American Express announced on October 8, 2026 that it is expanding its Centurion Lounge network at four airports. Newark gets a new lounge of more than 30,000 square feet in 2027, which makes it the largest Centurion Lounge anywhere. Philadelphia closes on October 16, 2026 for a rebuild, and Houston and a second London Heathrow lounge follow in 2028.
The short version
- Newark Terminal A: more than 30,000 square feet over two floors, expected in 2027. Amex first announced it at 18,000.
- Philadelphia: closes October 16, 2026 and grows from 6,000 to more than 12,000 square feet by the end of 2027.
- Houston IAH Terminal D: grows from about 8,000 to more than 23,000 square feet by 2028.
- London Heathrow Terminal 5: a new lounge of more than 9,000 square feet in 2028, on top of the existing Terminal 3 lounge.
- Guests still cost $50 each ($30 for kids 2 to 17) unless you spend $75,000 a year on a Platinum Card.
What did American Express announce for the Centurion Lounge network?
The American Express Centurion Lounge network is getting what Amex calls its largest expansion to date, covering Newark, Philadelphia, Houston and London Heathrow. The Amex press release puts the network at 33 Centurion locations inside a wider collection of more than 1,550 lounges in 140 countries.
Here is the full list:
| Airport | What changes | Size | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark (EWR), Terminal A | New lounge | 30,000+ sq ft, two floors | 2027 |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | Rebuild, closed during work | 6,000 to 12,000+ sq ft | Closes Oct 16, 2026, done by end of 2027 |
| Houston (IAH), Terminal D | Expansion | About 8,000 to 23,000+ sq ft | By 2028 |
| London Heathrow (LHR), Terminal 5 | Second London lounge | 9,000+ sq ft | 2028 |
Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, said Amex continues “to find ways to meet the growing demand for our premium airport lounge experiences.” Translation for anyone who has stood in a Centurion line at 4 p.m.: the lounges are too crowded, and Amex knows it.
Why does the Newark Centurion Lounge matter?
The Newark Centurion Lounge will sit in the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport and open in 2027, a year later than Amex first planned. The Newark lounge page calls it the largest Centurion Lounge to date. It also makes Amex the first card issuer with its own lounges at all three big New York airports: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.
That is a bigger deal than it sounds. Newark is a United hub, and outside United Club and Polaris there is little for a Platinum cardholder flying another airline or a United economy fare. The Port Authority’s Terminal A project is a $2.7 billion, one-million-square-foot building, so the lounge lands in the newest part of the airport.
The food plan is ambitious. Amex lists three bars, including a Specialty Bar built around New Jersey diner culture and a Pine Barrens-inspired Terrace Bar serving gelato and Italian pastries. Four James Beard Award-winning Resy chefs are on the menu team: Kwame Onwuachi, Mike Solomonov, Mashama Bailey and Sarah Grueneberg. I will believe the diner bar when I see a lounge disco fries order, but I am rooting for it.
What happens to the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge on October 16?
The Philadelphia Centurion Lounge, in Terminal A West near Gate A14, closes on October 16, 2026 and stays closed while Amex roughly doubles it. The Philadelphia lounge page says the work should be finished by the end of 2027. The rebuilt space will run over two stories and top 12,000 square feet.
So if Philadelphia is your home airport, your Centurion access disappears for about 14 months. Check that page before any trip after October 16, and look at what else your card gets you in PHL. The Platinum Card also covers Priority Pass lounges, which the Platinum Card page lists among its 1,550-plus lounges.
Houston works differently. The Houston lounge page still shows the Terminal D lounge near Gate D12 open from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Amex has not announced a closure for the IAH project. Houston adds a second full-service bar, more showers and a dining area with rotating plated Gulf Coast dishes.
Who gets into a Centurion Lounge, and what do guests cost?
Centurion Lounge access comes with The Platinum Card from American Express and the Business Platinum Card, with unlimited visits for the cardholder. The Centurion Lounge terms set the rules:
- You need a same-day boarding pass on any airline.
- You enter within 3 hours of departure, or 5 hours on a connection.
- Guests cost $50 each, or $30 for children 2 through 17, at every lounge you visit that day.
- Two free guests per visit kick in after $75,000 of spending on the Platinum account in a calendar year.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders get in only when flying Delta that day.
That last point matters for Heathrow. Delta flies from Terminal 3, so the new Terminal 5 lounge mainly serves British Airways passengers and others in T5. The existing Heathrow Terminal 3 lounge stays put.
What this means for you
Nothing changes in your wallet today. The only deadline that touches you this year is Philadelphia’s October 16 closure. If you were deciding whether to keep a Platinum Card, a lounge opening in 2027 or 2028 should not tip that decision. Judge the card on the credits you will use in the next 12 months, then treat the new lounges as a bonus. Our best travel credit cards guide compares the Platinum against the other lounge cards, and we covered Amex’s newest opening when the Amsterdam Centurion Lounge launched last month.
FAQ
When does the Newark Centurion Lounge open?
The Newark Centurion Lounge in Terminal A is expected to open in 2027. American Express had planned a 2026 opening for an 18,000-square-foot lounge and now plans more than 30,000 square feet over two floors.
Is the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge closing?
Yes, temporarily. The Philadelphia Centurion Lounge closes on October 16, 2026 and should reopen fully by the end of 2027 at more than 12,000 square feet, up from 6,000.
Will the Houston Centurion Lounge close during its expansion?
American Express has not announced a closure for the Houston IAH Centurion Lounge. Its location page still lists normal hours, and the expanded lounge of more than 23,000 square feet is due by 2028.
How much does it cost to bring a guest into a Centurion Lounge?
A Centurion Lounge guest costs $50, or $30 for a child aged 2 through 17, per lounge visited. Platinum Card members who spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year get two complimentary guests per visit.
Which Heathrow terminal will the new Centurion Lounge be in?
The new London Heathrow Centurion Lounge will be in Terminal 5, open in 2028 and cover more than 9,000 square feet. The current Heathrow Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3 stays open.
The bottom line
Newark is the headline, but it is two years out at best. Philadelphia flyers lose their lounge next week, and everyone else waits until 2027 or 2028 to see any of this.
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