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How many times have you waited in line to get into an American Express Centurion Lounge? If you’re a frequent traveler through San Francisco International Airport (SFO), it’s probably been every single time in recent memory. Thanks to a plethora of cardholders with access, these lounges have gotten more crowded over the years. Although some of this may be resolved with stricter access requirements, Amex has also done its best to update its lounges to accommodate all of these visitors — and its newest version at SFO has just launched. Let’s take a look.
American Express opened its first Centurion Lounge in 2013 in Las Vegas (LAS) to great fanfare. Unlike existing airport lounges, which relied on frequent flyers for entry, Amex provided access to its lounge simply by holding an eligible credit card.
San Francisco has long had its own Centurion Lounge, but it’s been plagued by long lines and waiting lists for quite some time. As a result, the card issuer opted to shut the lounge in September 2022 for renovations. Now its newly-refreshed lounge has been doubled in size. Guests can expect 16,000 square feet of space, along with a new bar and additional seating. The new lounge also features additional restrooms, spaces for working, and private phone booths.
As well as a comfortable place to rest, those familiar with Centurion Lounges know that they always offer something special — and generally pretty unique — at their locations. In Miami (MIA), this means you’ll get a free 15-minute massage on-site. In San Francisco, a wine wall has long offered complimentary tastings of Napa’s best. With the addition of the new bar, these tastings will be enhanced with a rotating selection of wine flights from different California vineyards.
There are multiple areas for eating and drinking, as well as menus created by Chef Ravi Kapur of San Francisco’s Liholiho Yacht Club.
Hot Tip: Check out our guide to the various lounges you can visit in the American Express Global Lounge Collection with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Thank goodness American Express opted to shut its San Francisco Centurion Lounge late last year. Unbearably long lines made for a less-than-premium experience and a decided lack of seating left many forced to linger awkwardly around the lounge. Now doubled in size, the newly-refreshed Centurion Lounge has just opened, and it promises a better use of space along with a new bar. We can’t wait to visit!
