Amex closes Centurion Lounge spas to combat overcrowding

The future American Express Centurion Lounge network will be a little less luxurious.

That’s because the issuer is closing all spas across its lounge network, a company spokesperson confirmed exclusively to TPG. When Amex first Started opening the waiting room in 2013, card issuers are paying special attention to amenities that can help attract cardholders to use their lounges (and sign up to use them). Expensive premium credit cards).

One such facility is the spa, which was previously operated in partnership with Exhale. These spas are available nationwide at three Centurion Lounge locations: Fort Dallas, Miami And Los Angeles.

While airport lounge spas are certainly a nice amenity, they pose a hurdle for travelers because demand for treatments almost always outstrips supply. In the Exhale Spa at Centurion Lounge, there are typically two to four therapists on staff, offering a number of nail care services and chair massages. Unless you’re the first person to arrive on a certain day, most cardholders have to wait a while for an appointment.

One solution to the supply and demand imbalance could be for Amex to pre-book treatments at its spas. Centurion card members are invite only.

But instead, the issuer will use the space occupied by spas for additional seating. Amex didn’t share how many extra seats it expects to offer due to the spa’s closure, but I don’t necessarily expect it to make much of a difference when it comes to overcrowding and waiting lists. (After all, spas never take up more than a small room.)

That said, every seat counts and hopefully Amex will use the money it recovers from spa-related costs to increase server count and food and beverage quality on your network.

Amex confirmed the closure of its Centurion Lounge spas with the following statement.

Effective this past Thursday, October 3, to add more seating areas and serve more eligible Card Members, American Express will close the Exhale spas in the Centurion Lounge at the International Airport Dallas Fort Worth, Miami International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.

Although Amex only has spas in three Centurion Lounge outposts, prestige and aura of luxury Affiliates with the publisher’s lounge network will certainly be affected by this news. After all, Amex’s two major credit card department competitors continue to offer a range of attractive amenities that stand out from Amex’s offerings.

This includes Peloton Room at Capital One Lounge and Custom facials in The Club’s Chase Sapphire Lounge.

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