The Amex Centurion Lounge Hong Kong Opened Today

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The American Express Centurion lounge portfolio continues to grow and now not just in the US. The new Centurion lounge in Hong Kong opened its doors today making it the first Centurion lounge outside of North America.

The Amex Centurion Lounge Hong Kong is located in Terminal 1 of Hong Kong International airport and sits in what was once the Virgin Atlantic lounge (next to the United Airlines lounge).

The lounge is spread across approximately 8,000 square feet and, per Amex, “features a unique selection of premium amenities, food and beverages inspired by the local culture.”

Opening hours are 05:30 – 00:30 so you’re unlikely to find the lounge closed when you visit.

Here’s what Amex says you can expect inside the lounge:

Amenities inside the Amex Centurion Lounge Hong Kong include:

• A premium buffet featuring both locally and internationally inspired dishes.
  • Example menu items include French toast with maple syrup and mixed berry compote, assorted Dim Sum baskets, stir-fried rice with eggs, mushrooms and vegetables, chicken congee, gnocchi with Pomodoro sauce, pan fried sole fillet with caper cream sauce, and vanilla mango panna cotta
• A complimentary full bar with custom cocktails created by renowned mixologist Jim Meehan and wine selections handpicked by renowned wine authority Anthony Giglio
• Private phone areas and a meeting room, plus a workspace outfitted with a computer bar
• Restrooms and a private shower suite outfitted with L’Occitane amenities
• A private area exclusively available for Centurion Members and their guests, which will offer access to a dedicated Member Services Professional to help with any specific travel, reservation or card services requests
• The private Centurion area will also feature an a la carte menu designed by Michelin star chef, Lau Yiu Fai of Yan Toh Heen at the InterContinental Hong Kong.
  • Chef Lau’s menu will offer Cantonese dishes such as baked pork in puff pastry, crispy spring rolls with kimchi and pork, crispy fresh prawns with black truffles, braised wagyu beef cheek and turnip, barbecued pork with honey and steamed rice, and baked egg tartlettes with bird’s nest, among others.

The private Centurion area is new to the Centurion lounge network (at least I haven’t noticed one in any of the other Centurion lounges) and should be a nice perk for those willing to pay for the privilege of a Centurion Card.

Early reports on Flyertalk say that the breakfast offering this morning was good, the bar is being described as “fantastic” but the showers were not functional first thing.

Who Can Gain Entry?

As of today American Express is implementing new admissions criteria for all their Centurion lounges in an attempt to reduce the very serious overcrowding problems at just about all Centurion Lounges.

Here is the new policy:

• Platinum^® Card members who receive complimentary access may enter with up to two guests at no additional charge.
• Centurion members may enter with up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge.
• Guest access is per Card Member, not per Card. Family or guests may not enter or remain in the lounge unless accompanied in the lounge by the Card Member.
• Platinum Card and Centurion Members may purchase a day-pass for any additional guests for $50 USD at the time of entry. The $50 one-day pass for additional guests is valid at any location of The Centurion Lounge on the same day, as long as the guest is still accompanied by the Card Member.

The big change here is that unless you have a Platinum or Centurion Card (or are guested in by someone with a Platinum or Centurion card) you no longer have any way of accessing the Centurion lounges.

In the past all non Platinum/Centurion American Express cardholders could show their card at the front desk and pay $50 per person to gain entry…not any more.

Bottom Line

It’s always nice to have another lounge option when traveling and, as the Amex Centurion lounge Hong Kong is almost certain to be a lot better than any other non-airline lounges at Hong Kong International (e.g Priority Pass lounges), this will be a nice bonus for those without airline status.

I don’t expect this Centurion lounge to get overly crowded as there are a lot of other very good lounges in Hong Kong that travelers can use (this isn’t Miami we’re dealing with!) but it will be interesting to see if the new admittance policy has any effect state-side.