Update: Amex Centurion Lounge To Impose 5-hour Limit for Transit Passengers
A year and a half ago, I first flagged the possibility of a 3 hour limit for transit passengers accessing American Express Centurion Lounges. Well it appears the restriction is finally happening, but the limit is going to be 5 hours instead.
The Points Guy now confirms that, starting July 8, 2026, cardmembers (and eligible guests) will only be able to access a Centurion Lounge during a layover up to five hours before their departing flight.
In related news, guests will also need to be on the same flight as the card holder in order to be guested in.
What this means in practice
If you have a long layover (for example, 7–10 hours), you should expect to wait until you’re inside that five-hour window before you can enter the Centurion Lounge during your connection.
If you’ve historically used Centurion Lounges as a “home base” on extended transits—especially at hubs where you can easily kill time landside—this is a meaningful reduction in flexibility, even though it’s less restrictive than the three-hour rumor.
