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Amex needs to put better food items in their lounges. That is where they need to make a change.

I love this as a solo traveler. I recently got the platinum card and I've only gotten to use the lounge twice. Both times it was filled with obnoxious children running around and big groups of people with nowhere to sit. I just want to enjoy a free breakfast and a nap without worrying about someone lurking through my bag and in a comfortable area.

20 year Amex plat holder. Cancelling this year since it feels like a second job trying to claw back value. Chase Reserve is 100x better.

☕️ Solo traveler and I've been waiting for this change for a while. Had to just skip the lounge once or twice because lines were out the door. Amex should offer quality "grab n go" options like Cap One does.

☕️ Lounges are getting quite crowded during peak times, so making people pay for bringing in more people makes sense.

Team Delta Reserve. We mainly use the Sky Club, and my wife gets 2 passes a year, the exact number she wanted to use in 2022. I often just zip in for a glass of wine and snack, when time is short. Soon Capital One will have a lounge in the D Gates of Las Vegas, our home airport.

$30 for a 3 year old. That will be $10 glass of milk and $20 cereal. I haven’t even seen a kids play area in the Sfo lounge. I haven’t seen play areas in any of the lounges that I have visited. Too bad kids can’t have a toddler Amex platinum card. Cup of ☕️

The Amex Platinum makes less and less sense for me. It was going to be my last big travel card, but looks like I’ll stop at Venture X and go get hotel cards.

Got the authorized user card for my wife as we travel frequently and 4 lounge visits more than pays this off. In addition I had an offer for 10,000 points to add an authorized user if they spend 2k in 6 months. That made it a bit easier to decide on our case. Be sure to check if you can get a similar bonus!

One thing I do not like that Amex changed about a year ago was that if you are not between connecting flights, you can't get into Centurion until 2 hours before departure. So if you go to the airport early you can't get in at all until 2 hours before your flight leaves. Period. So when you get in, you're lucky to have maybe one hour before you start to head to your gate. I could understand 3 hours but not 2. I like the lounge but this restriction seems cheap to me. I'm rushed enough at a airport and don't like a lounge to make it worse.

I’m happy about it because the Centurion loungers have become too crowded. I’m a solo traveler and rarely ever have a guest. ☕️

I spend 85% of my time in Asia now. I dont use Centurion Lounges much, but other lounges in Asian airports are better than Centurion in the US.

☕ solo disabled traveler here and these changes are favorable for folks like me. Whereas I've been lucky not to encounter long lines to get in, it's sometimes impossible to find a tiny table in the lounge to simply roll up to. If by chance it ever gets to a point where I can no longer travel solo, I'd gladly shell out the extra for either a pass or AU. However, with some airports expanding accommodating services in their terminals & keeping bathrooms more hygienic & gates more relaxing, when I'm flying FC/BC sometimes the lounge is overrated.

I miss the days before credit cards gave you access to the lounges. Back in those days, your status with an airline or if you’re flying business or first class gave you access to the lounges. It was much quieter then and far less travelers. For example, the United Red Carpet club would be 1/4 full. You could find a seat away from people. No screaming kids running around. You could actually get some work done. My experience, the food was better then. Now, I’d rather sit outside with the “cattle” than go into the lounge unless I get access to the Polaris lounge. There are also some United lounges that are far better than the Centurion lounges in those cities. Food is much better. Far less people than in the Centurion lounges. Personally, I wish they would go back to the old ways to weed out the crowds. Eliminate credit card access.

You didn’t give any options or comment on families with children aged 2-12 who cant be authorized users on Amex cards.

☕ Pretty pleased with this change, but I am one of the folks who added 3 AUs for $175 right after getting the card, because it enabled my friend group to hit up lounges whenever we traveled. Went to JFK last week, and the Centurion Lounge line was out the door, didn't bother and went to the Delta Sky Club which also had a line out the door, and I just wanted to run in for a quick bite and drink. Anything to reduce the crowding is great, in my eyes!

Don't know why I like the Centurion videos so much, but here we are!

☕ Definitely an unfortunate change for those who travel as a couple or with a family. As for solo travelers, this could be great! I guess time will tell how it all plays out, but I know a lot of people were complaining about overcrowding, so hopefully this helps. Great video Sebby!

YESSS, so tired of families in the lounges. They are without a doubt the biggest annoyance, sorry not sorry.

Luckily, lounge access isn't one of the main reasons I have the Amex Platinum. Whenever I've traveled, if I notice a Centurion Lounge isn't crowded, I'll go for it, but I've been pretty satisfied by the other lounges I've also gotten access to.

My wife is already authorized since she travel for business at least once per month. For us will just showing 2 cards instead of 1 when traveling together

I applaud the changes. The lounges were very crowded. It was starting to look like a feeding frenzy for the zoo animals.

