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American Express Platinum and Centurion members have two new destinations to visit in 2019 and 2020. The Centurion Lounge network is expanding their footprint with new spots in London and Charlotte. These new additions will be the 13th and 14th airport lounges. The London location is the first Centurion Lounge in Europe and it’s second international location.

London will be The Centurion’s first European location. To celebrate the first European Centurion Lounge, Centurion is hosting a pop-up lounge in London’s Covent Garden from December 13 to 16.

Both of these new locations serve two of the world’s busiest airports. If you fly to England, there’s a good chance you’re going to pass through Heathrow. When you connect through the southeastern United States, Charlotte is a major hub serving 24 different carriers.

The First Centurion Lounge in Europe

London is home to the first European lounge in The Centurion network. It’s scheduled to open in 2019. It’s going to be 7,000-square feet and located post-security in Terminal 3 of London Heathrow.

This location will feature the standard Centurion Lounge features including premium showers and noise-buffering workstations. Like other lounges, the London location will serve locally-inspired cuisine.

John Arbuckle, Head of Property at Heathrow states, “We are really proud to welcome Europe’s first Centurion Lounge to Heathrow. The lounge will offer a unique and premium experience for American Express customers and a comfortable haven, bringing to life the essence of modern British hospitality.”

As England’s busiest airport with 81 airlines and 78 million annual passengers, Centurion couldn’t have picked a better foothold for Europe.

Centurion Lounge Heathrow Rendering
The planned entrance for The Centurion Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 3.
Credit: American Express

Visit the Pop-Up Lounge in Covent Garden in December 2018

If you happen to be in London from December 13 to 16, 2018, you can visit the pop-up Centurion Lounge. It’s located at Unit 6, Langley Street, in Covent Garden from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm each day.

Platinum and Centurion members can bring two additional guests. Inside the lounge, you can enjoy complimentary snacks, beverages, charging stations, family programming, and even gift wrapping services.

At the Garden, you can also complete your Christmas shopping, attend a theatre show, or visit a museum. Then, you can stop by the pop-up to rest or escape the Christmas hustle and bustle for a little bit. You can quickly get to Covent Garden by taking the Underground’s Picadilly Line and hopping off at the Covent Station stop.

This isn’t the first time Centurion has taken their upscale lounge experience on the road. They were at the 2018 US Open Tennis Championships. You can enjoy the things you usually expect from an airport lounge including premium drinks, wifi, restrooms, and other amenities that you won’t easily find at other public places.

Charlotte Centurion Lounge Opens in 2020

The 14th Centurion Lounge opens in 2020 in Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. As the United State’s 6th busiest airport, this newest location will be one of the largest Centurion Lounges yet with a 13,000 square foot space.

The Charlotte Centurion Lounge will be at the post-security intersection of Concourses D and E. This lounge will be near the airport’s central atrium. Landmark features include floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the airfield and the city skyline. Local cuisine, premium showers, and semi-private workspaces with wifi access are also available.

This lounge will also be near the existing American Airlines Admirals Club in the Concourse D/E Connector. You might decide to visit The Centurion to enjoy a better level of service. Additionally, you can potentially avoid a larger crowd since Centurion is more exclusive.

Accessing the Centurion Lounges

To access The Centurion Lounges, you must own one of these three American Express cards:

Admission is part of complimentary Global Lounge Collection card benefits. To enter, show your Platinum or Centurion card. You and two travel companions can visit for free. Extra guests cost $50 each for a one-time visit. Many travelers consider The Centurion network to be one of the best airport lounge networks.

One reason is that access is more exclusive than an airline’s lounge or other “flexible” lounge networks like Priority Pass. Smaller crowds mean more places to rest or work unimpeded. A second reason The Centurion receives much praise is the lavish amenities including premium drinks and full meals, not just finger foods and snacks, and even spa services.

Because space can be limited, Centurion may limit access until you’re within three hours of your next scheduled departure.

Where to Go Before The Centurion Lounge Opens

If you’re passing through either Charlotte or Heathrow before either Centurion Lounge opens, you can visit the Priority Pass lounge near gates A37-39. At London Heathrow, you can visit a lounge in your nearest terminal. Currently, Priority Pass offers lounge access in terminals 2-5.

Besides the Centurion and Priority Pass, your Platinum Card® from American Express also gives you access to Delta SkyClubs, Airspace, Plaza Premium, and Escapes. In total, you have free access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across the globe. That number continues to rise as The Centurion and other lounge networks continue to add more locations.

Other Recent Centurion Lounge Openings

The Centurion network has been busy expanding its network and revamping existing locations. In a few years, this lounge network has essentially doubled in size. For instance, four new lounges will open in 2019 alone, including London Heathrow.

Centurion recently remodeled its Dallas-Fort Worth location that’s now open once again. Other upcoming Centurion Lounge openings in 2019 include Denver, Los Angeles International (LAX), and New York-JFK.

Other recent openings include Philadelphia. Additionally, Centurion’s first international location in Hong Kong gives them a presence in Asia. Both locations opened in October 2017.

If you’re passing through a major airport in the U.S., see if a Centurion Lounge is open. You’re in for a well-deserved respite.

Summary

The Centurion Lounge Heathrow opens in 2019. Centurion’s 14th lounge at Charlotte opens in 2020. Both of these locations help serve some of the busiest airports in the world. Regardless of which airline you fly, you can visit these two locations and the other 12 lounge spots until their doors open.

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