rules Amex USA has established:
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