Amex is playing an aggressive game with its Platinum Card, upping the ante with higher annual fees, but also raised perks.
In recent years, that’s included an ever expanding list of bespoke, Amex owned airport lounges where Platinum cardmembers and above can enjoy genuinely refined food and drinks, often far above the offerings found in other lounges.
Sometimes, even from airlines.
Now, Amex has its first bonafide Centurion Lounge in “Europe”, at London Heathrow Terminal 3. With a variety of airlines operating leisure flights from the terminal, as well as plenty of long haul flights from the likes of Virgin and Delta, it’s a big move.
Amex Centurion Lounge LHR T3
Amex has a new Centurion Lounge in London Heathrow, and it’s now open and ready for visitors.
Aside from the design forward spaces, Amex has looked to separate itself in the airport lounge space with food actually worth eating, and cocktails along the same lines, from renowned mixologist, Jim Meehan.
For London Heathrow, that also means a collaboration with Assaf Granit, a Michelin starred chef highlighting the best of world cuisine.
The “Oh ‘My Baklava” olive oil cake with pistachio anglaise and rose water diplomat sounds particularly epic, as does the homemade Kubalah bread, fried pita chips and tahini.
As to the design part, there will be an art gallery, with iconic images and paintings representing the best of London, inviting people to explore the city through the various works. Each work will also have a QR code where guests can learn about the work, and even potentially acquire it.
As usual, the mixture of work and play will be available, with dedicated workspaces, power outlets, fast wifi and travel services will be available to all.
“We are delighted to be the first major hub airport in Europe to host an American Express Centurion Lounge. As travel restrictions continue to ease and key markets open back up, the new Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3 will be a most welcome addition for passengers in need of a quiet place to relax before setting off on their journeys,” .
Fraser Brown, Director of Retail and Property at Heathrow
In a unique move, which is at least a first in an airport to my knowledge, the space will also make an attempt to be eco friendly, with newly installed solar panels providing some of the energy capacity for the lounge.
Exciting Time For Amex Lounges
Amex is playing a high stakes game, taking already premium cards and making them even more “premium”. But with the opening of the first Centurion Lounge in Europe, the perks are getting sweeter all the time.
This is a huge space with what promises to be a “first class” offering for Amex Platinum cardholders and above, regardless what cabin or airline they’re flying in.
Sounds worth a look, and will be interesting to see how it compares to Virgin, which even though it unfortunately offers less and less as the years go by, still gives a pretty good show.