American Express is introducing a new lounge concept that is set to debut at Harry Reid International (LAS) in Las Vegas next year. The new concept will be known as Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge and is meant to cater to passengers making quick visits to lounges.
Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge is the Newest Lounge Concept from AmEx
American Express is bringing its new Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge concept to airports across the United States. If your home airport doesn’t have a Centurion Lounge, like my home airport in Austin, don’t get too excited as the Sidecar concept is only coming to airports with existing Centurion Lounges.
According to American Express, the new lounge concept will be for eligible cardholders who are looking for a quick bite to eat or a drink before boarding their flight. Unlike standard Centurion Lounges which allow access up to three hours before departure, Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge will only offer access within 90 minutes of scheduled departure time. Aside from the time limitation, access requirements will mimic Centurion Lounge access.
We have seen extreme crowding in Centurion Lounges in recent years and the company has been looking for ways to cut back on that. I think that this is a unique approach to help address that problem as, according to the company, many cardholders and guests that access existing Centurion Lounges spend less than an hour in the lounge.
Here’s how Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, described the new concept, the first of which will open in Las Vegas next year:
“Many of our visitors spend less than an hour in our Lounges, and we’ve created Sidecar specifically for them. The first Centurion Lounge opened in Las Vegas in 2013, so it’s fitting that we’re launching this new lounge concept at LAS as we continue to innovate to meet our Card Members’ needs.”
American Express states that the Las Vegas lounge will be outfitted in a speakeasy-inspired design which will feature a palette of earth tones and desert hues along with accents of natural stone, brass, and lush greenery.
Small plates and cocktails will be available in Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge locations. Based on the photos, this space will look and feel completely different from the Las Vegas Centurion Lounge, which was the first U.S. Centurion Lounge to open in 2013.
My Thoughts
First and foremost, kudos to American Express for adding a new concept for passengers in a time crunch. While we’ve seen grab and go lounge options, like United’s Club Fly concept, gaining popularity in recent years, this is on another level when it comes to the experience for cardmembers. Credit card companies have also jumped on board with this concept as American Express’ Sidecar lounges will be similar to Capital One Landing locations.
Since most narrowbody flights in the United States start boarding roughly 40 minutes before departure, and access to this lounge will only be allowed 90 minutes before departure, guests will have at most 45 minutes to an hour in the lounge. Hopefully, this new concept will alleviate pressure on the larger, full-service, lounges and allow passengers with less time the opportunity to grab a quick snack and a beverage before heading to their gate.
I’m overdue for a Vegas trip, so maybe I’ll just have to make sure it coincides with the opening of this new space. I’m excited to see where American Express decides to open future Sidecar lounges (Will all airports with Centurion Lounges get them?) and whether it helps with crowding in existing Centurion Lounge spaces.
Summary
A day after announcing the opening of its new Centurion Lounge at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, American Express has unveiled a new lounge concept that will open next year. Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge is designed for passengers that only have a limited amount of time before boarding and are looking for a quick bite.
The first lounge will open at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas sometime in 2026. The lounge will offer gourmet dishes and specialty cocktails, but don’t expect much in the way of amenities. This won’t be a space to hang out for long periods as access will only be granted 90 minutes prior to departure.