Amex Bets Bigger on Lounges
American Express will open Centurion Lounges at Newark and Heathrow T5 and triple Houston. Philadelphia closes from 16 October, so check clients' lounge plans.
American Express is doubling down on the airport lounge as the reason to carry its premium cards. On 8 October it announced two new Centurion Lounges, at Newark and London Heathrow Terminal 5, and major expansions at Houston and Philadelphia. For advisors, the near-term point is a closure: Philadelphia’s lounge shuts temporarily from 16 October.
The four projects
According to American Express, as reported by Fast Company and AwardWallet:
- Newark (EWR), Terminal A: a new lounge of more than 30,000 sq ft over two storeys, opening in 2027. It was originally planned at about 18,000 sq ft. Amex says it will be the largest in its network, with three bars and a Blue Roast coffee and wellness bar, and food by Resy chefs. It makes Amex the first card issuer with its own lounges at all three major New York-area airports, alongside JFK and LaGuardia.
- London Heathrow, Terminal 5: a second Heathrow lounge of more than 9,000 sq ft, opening in 2028, joining the Terminal 3 lounge that opened in 2021.
- Houston (IAH): expanding from about 8,000 to more than 23,000 sq ft, roughly tripling, with completion expected in 2028.
- Philadelphia (PHL): growing from 6,000 to more than 12,000 sq ft over two floors, fully updated by the end of 2027. It closes temporarily from 16 October.
Amex now has 33 Centurion Lounge locations worldwide, Fast Company reports, within a Global Lounge Collection of more than 1,550 lounges in 140 countries.
Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, said: “As the Centurion Lounge Network grows, we’re investing in the lounges our Card Members already know and love.”
Why it matters
The lounge has become the most visible perk in the premium card market, and the most crowded. Doubling floor space at existing hubs, rather than only opening new ones, is a response to queues at the door. Newark, a United hub, and Houston, another, are both airports where Amex is competing directly with airline clubs for the same premium flyer.
The Heathrow move matters for transatlantic clients. Terminal 5 is British Airways‘ home. Upgraded Points notes that Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders, who get Centurion access only when flying Delta, are unlikely to use the T5 lounge because Delta operates from Terminal 3.
For advisors
- Philadelphia clients: from 16 October, Centurion access at PHL is gone until the rebuild. Check alternatives before departure.
- Don’t promise access. Centurion entry is tied to eligible Platinum and Centurion cards and guest rules that differ by card market; confirm each client’s card before building it into a trip.
- Plan around 2027 and 2028. Newark becomes a stronger premium gateway next year; Heathrow T5 Centurion access arrives in 2028 for BA-flying cardmembers.
- Watch: whether Amex changes guest rules as capacity grows, and how airline clubs respond. American Airlines has announced a 40,000-plus sq ft Admirals Club at Charlotte.
Sources
Jeff Cameron is a chief operating officer who writes about the business of travel: operations, pricing, loyalty and the decisions behind the trips, seen through an executive lens.