Amex Centurion Lounge Expansion: Philadelphia Closes October 16, Newark Slips to 2027
Loading article…
American Express is closing its Centurion Lounge at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) for renovations starting October 16, 2026, and the work is expected to run until the end of 2027. The closure is part of the largest Amex Centurion Lounge expansion to date, announced on October 8, 2026 and covering four airports: Newark, London Heathrow, Philadelphia and Houston.
The biggest project is at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The lounge there now targets 2027 instead of 2026, but it grows to more than 30,000 square feet and becomes the largest in the network. Heathrow gets a second Centurion Lounge in Terminal 5 in 2028, and Houston's lounge nearly triples in size by the same year. If you carry The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, here is what changes and when.
The four projects at a glance
| Airport | Location | Size today | Size after the work | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark (EWR) | Terminal A | New lounge | 30,000+ sq ft, two floors | Expected to open in 2027 |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | Terminal A West | 6,000 sq ft | 12,000+ sq ft, two stories | Closed from October 16, 2026; fully updated by end of 2027 |
| Houston (IAH) | Terminal D | About 8,000 sq ft | 23,000+ sq ft | Fully updated by 2028 |
| London Heathrow (LHR) | Terminal 5 | New lounge (Terminal 3 lounge stays) | 9,000+ sq ft | Expected to open in 2028 |
Philadelphia: plan for a gap of more than a year
The Philadelphia Centurion Lounge, in Terminal A West near gate A14, closes for renovations on October 16, 2026. American Express expects it to be fully updated by the end of 2027. When it reopens, it will cover two stories and more than 12,000 square feet, double today's 6,000 square feet, with a Blue Roast by American Express Coffee and Wellness Bar and pieces by local artists.
While the lounge is closed, the Amex lounge finder lists two other options at PHL for Platinum Card Members:
- Minute Suites, Terminal A/B connector: enrollment required
- Delta Sky Club, Terminal D/E connector: only when you are flying Delta
Check the lounge finder in the American Express app before each departure from PHL until the renovated space reopens.
Newark: bigger, but a year later
The Newark Centurion Lounge will sit in Terminal A, spread over two floors and more than 30,000 square feet. Amex first announced it at 18,000 square feet with a 2026 opening. It now expects to open in 2027. Once it does, American Express becomes the first card issuer with its own lounges at all three major New York City-area airports, alongside JFK and LaGuardia.
"In Newark, we're expanding the new lounge from the 18,000 square feet originally announced to more than 30,000 square feet, making it the largest in our network," said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel.
The Newark plan includes:
- A Blue Roast coffee and wellness bar with espresso, cold brew, smoothies, avocado toast and chia pudding
- Three bars: a Main Bar for cocktails and wine, a Specialty Bar built around New Jersey diner culture, and a Pine Barrens-themed Terrace Bar serving gelato, Italian pastries and Italian-inspired cocktails
- Dishes from the Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, created by Resy chefs Kwame Onwuachi, Mike Solomonov, Mashama Bailey and Sarah Grueneberg
Houston: nearly three times the space by 2028
The Centurion Lounge at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), in Terminal D, grows from about 8,000 square feet to more than 23,000 square feet. The work is expected to be complete by 2028.
The rebuilt lounge adds a Blue Roast coffee and wellness bar, a specialty dining area with rotating plated dishes inspired by Houston and Gulf Coast cooking, and a second full-service bar. The buffet stays. Restrooms are refreshed and premium shower suites are part of the plan.
Heathrow: a second London lounge in Terminal 5
American Express plans a Centurion Lounge of more than 9,000 square feet in Heathrow Terminal 5, expected to open in 2028. It adds to the existing Terminal 3 lounge rather than replacing it.
Terminal 5 is the main base of British Airways at Heathrow. For Platinum Card Members flying BA in economy, that means a lounge on their side of the airport without airline status or a premium cabin ticket. The plan lists food and beverage service, dedicated work areas and a VIP area.
What it means for Platinum Card Members
The Centurion network counts 33 locations worldwide, inside the American Express Global Lounge Collection of more than 1,550 lounges across 140 countries. Earlier in 2026, Amex also announced a Centurion Lounge at Boston Logan, a Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge at Charlotte and a larger lounge at Dallas Fort Worth. The most recent opening was in Amsterdam Schiphol.
None of the four projects adds space before 2027, and Philadelphia loses space first. For who can enter, guest rules and entry windows, see our guide to American Express Centurion Lounges and our guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum. If you are weighing Amex against Chase on lounges, the Chase Sapphire lounge guide covers the other side.
- Annual fee
- $895
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$3,325Total$3,325Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $3,325
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 6 months
- 175,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Bottom Line
If Philadelphia is your home airport, count the Centurion Lounge out from October 16, 2026 to the end of 2027 and enroll for Minute Suites access before your next trip. If you fly out of Newark Terminal A, do not plan around the new lounge before 2027. Heathrow Terminal 5 and the larger Houston lounge arrive in 2028, so they should not drive a card decision today. To compare premium cards on lounge access, start with our credit card guide, and get updates like this one through the Milesopedia newsletter.
When does the Amex Centurion Lounge in Philadelphia close?
The Philadelphia Centurion Lounge closes for renovations on October 16, 2026. American Express expects it to be fully updated by the end of 2027, when it will cover more than 12,000 square feet over two stories.
Where can Platinum Card Members go at PHL while the Centurion Lounge is closed?
The Amex lounge finder lists Minute Suites in the Terminal A/B connector, which requires enrollment, and the Delta Sky Club in the Terminal D/E connector, which is open to Platinum Card Members only when flying Delta. Check the American Express app before each trip, since the list can change.
When will the Newark Centurion Lounge open?
The Newark Centurion Lounge is expected to open in 2027 in Terminal A. It was first planned for 2026 at 18,000 square feet and has grown to more than 30,000 square feet over two floors.
Which is the largest Centurion Lounge?
Once it opens in 2027, the Newark lounge, at more than 30,000 square feet, will be the largest in the Centurion network. Houston will also rank among the largest after its expansion to more than 23,000 square feet by 2028.
Is Amex opening a second Centurion Lounge at Heathrow?
Yes. American Express plans a Centurion Lounge of more than 9,000 square feet in Heathrow Terminal 5, expected to open in 2028. The existing Terminal 3 lounge stays open.
Is the Houston Centurion Lounge getting bigger?
Yes. The Centurion Lounge in Terminal D at George Bush Intercontinental grows from about 8,000 square feet to more than 23,000 square feet, with the work expected to be complete by 2028. It adds a Blue Roast coffee bar, a dining area with plated dishes and a second full-service bar.
How many Centurion Lounges are there?
The Centurion network counts 33 locations worldwide. It sits inside the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which covers more than 1,550 lounges across 140 countries.