☕️ in a quiet lounge is worth the AF

☕Thanks, I started out with a Mercedes Platinum card, but now regular platinum for obvious reasons. For me, this won't really affect me so much. My spouse is an authorized user and she travels a lot so works out. We have no kids so no problem. That said, I am still mystified about why folks complain about crowded lounges. In the past 6 months have been to various Centurian lounges more than 12 times. I have never waited in line for more than 3 minutes, and that was just waiting for people to check-in. One exception was waiting for the lounge to open up. Becaus e me and my spouse travels a lot we find value in it. Also, lets be honest, its nice to be in lounge that doesnt have screaming kids. I know selfish

☕ I am in Atlanta. Waiting for Centurion lounge to open here. But paying $30 for my kid ... That's a bummer 😞

As a solo traveller, I am pleased! Next flight (to France) coming up in February, after this takes effect (Business Class, purchased with points, of course lol). Hopefully Centurion LAX won't be too much of a zoo. 😁 ☕

I can see one reason, Military people get free high-fee Amex credit card...

I am using the two Platinum approach. My wife has one and I have another. I ran the numbers and in our situation, we break even on both cards to justify the annual fees.

The best lounge access cards in this order: 1. AMEX Platinum 2. Capital One Venture X 3. Chase Sapphire Reserve Although the CSR has non-lounge benefits that the two others don't.

Ask Seby, thanks for always keeping me in the know of what changes are taking effect on my card, I sometimes learn more from you than the statement inserts they send us.

☕️ I have the Morgan Stanley platinum card. If you do a video on this topic, it’s worth mentioning that the CashPlus platinum account reimburses the $695 annual fee. The account has a $55 monthly fee but that can be waived with a monthly direct deposit of $5k and also maintaining an average balance of $25k. The current preferred savings program has 4% interest rate for 2023. The MS route is def not for everyone considering the investment relationship criteria but could make sense for some.

I’m mostly a solo traveler my husband and I fly together less than once a year. So we will just pay the $50 vs adding him as an authorized signer on my Amex Platinum. Our home airport only has escape lounges so we can use them with no changes 😉

Forcing more people to pay to get the AUs is the way for Amex to increase cards and increase membership fee income.

Solo traveler here so I will definitely benefit. I just got the platinum and have been worried if I would even get to enjoy the lounges with the excessive crowding.

Can’t wait to check out the new SFO remodel Centurion lounge. Double the size, and with the new restrictions, maybe I’ll get a seat for a change.

Good thing we don’t have a overcrowding problem at the Centurion @ ORD 😎

The hotel at 6:50 is the Barcelo in Aruba. Love it there. If you're apart of the vacation club I recommend going at least once. You pay $100/night for an $800 room.

Lovin the Morgan Stanley option! Just canned my Platinum and changed to a gold because I was tired of the lame congested lounges. Couldn’t justify the yearly. But, park $25k @ 3.5% (plus $5 month) to get the $695 waived? WIN-WIN!! I’m in! Thanks mate! ☕️☕️☕️

☕️ went to the centurion lounge in DEI. Sign out front said 30-45min wait but there was no line. Walked up got let in, once inside with my family (utilizes 1 auth user and 2 guest for P1 and 1 guest for P2. All our kids) it was BUSY. We were able to score a table, the food was great and the staff were turning and burning food out. But we didnt get to the lounge side, stuck more on the cafeteria feeling side. Still free food, drink, coffee wasnt impressive. Glad i got to utilize it. For me thats at least a $100 value feeding and drinks for 5 people.

I paid top prices for first class and told I was not allowed in. I felt like it was like trying to get into Studio 54 in the 1970's. I went to this incredible small boutique restaurant at the airport and had a mind blowing taco salad that made my being rejected for the lounge ok.

does this rule affect canadian platinum customers?

I travel once or twice a year. I don’t travel alone. So the few times I travel , I’m not willing to pay for my companion. I’ve been with Amex many years. When I was informed of this change, I called customer service. I suggested grandfather in the free guest(1) for long term membership. They listened to my feedback. I informed them that when my membership renews I will be canceling.

The first thing people need to do is ask themselves if there is a good worthwhile Centurion lounge in your home airport. If the answer is yes, then ask: how often do I fly per year? If the answer is 2 times or less, perhaps reconsider if the Amex Platinum coupon book is worth your time. ☕️

☕️ I’m betting Amex’s new lounge policy is not going to be enough to stem the overcrowding. They’re either going to have to dramatically raise the annual fee again or institute a spend requirement for any lounge access. We’ll see.

☕️ I have an AMEX Platinum card and can’t wait to visit one of the lounges. Thank you for your videos.

☕I went to the Centurion lounge in Seattle recently, it wasn't crazy packed, but it was still more than I liked

Wife and I both have platinum card, so doesn’t effect us much. Hope the changes reduce crowding though. Especially with all of the kids.

☕Good to know that authorized users can also hit the SkyClub. One question: If you've never earned the big welcome bonus on the Platinum, does becoming an authorized user mess you chances up if you want to get your own down the road?

deep dive on Morgan Stanley platinum card please ☕🍺

The biggest reason I still have the AmEx Platinum is lounge access. With centurion lounges being shut off for my wife, I think I’ll cancel…

I never understood why people are upset with the “coupon book”. I get a lot of them are unusable because it’s for luxury hotels and expensive products but Amex does it purposely to target the rich (or big spender) person that is likely to buy that stuff anyways.

☕️ as a solo traveler I’m excited for the change as it should help make the lounges less crowded

The solo/business travelers are not the problem. It’s the huge families camped out everywhere for hours. Screaming babies, etc. There should be a two person entry limit per account- period. Otherwise, it just feels like the regular airport terminal with better food.

This was very informative. I love Centurion lounges. If it's not Delta Sky club, it's the Centurion for me. ☕

I just got the Amex platinum in December so I guess I won’t enjoy it unless I make some changes

Would you recommend the Amtrak credit cards? If you travel on Amtrak once a year?

☕When I reached out to Amex to try and get an exemption for my gf as an occasional additional guest, they told me the $200 flight credit could apply to the lounge. If this is accurate then you can use that to get 4 guest visits.

☕️ think I missed it, are Delta Reserve cardholders affected? Didn’t see it referenced.

Yes, can you please do a deep dive into the morgan stanley amex platinum

What about Canadian Platinum holders?

Amex needs to limit access to Centurion and Platinum cardholders only, the line at these lounges is getting ridiculous.

I’m wondering what the scene is with the dual monitors at 0:38. I haven’t seen this in your other vids

Last time I was in the Centurion Lounge at SFO was 5 years ago and it was over crowded to the max. Not a single seat available and long wait for shower. I can imagine it is much worse post pandemic.

I went to two centurion lounges today and brought my girlfriend in as my guest to both. I did enjoy that I could being her in as a guest for free, but the lounges were very crowded. So overall I think this is a positive change for members

$50 for extra guest isn’t too bad. I wish I could’ve abused that bring 2 extra people into the lounges. I was wondering what that $75000 bar was doing in the app. I thought that timeframe was to indicate how much time left I need to spend if I want to keep the lounge pass.

If you did not already know, new members of the milatary get an AMEX Platinum card handed to them and AMEX waves all the fees, and the card can be used worldwide.

I think the changes only benefits solo travelers. Couples and families will have to pay the additional $175 for AU or pay the guest fee. The guest fee is reasonable but I do feel like they don’t care about families which is why the change benefits solos.

☕Currently not affected. Solo and beginner just starting to travel. Did a couple trips in late 2022 via car. Got my first Amex in Vegas experience which was awesome. Spent almost nothing on food because of the Platinum via the hotel $100 restore fee which the hotel said was available daily for use including the restaurants. Looking to travel at least once via plane this year just have not decided on where (Hawaii or Washington DC). Leaning towards DC because I live in the southwest so weather is almost always nice outside of monsoon season. 😁

☕I travel solo a lot now so I love this change. The last few times I've wanted to use the Centurion lounge they were packed(JFK, MIA, IAH)

☕ I am considering working for a lounge to supplement my income and I came across your video. I was already subscribed. I love how thorough you are when you explain things.

I see the lounge crowding like a pendulum. When COVID hit, travel came to a near halt, lounges weren't packed, and airlines were looking to push alternate revenue streams to stay afloat (like high fee credit cards with lounge access benefits). The pendulum was way off in one direction. Fast forward to late 2021, into 2022. A lot more of these cards were out there, and a travel-starved public with two years of discretionary income saved up (not a lot to spend it on for a while) came back with a vengeance.... and many more of them had these cards with lounge privileges. The pendulum swung to the other extreme. I suspect between these tweaks, a return to a more normal travel volume, and perhaps a slowing economy, this "pendulum" will likely return closer to the center before too long, especially as leisure travelers exhaust the savings they piled up a couple years earlier when they had little to spend it on.

thanks you so much for the heads up.... I dont really have so much time to got over my AX info but you always keep us on the loop.... you rock !

I think the solution if the raise the annual fee would be get a bigger coupon book but only allow people a certain amount of slots 800$ annual but 2x on everything

☕️☕️ thank you Sebby. Would definitely want to see a video about how to apply for Morgan Stanley platinum card

Luckily I used option #2. My wife is my player 2 on our Amex Schwab.

