This explains a lot.
Amex has a great network of Centurion Lounges. Many Amex Platinum cardmembers were excited about the opening of the Amex Centurion Lounge LAX, which opened a few days before the United States shut down due to the swine flu.
The lounge closed due to lack of demand and need for new safety protocols. We have seen almost all of the Centurion Lounges in the United States reopen. The lounge has a grab and go selection where cardmembers can get a bag of food if they swing by.
The lounge has been closed for over two years, causing some confusion. We were told that the lounge was closed due to building repairs, but that was a bit vague, especially since we were talking about a brand new lounge.
We now know what the issues are with the Amex Centurion Lounge. There was an issue with the air conditioning that allowed jet fumes to enter the lounge.
American Express Travel Related Services, Inc. was forced to close its lounge in June of 2021 due to an issue with their Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that was allowing jet fumes into the lounge. To fix the issue, AMEX, at its sole cost, is replacing the HVAC system. This project will require the Centurion Lounge to be closed for approximately six months.
The company is looking for a short-term lease to temporarily use vacant space on the sixth floor of Tom Bradley International Terminal to offer replacement lounge amenities.
The lounge is likely to reopen as of October 2022, since the goal is to lease this space through September 30, 2022. Since this must be a pretty complex project, I would imagine that the timelines can change.
Amex is still making the lease payment, and the company is also paying for all of the repairs, which is costing the company quite a bit of money.
Many have wondered what the cause of the closing is, given that the lounge was the last one to open before the outbreak. There are issues with the air conditioning system that are causing jet fumes to enter the lounge.
Amex expects the fix to take another six months or so, and the company is looking to lease a temporary lounge space. The card issuer has offered a grab and go selection, but perhaps this space would offer more amenities.
What do you think about the Amex lounge closing?
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