Airport lounge wars: How credit card companies are competing for your preflight cocktail

18.09.2024 - 20:03 / thepointsguy.com

Once upon a time, airport lounge access was only for the select few.

A private, tranquil preflight experience was reserved for the most frequent of flyers or elite members with the highest status. However, the rise in popularity of airline lounge memberships and Priority Pass over the past decade has widened the appeal of — and access to — airport lounges, all of varying quality.

In 2013, American Express entered the lounge space with its own line of Centurion Lounges, making The Platinum Card® from American Express the key to accessing various elite lounges.

But now, we're seeing this trend continue even further, with credit card issuers pushing their own lounge access to more travelers than ever before. Both Chase and Capital One have tossed their hats into the ring, opening a handful of their own branded lounges and planning to expand even more in coming years.

Here's exactly how these card companies are democratizing lounge access — and whether this is actually a good thing.

Amex was the first and continues to be the most dominant issuer offering airport lounges. More than 25 Centurion Lounges are open globally — about half of them in the U.S. — and their reputation for providing an elite experience suggests that their No. 1 spot is secure.

Even with other lounges emerging, Centurion Lounges remain a favorite thanks to their upscale designs, excellent food-and-drink offerings and exclusive amenities, such as spa services and wine tastings.

Centurion Lounges are available in many domestic and international locations, including New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Sydney Airport (SYD).

Amex has also announced upcoming locations at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND).

To access a Centurion Lounge, you need to hold either a Platinum-branded card like the Amex Platinum or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the personal or business version of the invitation-only Centurion Card from American Express.

Additionally, those with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card can get Centurion Lounge access on certain flight itineraries — just be sure to check the access restrictions on these cards before making your lounge plan.

The information for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: 10 years later: What's next for Amex's Centurion Lounge network

Capital One entered the lounge space in 2021. Since then, it has opened three locations and announced plans for two more.

Capit