Help yourself: Amex Centurion lounges bring back self-serve food options
American Express' Centurion Lounges will be eliminating employee-served and prepackaged food and bringing back self-serve options at some of America's largest airports.
Since last year, due to the pandemic, most of the lounges -- located at airports in more than a dozen major cities -- have offered food served by lounge employees, while those at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) provided prepackaged meal selections (also primarily handed out by employees).
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"As state and local governments and health authorities continue to reevaluate local guidelines, The Centurion Lounge locations will transition from served food to self-service," said a spokesperson from Amex. "Card Members will continue to see enhanced cleaning protocols and procedures in place across the Centurion Network, as part of the Centurion Lounge Commitment."
Related: Complete guide to Amex Centurion lounges
A timeline for the change hasn't yet been revealed, but it will take effect across all lounge locations eventually.
Despite the 2020 travel slowdown, Amex expanded its Centurion Lounge presence at four additional gateways, adding the lounges in Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Los Angeles and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
It also managed to open one in Denver International Airport (DEN) earlier this year, with an additional one planned for London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) in 2021. Expanded lounges are scheduled to debut at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport (LAS) later this year, as well.
Related: New lounges from Centurion
So how do you get into the Centurion lounges?
If you have an American Express branded Centurion card or a Platinum-branded card such as The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express you can get into Centurion lounges for free.
Authorized users with the Platinum or Centurion cards are also eligible for access. You may add up to three authorized users to the personal Platinum Card for a total of $175 per year (see rates & fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardmembers also get access, but you must be flying a Delta flight on the same day for access.
Additional reporting by Zach Griff and Katie Genter.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees