Amex confirms a second Heathrow Centurion Lounge, in Terminal 5
I'm a big fan of this announcement.
Terminal 5 has frankly always been rubbish for non-BA lounges, with just the pokey Club Aspire lounge for those of us not able to access the Galleries lounge.
In recent weeks we had confirmation that the Club Aspire lounge will be renovated, expanded, and turned into a No. 1 lounge, so that's one tick.
Now we have confirmation that American Express is going to open one of its Centurion Lounges in Terminal 5. This will be the second Centurion Lounge in the UK after the Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3, which I am a big fan of. Double tick.
What we know
Construction has already begun with opening slated for 2028.
The T5 Centurion Lounge will be over 9,000 sq ft in size, which is around 30% bigger than the T3 lounge.
According to Amex, the lounge will be located near gates A1-A7 in the main part of Terminal 5, which is better than having to schlep over to the B/C gates.
In terms of facilities, you can expect the usual "refined food and beverage offerings", a grand bar area (pictured below), plenty of seating, dedicated work areas and a VIP area (presumably for Centurion cardholders).
What will it look like?
In terms of design, Amex says "the lounge will draw inspiration from the many cultures, histories and influences that come together in London. Layered materials, curated details and fluid forms will draw on the rhythms and reflections of the River Thames, creating a distinctly local design narrative that brings the character and visual language of London into the lounge." Okay...
Amex has released two renderings, of the reception and the main bar.
Who can get in
To gain access to a Centurion Lounge, you'll need one of these cards:
The Platinum Card from American Express
The American Express Business Platinum Card
The Centurion Card
Supplementary cardholders of the above cards also have access.
Other Amex cards, including the Gold card and the BA Amex cards, don't get you in.
Other rules:
You'll need your Platinum or Centurion card, plus a confirmed same-day boarding pass with a seat assigned (so no-good if you're travelling on standby)
You can enter up to three hours before your flight, or up to five hours if you're connecting
You can bring in one guest for free
Guest access is per cardholder, so a supplementary cardholder can bring their own guest. That means a family of four can get in free with one main cardholder and one supplementary cardholder
Extra guests cost £35, or £24 for children aged 2 to 17, paid with a physical Amex card. Under-2s go in free with proof of age
Guests must be on the same flight as you, and can't go in or stay without you
You can't reserve a space, and entry depends on there being room
As this new Centurion Lounge isn't due to open until 2028, my review of the Centurion Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 should help gauge your expectations.
Finally!
This announcement was long overdue. Third party lounge access has been one of the biggest weaknesses regarding Terminal 5, so the creation of any lounge space is welcome, let alone a Centurion Lounge.
The original Centurion Lounge in T3 made sense, as there are a high amount of US-bound flights departing what with having American, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic all based in the terminal. But it's now good to see T5 getting the same treatment.
You'll find me at the bar. See you there.
Sam
Points Well Made is a passion project from Sam and Helena. If you've enjoyed this and want to help us keep the lights on, please consider buying us a Ko-fi or subscribing monthly. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more of the same. Thanks for reading.
Comments