Centurion Lounges Will Cannibalize Spas for Seating

No More Fresh In 15 Treatments

American Express plan to phase out spa services in Centurion Lounges and use the reclaimed floorspace for additional lounge guest seating, ThePointsGuy reported today.

Why The Change?

Spa treatments are a great way to elevate the perception of the lounge, making even the otherwise mid ones feel premium. But they tend to be lacking in actual guest experience, because good, free services quickly get oversubscribed. You end up having to plan far in advance to lock in an appointment for a 15 minute shoulder rub or algae mask, often to feel a bit rushed in and out once you're in the chair.

Also, speaking purely in terms of balancing quality with demand, AMEX needs to take steps to alleviate crowding while not wrecking the Centurion Lounge brand that's an important driver of premium card acquisition. So...

Tad's Take

While I'm normally against de-bougification of amenities, this particular reduction in service is tolerable. Amex gets rid of spas that are as likely to frustrate (trying to get an appointment) as delight, and wins back a small, but useful few seats in all the major locations. It shows focus is on the right aspect of the problem: the core lounge experience. And if you really need a free shoulder massage, most people with Centurion Lounge access will also still have XPress Spa access in the terminals thanks to Priority Pass. You haven't lost much.