American Express is launching a dedicated Amex Travel App on September 18, 2025, that aims to streamline the travel experience for cardmembers. The new app will feature Centurion Lounge wait time estimates and digital waitlists, addressing one of the most common complaints about the premium lounge network: overcrowding.
Beyond lounge access management, the app will serve as a comprehensive travel companion with booking capabilities, trip planning tools, and a unique digital “passport” feature. Here’s everything you need to know about this new addition to the Amex ecosystem.
The most notable feature for frequent travelers is the expansion of Amex’s digital waitlist system for Centurion Lounges, which began testing last fall. The new functionality includes:
This feature addresses a significant pain point for cardmembers who have experienced the frustration of trekking to a Centurion Lounge only to find it at capacity with no indication of when entry might be possible.
Beyond the lounge waitlist functionality, the new app offers several tools designed to enhance the travel experience:
One of the most unique features is “Amex Passport,” a digital travel log that:
American Express has indicated that additional features will be added to the app over time, including:
The Amex Travel App will be available according to the following schedule:
The app will be free to download and available to all American Express cardmembers, though certain features may be limited to premium cardholders.
The launch of the dedicated travel app comes at a strategic time for American Express, coinciding with several other significant developments:
While the new waitlist and wait time features will improve transparency and potentially reduce the frustration of being turned away at the door, they don’t directly address the underlying issue of lounge overcrowding. The digital queue manages the flow of visitors rather than reducing the total number seeking access.
Amex has implemented other measures to manage capacity in recent years, including:
The digital waitlist system represents another step in managing the lounge experience, though it remains to be seen whether these combined measures will significantly improve the situation for cardmembers.
The new Amex Travel App represents a significant investment by American Express in creating a more seamless travel experience for its cardmembers. While the Centurion Lounge waitlist and wait time features address a major pain point, the app’s broader functionality suggests Amex is working to create a comprehensive travel ecosystem that extends well beyond lounge access.
For frequent travelers, particularly those with premium Amex cards, the app should provide valuable tools for planning, booking, and managing trips. The ability to check lounge wait times before making the trek across the terminal will be particularly welcome for those who have experienced the frustration of being turned away from a full lounge.
With the app launching on September 18 alongside what appears to be a refresh of the Platinum card lineup, this week marks a significant moment in American Express’s evolution of its premium travel offerings.
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