{"id":126054,"date":"2024-09-18T19:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T19:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/18\/airport-lounge-wars-how-credit-card-companies-are-competing-for-your-preflight-cocktail-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T19:00:10","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T19:00:10","slug":"airport-lounge-wars-how-credit-card-companies-are-competing-for-your-preflight-cocktail-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/18\/airport-lounge-wars-how-credit-card-companies-are-competing-for-your-preflight-cocktail-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Airport lounge wars: How credit card companies are competing for your preflight cocktail – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Once upon a time, airport lounge access was only for the select few.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> over the past decade has widened the appeal of \u2014 and access to \u2014 airport lounges<\/a>, all of varying quality.<\/p>\n

In 2013, American Express entered the lounge space with its own line of Centurion Lounges<\/a>, making The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a><\/span> the key to accessing various elite lounges.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and Capital One<\/a> have tossed their hats into the ring, opening a handful of their own branded lounges and planning to expand even more in coming years.<\/p>\n

Here’s exactly how these card companies are democratizing lounge access \u2014 and whether this is actually a good thing.<\/p>\n

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Amex Centurion Lounges<\/h2>\n

Amex was the first and continues to be the most dominant issuer offering airport lounges. More than 25 Centurion Lounges are open globally \u2014 about half of them in the U.S. \u2014 and their reputation for providing an elite experience suggests that their No. 1 spot is secure.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Centurion Lounge locations<\/h3>\n

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).<\/p>\n

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