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The long wait for a Centurion Lounge is finally over for those of us who pass through LAX on a frequent basis as Amex has now revealed that its Los Angeles Centurion lounge will open on Monday 9 March 2020.
The LAX Centurion lounge is situated two levels beneath the Qantas First Class lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal and if you’ve been passing through LAX recently you may well have seen the facility slowly taking shape after the covers were taken off the windows.
The first entrance (of two) to the new Centurion Lounge is directly below the Qantas First Class lounge (one level down) so, to access the facility, guests entering through from the Tom Bradley TSA area will need to make a left turn as soon as they’re into the shopping part of the terminal before making another left turn and another immediate left turn to face the entrance.
This is what that entrance looked like a few days ago:
Once inside, guests will then need to proceed down another level before they get to the second (and primary) entrance to the lounge.
What Amex has said about the LAX Centurion Lounge
Amex has said that LAX is one of the airports most frequented by “premium American Express Card Members” who apparently booked 10% more flights through LAX in 2019 than they did in 2018… hence the need for a Centurion Lounge.
Boasting almost 14,000 square feet of space, the new LAX Centurion Lounge is the biggest lounge in Amex’s network, and although it’s located in the Tom Bradley Terminal the design of LAX is such that it is accessible from Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 as well.
A key component of the lounge will be a new feature being introduced by American Express – tranquility rooms.
The Centurion Lounge at LAX will offer “sunrise” and “moonrise” tranquility rooms which offer brightly light and dimly lit, quiet spaces where guests can begin to adjust to whatever time zone they’re attempting to adjust to.
The idea of the moonrise room is to induce a feeling of nighttime relaxation while the vibrancy of the sunrise room is meant to help awaken a guest’s senses with bright walls and specially chosen lighting.
I have absolutely no idea if any of this works, but I’ll be sure to try it out the next time I’m passing through 🙂
As with a number of other Centurion Lounges, the LAX lounge will offer an Exhale Spa where the services will be “centered around energy and light“.
Per Amex:
“Guests can indulge in Light Therapy designed to hydrate skin, Reiki treatments to restore the body’s equilibrium, and Ear Reflexology to relax the mind and ease the body. Hand and nail therapies, as well as chair massages, will also be available.”
When it comes to the food options that will be available in the lounge, American Express has, unsurprisingly, chosen to go with a very strong local element curated by American Express Global Dining Collection Chef, Nancy Silverton.
“Silverton’s menu will incorporate a variety of local and artisanal ingredients, ensuring guests enjoy a meal or snack that is both seasonal and fresh. Some of these locally inspired dishes include: Asparagus Egg Pie, Panettone French Toast, Farro Salad with Fresh Herbs and Feta, Mozza Meatballs, Roasted Beets with Horseradish Vinaigrette, Butterscotch Budino and more.”
On the drinks front, the Los Angeles Centurion lounge will offer “premium wine selections” and “specialty cocktails featuring locally sourced ingredients” like California Brandy, Miracle Mile Bitters, and Dirty Sue cocktail cherries.
One final tip of the hat to LA’s food and drinks scene comes at the barista station where the coffee served will be from LA-based City Bean Roasters whose beans are sourced directly from local farmers (I had no idea we had coffee plantations in SoCal!)
From a more practical standpoint, here’s what else the Amex Centurion Lounge at LAX will be offering:
- “Private noise-buffering workspaces“
- A family room
- High-speed wi-fi
- Restroom and shower facilities
- Power outlets
- Amex member services staff to help with card and travel-related services.
Who can access Amex Centurion Lounges?
Access to Amex Centurion Lounges is restricted to the holders of the following cards:
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- The Centurion Card® from American Express
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Holders of the Skymiles Reserve cards can only access the Centurion Lounges when flying with Delta.
As of 1 February 2023, holders of Amex’s Platinum Card and SkyMiles Reserve Cards are now charged $50 for each guest they bring into a Centurion Lounge (up to two guests) although Platinum Card holders can get this rule waived if they spend at least $75,000 per year on their card
There is no change to the Centurion Card’s guess access privileges.
For flyers originating at an airport with a Centurion Lounge, access is granted a maximum of 3 hours before their scheduled departure time. For flyers connecting at an airport with a Centurion Lounge, that limitation is waived.
Bottom line
It’s about time! I’ve been waiting for a Centurion Lounge to open at LAX for a long time so I’m delighted that opening day is nearly here.
The location of the lounge at the Tom Bradley Terminal will favor travelers flying the international carriers (BA, Lufthansa, Korean, etc…) and American Airlines flyers who will only have a short walk over from T4. For everyone else it will take a little bit more of an effort but, if you have time to spare, it looks like this may be a lounge well worth checking out.
What are your first impressions of the LAX Centurion Lounge?
Beyond excited! I have an LAX-PDX-SFO-LAX Mileage run in two weeks, so I get to check out 3 Amex Lounges in one day!
Have the 20-somethings started lining up yet? Hard pass.