Amex's temporary LAX Centurion Lounge is now open
This post has been updated with new information
American Express on Tuesday opened a temporary Centurion Lounge at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), as a more than two-year-long closure continues to impact the issuer's Southern California location.
Located on the sixth floor in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), or Terminal B, the temporary lounge space offers seating, Wi-Fi and a seasonal menu curated by Chef Nancy Silverton. Amex will also offer a selection of grab-and-go food and beverage options for cardmembers who don't want to linger.
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You'll find the temporary space located just past the Star Alliance Lounge in TBIT. It's currently open daily from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., but hopefully, Amex will expand the hours of operation to include more afternoon and evening departures.
Amex shared a sample menu (pasted below) for what travelers can expect at the temporary outpost.
- Breakfast: assorted pastries, overnight oats, yogurt parfait, fresh farmhouse torte.
- All Day: charcuterie & cheese board, spring pea salad, slow-roasted tomatoes with focaccia, polenta with sausage ragu, tiramisu.
- Beverages: Non-alcoholic cocktails, coffee, smoothie shots, an assortment of juices, iced tea and water (still and sparkling).
While the issuer didn't share any pictures of the temporary outpost, lease documents show that it's about a third of the size of the actual lounge itself, or roughly 5,000 square feet.
Many of LAX's terminals are connected airside, but it may not necessarily be worth trekking over to the temporary Centurion Lounge, especially if you're flying with United from Terminal 7 or 8.
While nearly every domestic Centurion Lounge has reopened from the pandemic-related closure, the outpost in Los Angeles remains the sole exception.
Amex first opened its West Coast flagship location on March 9, 2020, just days before the pandemic brought travel to a halt. Amex proceeded to shutter its entire lounge network days later, which included the recently opened LAX location.
It took Amex about six months to begin reopening the Centurion Lounge network, but the LAX location never fully reopened. Instead, the card issuer began offering grab-and-go food and beverage options for those visiting the lounge, but there wasn’t any seating available.
Then, in the middle of last year, Amex confirmed that the lounge would be shuttered through the end of 2021 for building repairs due to construction. The lounge remained closed as the calendar flipped to 2022, and it remains shuttered for the foreseeable future as Amex works on the so-called "building repairs."
Details recently emerged as to why the brand-new lounge has needed to undergo such a lengthy closure. According to public records filed with the airport’s governing body, the Centurion Lounge at LAX is undergoing HVAC repairs to fix a problem that led to jet fumes getting into the lounge. The filing says repairs are expected to take six months, which would mean that the actual Centurion Lounge would open at some point this summer, barring any further delays.
Related: The ultimate guide to American Express Centurion Lounges
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a place to relax when passing through LAX, holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the Centurion Card can access the Delta's brand-new SkyClub in Terminal 2, but only when flying with Delta.
Additional reporting by Sean Cudahy.