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First Look at Amex’s Expanded Centurion Lounge in Miami (MIA)

Zach Honig
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Zach Honig is Editor-at-Large at TPG, with contributions ranging from articles digging deep on loyalty programs and credit cards to delivery flight coverage to drone photography and much more.
Jan. 25, 2019
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5 min read
Amex Centurion Lounge MIA Expansion ZH
First Look at Amex’s Expanded Centurion Lounge in Miami (MIA)
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Amex has clearly been making significant investments in expanding its Centurion Lounge network. At the same time, the card issuer has taken steps to improve its existing locations as well, from Las Vegas (LAS) to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW).

More than a year after it was first announced, one such renovation is just about complete — in Concourse D at Miami International Airport (MIA) — as I witnessed during a tour this Thursday.

Located near gate D12, the MIA Centurion Lounge is expected to reopen next week. It'll be open between the hours of 5:00am and 10:00pm, though Amex can choose to extend the hours on occasion to accommodate delayed flights.

Customers (and two guests) can access the lounge with the Centurion Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. As of March 22, 2019, Platinum cardmembers will only be able to enter the lounge with a boarding pass for a flight departing within three hours, though Centurion members will continue to have unrestricted access.

Amex was able to expand the lounge by 4,000 square feet by building an extension on top of what had previously been a roof — certainly no small undertaking. At 12,300 square feet in total, it's now the largest Centurion Lounge in the world — until Amex's 15,000-square-foot space opens at JFK, at least.

Most of the construction had been underway without visitors being aware, since the addition was hidden behind a wall that's only since been opened up during the temporary closure.

The addition brings 100 more seats, including dining tables, chairs and individual workstations. There's also a second bar; a second buffet that'll be dedicated to salads and other cold items at breakfast, lunch and dinner; two restrooms; and two private phone rooms, including one that's large enough to accommodate a small family.

The new space will serve beer and wine exclusively. Liquor will remain available at the previous bar, which remains unchanged with the exception of a slightly tweaked cocktail menu.

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The two new cocktails are MIA exclusives, including the Americano Sbagliato, Amex's version of a Negroni, and the Caribbean Carajillo, made with espresso.

There's a brand-new menu on the way as well. While the final items might differ a bit from what I saw during my visit, I very much enjoyed the "lobster pocket," pictured below.

The guacamole tacos were light and refreshing as well, served with pomegranate and lime.

The dining area has a mix of bar seating, tables and stools right up against the large, bright window.

American Airlines fans will certainly enjoy the view!

In addition to offering great plane spotting, the floor-to-ceiling windows let in a ton of light: the room was bright, even on a party cloudy Miami day.

It was a bit surreal being in an empty Centurion Lounge — I can't imagine I'll have my pick of any seat in the room again!

There's also free Wi-Fi throughout the lounge. It performed well during my visit, though without any guests, the network was hardly at maximum capacity.

All of the existing lounge amenities will remain, including a family room and a spa, the latter of which is available exclusively in Dallas and Miami.

For more on Amex's Miami Centurion Lounge, see:

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Featured image by Amex offers access to hundreds of locations, beyond its own Centurion Lounge network. Photo by Zach Honig.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.