Love this change. Over the past year, Centurion lounges have not only been overcrowded; they had also become family centers. It may suck to travel with toddlers, but putting them next to business travelers and black card members cheapened the product and reduced overall quality greatly. That being said, the queue in Seattle (one of the smallest Centurion lounges) last week was out the door and 10+ people long.

They definitely could make it better way- like to offer 1-3 free companion entry per year and than you have to pay for it or earn thru 75K spend

☕️ I don’t have a centurion lounge in Boston. Now that they have made those changes I will definitely not be getting the platinum card. I was in Denver a couple of months ago on the United club lounge was packed and people were being directed to the other United Club lounge. I think I have all the cards I’m going to have for a while, but I enjoy watching your videos and learning about all of the updates and offers.

☕️Amex Platinum did send me an email recently that due my spend tier, $150k yr, was able to bring guests into the Centurion Lounge. I also have United Chase Visa card but didnt get a new lounge access card. Is United just checking your membership or card number to get in? Or do i need to call to get new United Lounge access card?

☕☕more coffee for you Seb. we dont personally spend enough time in lounges unless we travel internationally.

Thinking of just adding my sister and splitting the annual fee together so I have my card and she has hers 🤞I get approved

I would be nice if they gave us a handful of 1 day passes for us folks that travel with family from time to time. My 5 year old isn't going to eat 50 dollars of cookies I promise.

I am in both groups. For my businesses travel it’s great but it sucks when I want to go on vacation with my kids.

Disappointed! Less benefits!

☕️ Our 3 children will be happier elsewhere if the lounges are full of even more negative energy towards families with children. We don’t have time for that negative energy. Not worth $90 per visit!

Its better this way to limit guests so it’s not crowded and still somewhat exclusive ;-)

☕☕☕Paying $175 for AUs fortunately works in my situation and will make the upcoming change a non-event. No need to fret about the $75K prior year spend. Not related to this video, but the Alaska Airlines BofA Visa and the $6K prior year spend to get the companion pass on the other hand, that apparently stings. At least for new card members.

I received the “congrats” email after I spent $75k on my AMEX. I didn’t really know why it mattered, now I do :)

☕️ I’ve never liked Amex lounges, as I would never spend time in NYC or San Fran. I am a huge traveler and live in the forth biggest US city, but the platinum never made sense for me. The big difference maker for me is showers. Amex lounges usually don’t have them.

If it means less people, I will happily pay $50 to have my husband get in. Shoot, I thought it would had been in 100s and was willing to pay it. If we plan to travel more that it would be best to have him as an AU. Then I’ll go that route when we get there.

☕️ I got 3 additional cards for wife, dad & FIL. FIL will just pay for the MIL when they go to lounge themselves. Dad and wife had the additional cards anyway for the global entry access and when dad flies alone. Alcohol and lunch or dinner are totally worth it. Even with taking one extra person. We would end up spending about the same at a food place inside the airport. The 175 for 3 people to have access is perfect for us.

☕️ not thrilled about it. I typically travel with my minions, so while P2 and I have platinums, kids are too young to a: get the card, b: AU

Many will be upset but honestly, all lounges have become PACKED since the COVID reopening. I added my wife as an additional AU with Platnium so these changes won't affect us. The only lounge we've been to is SFO and the food/drink was nice though its not that large given the number of people that want to use it. We'll see if these changes make a difference.

I just want to clarify. If you add 3 AU, you can still pay $695 annual fee?

☕As a business platinum cardholder, the fee for authorized users is $350, which is a substantial portion of the cost of a standalone card. Instead of doing that, we went ahead and got a full personal platinum for my wife. She likes the Saks credit and the Equinox credit, and we will both make full use of the airline incidental credits. The Walmart+ membership probably isn't too valuable, and we live far enough out of town that the Uber credit doesn't help a ton, but we did sign up for Paramount+, Audible and Hulu with the streaming service credit, and we'll both be able to charge our Clear memberships to the card and get those paid for. So in the end I think we'll come out at least even if not ahead.

Hey Sebby, I signed up for the card in July and haven’t broken the 75,000$ yet but I’m close should I contact Amex to see if they will let me slide?

☕I'm mostly a solo traveler for work so changes don't effect me much, but do plan to travel with family a couple times this year so if I want to use the louge it will cost $60 for 2 kids, not sure it's worth that.....

☕ As much as I can understand families wanting to stay together, me not getting in after paying my AF, with little Timmy and Sally being on there for free, doesn't sit well. I do like the idea of limiting business visits to a maximum annual number. My success rate at getting into a Centurion Lounge is in the teens, while I get in the Sky Clubs almost every time. The Platinum allows a ton of lounge access, but those are the Big 2. If I get another Player 2, I will have her get her own card, as the value in the coupons are there. How are feeling about the SFO expansion?

Awesome content like always. ALSO please fix the video/camera setup, picture/colors looks grayish/plain