It’s only been a year since I re-enrolled for an AMEX Platinum Card. I’ve taken the opportunity to visit Centurion Lounges when we’ve had the chance, even if that meant paying $50 for Sharon to join me since I’m not charging $75K to my Platinum Card for the privilege of bringing a guest.
We arrived in San Francisco after our 15-hour flight from Singapore around 7 PM. We had a quick trip through US immigration and customs thanks to Global Entry. The helpful agents in Singapore could check our bags to Orlando. We didn’t need to deal with the baggage desk. We had to visit the United desk to reprint our boarding passes, but we were through the TSA Checkpoint with CLEAR by 7:30 PM.
We entered the Terminal 3 – F Gate terminal checkpoint and had several hours before our 11 PM flight to Orlando. We wanted a place to spend a few hours, relax, charge our devices, and have food and a drink or two.
We headed to the Centurion Lounge since we were in the same terminal. The lounge can be accessed post-security from Terminal 3 or International Terminal G.
When we arrived, the agents at the check-in desk, in an apologetic tone, told us that the lounge closed at 9 PM, but our flight to Orlando wasn’t set to depart until 11 PM.
We had enough time to grab some food and a drink at the bar before an announcement came on the PA alerting guests that the lounge would close at 9 PM. I returned to the bar to grab another drink before the last call, 30 minutes before closing time.
Just before 9 PM, we walked out of the door. We met other travelers headed to the lounge and had to tell them the Centurion Lounge was closed.
Here’s the list of flights leaving SFO after 9 PM.
So many United and Star Alliance flights with red-eyes to the east coast leave after 9 PM. There are even more Trans-Pacific flights leaving after 11 PM.
As we walked to gate F16, we passed the United Club, which was open until midnight.
United knows flights leave SFO late at night heading to the east coast or across the Pacific Ocean. Why doesn’t American Express realize the same thing? They instead kick people who pay $695 a year, plus $50 for a guest, out of a lounge two hours before their flight.
United can open at 5 AM, the same as the Centurion but stays open until almost every flight starts to board from the terminal. The only reason for AMEX to close earlier is financial. If you’re a United flyer from SFO, I’d suggest looking into the United Club card which includes lounge access instead of the AMEX Platinum which only provides lounge access for 2 hours before a flight to Asia or the east coast leaves SFO.
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2 comments
I have been pointing this out for a decade. Also, for much of 2020-21, the lounge wasn’t open at all!
Front desk told me back in April they would be returning to a 11pm close. She wouldn’t give a date, but said to check AMEX site (not web).