First look inside Amex’s expanded Centurion Lounge in San Francisco

Between the couches and the solo seats installed along the wall, there should be plenty of room to spread out. Every seat, including those in the center of the room, features easy access to power outlets.

There are even two new phone rooms in this space, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

With stylish chandeliers and Cheng’s wallpaper, these two private rooms feel especially luxurious.

With the addition of the new dining and relaxation space, the expanded Centurion Lounge in San Francisco now measures nearly 16,000 square feet — or approximately twice as large as the previous footprint.

Upgraded amenities

Perhaps the biggest improvement at the Centurion Lounge in SFO comes in the form of new bathrooms.

Gone are the tiny restrooms that could never fit more than about two people at a time.

In the new space, the bathrooms have been relocated to the middle of the new hallway connector, and they’re significantly larger and nicer than the ones they replace.

The men’s room has more than twice as many urinals as the old one, and the ladies’ room is noticeably bigger than it used to be. Plus, Amex added two all-gender private stalls in this area for more inclusive facilities.

Additionally, there are two brand-new shower suites, both of which are larger and more spacious than the single one they replace. Hopefully, this will help reduce the wait for a shower for passengers connecting to or from long-haul flights.

It was designed at a time when there were fewer Platinum cardmembers, and when decor touches like neon green couches were in vogue.

Along with the expanded footprint, Amex has refreshed the lounge’s existing space with new chairs, reupholstered sofas and plush throw pillows.

There are even some new paintings and prints hanging from the walls.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to grab pictures of the upgrades to the existing space, which will be folded into the new, larger lounge, as it was still largely under construction during my visit.

That said, I reviewed the original space in its entirety right before the pandemic, so it should definitely give you a good sense of what you can expect from the physical space.

Along with the expansion and renovation, Amex is bringing some other improvements to its San Francisco airport lounge.

This includes a new menu from Chef Ravi Kapur and a refreshed wine list curated by the Centurion Lounge wine director, Anthony Giglio.

Travelers will also be able to try a new “wine flight” concept with a menu that rotates seasonally. At the outset, two flights will be available, with the bottles on offer listed below.

Sonoma Chardonnay flight:

• Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2020
• Head High Sonoma County Chardonnay 2021
• Sonoma-Cutrer Les Pierres Sonoma Valley Chardonnay 2019
• Walt Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2019

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Flight

• Emblem Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
• Miner Emily’s Cuvee Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
• The Critic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
• Twenty Rows Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Hopefully, Amex won’t feel the same cost-cutting pressure that United did when it stopped offering wine flights in Polaris business class in February 2018, just over a year after launching the concept due to rising costs and increased wine consumption. Given the San Francisco area’s connections to California’s wine industry, though, that would be a disappointing outcome.

Bottom line

American Express is addressing lounge overcrowding by building larger clubs and expanding existing ones.

The San Francisco outpost, historically one of the most crowded in the country, is getting a major upgrade as it’s nearly doubling in size to about 16,000 square feet.

The expansion brings an additional dining room and relaxation area, along with overhauled restrooms and more space to spread out. The existing footprint also got a facelift with new and reupholstered furniture, as well as some new decor hanging from the walls.

While Amex deserves kudos for doing what it can to build larger lounges, it’s likely that the San Francisco outpost will continue to suffer from overcrowding at times.

That said, the expansion is certainly better than the pre-pandemic situation. Once you do get inside the lounge, there are also a lot more amenities and spaces to enjoy.

For more about the Centurion Lounge network, be sure to check out: