Amex delays opening of Denver, London Centurion Lounges
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
2020 has been a big year for the American Express Centurion Lounge network.
Despite the pandemic, the issuer forged ahead with investment in its top-tier airport lounge network and opened four new lounges, with plans for even more.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
However, we've learned that two openings that were slated for this year in Denver (DEN) and London Heathrow (LHR) have been delayed.
American Express confirmed to TPG in a statement that the opening of both will slide to 2021, saying "Due to these unprecedented times, our lounge openings at Denver International Airport (DEN) and Heathrow Airport (LHR) are experiencing delays. We will continue to work closely with our airport partners and look forward to opening in 2021. We will share more information soon, so stay tuned!"
The Denver lounge has been delayed multiple times. Once it opens, it'll be located in Terminal C (primarily serving Southwest Airlines) and will hold the title of the second-largest Centurion Lounge at 14,650 square feet.
Related: Who should get the Platinum Card® from American Express?
On a recent visit through the airport, I noticed that the construction was definitely progressing, so it's certainly a bummer for those who were excited to check out the Denver location this ski season.
The Heathrow location in Terminal 3 will be the issuer's second international location. (The first is in Hong Kong.) At just about 7,000 square feet, the relatively small space will feature showers, private workstations and other amenities.
Still, with four new lounges this year, Platinum and Centurion cardmembers have plenty of exclusive spaces waiting for them when they're ready to take to the skies again.
It all started back in January with the opening of a new lounge in Phoenix (PHX). Within weeks, Amex unveiled two other new locations — one in Charlotte (CLT) and another in Los Angeles (LAX).
And then the pandemic hit, abruptly shutting down all 13 locations. As the lounges reopened, Amex also opened its largest location to date, in New York's JFK airport.
Next year is also shaping up to be a blockbuster year for the Centurion Lounge network.
In addition to the two new outposts, Amex plans to open a new space at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). This one will be located post-security in the brand-new Terminal B Departures and Arrivals Hall — a marked improvement from the previous LGA lounge.
The Las Vegas space is getting overhauled as well. Slated to open in 2021, the expanded lounge will grow by about 50%. With a new design, it'll offer additional multipurpose rooms, new private telephone booths, workspace areas and a refreshed reception area.
Related: The ultimate guide to American Express Centurion Lounges
Earlier this month, Amex announced that its San Francisco location (SFO) will also receive a significant expansion. With more than 1,200 daily visitors (pre-pandemic, of course), the current space was subject to significant overcrowding. We don't yet know when the new SFO space will open, but our fingers are crossed for it to be soon.
In recent months, Amex has sweetened the deal for cardholders currently stuck at home. The issuer added credits for streaming and wireless telephone carriers for the rest of the year for all holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express. Plus, the issuer has introduced limited-time offers for those looking to book trips through Amex Travel.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2X miles | Earn 2X miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere |
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Pros
- Simple earning structure
- Bonus categories
- Annual credits
- No foreign transaction fees
- Flexible redemption options, including transfer partners
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Fewer bonus categories than some competitors
- Lacks premium perks
- Limited-time offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles—75,000 miles once you spend $7,500 in the first 3 months, and an additional 75,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Receive up to $220 in credits: Receive an annual $50 travel credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel, up to an annual $50 statement credit for purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants, plus up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Terms and conditions apply
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- $95 annual fee
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
- Top rated mobile app