American Express is expanding its airport lounge network with a new Centurion Lounge planned for Boston, a second Sidecar concept coming to Charlotte, and a major expansion of its existing space at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
The moves highlight how the credit card and financial services company is investing in both larger flagship lounges and smaller spaces designed for travelers with limited time before boarding.
“American Express has long been at the forefront of the airport lounge experience, and we continue to build on that legacy and raise the bar as we grow our network,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, said in a press release announcing the updates.
Bigger lounges in key airports
One of the biggest additions is a new Centurion Lounge at Boston Logan International Airport, expected to open in 2029. The two-story space will be one of the largest in the network and will include an outdoor terrace with views of the airfield.
The design will reflect Boston’s identity, with elements inspired by its coastal setting, green spaces, and academic history. The lounge will include workstations, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a full food and beverage program.
At Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, American Express is expanding one of its earliest Centurion Lounge locations. The updated space will be nearly 50% larger, with more seating, a new dining area, a second full-service bar, and a walk-up ice cream window for travelers looking for something quick before boarding.
A smaller lounge built for quick stops
At the same time, American Express is also going smaller.
The company plans to open a new Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2027. The concept is designed for travelers who have less time but still want a lounge experience.
The idea builds on what American Express has already tested in Las Vegas, where it opened its first Sidecar location last month.
“When we looked at customers’ behavior of the lounges, there are a lot of customers who come on their own or with two people with shorter time available but they still want to experience a lounge,” Hendley said in an interview around the Las Vegas opening.
“We designed the lounge in a smaller space to really suit the needs of those types of customers,” Hendley said. “They want to come, they want an elevated experience, they want something to eat, they probably want something to drink and get themselves on their way.”
Unlike traditional lounges, Sidecar is set up more like a small restaurant. Travelers order food and drinks through a QR code, and items are brought directly to their seats.
“We are really trying to lean into restaurants and create a good experience for customers to maximize their time when they are in the space,” Hendley said.
The space also operates with tighter timing rules, allowing entry within 90 minutes of departure.
“If you have a longer time, you are probably better off in the other lounge where there is more space,” Hendley said.
Food, wine, and design still lead the experience
Food and drink remain central to the Centurion Lounge experience.
Menus are developed through the Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, while wine programs are curated to match the overall experience.
“I created over 200 different wines nationwide for the launch,” said sommelier Helen Johannesen in an interview last month. “The Centurion Lounge and Sidecar are such an elevated experience. The wine should match that and go with the food.”
Her goal was to make the wine program feel intentional.
“When you are sitting in a gorgeous space like this and drinking a beautiful glass of wine, you should not feel like someone barely thought about it,” Johannesen said. “You should feel like there is intention behind it.”
A growing battleground for credit cards
Airport lounges have become one of the most competitive areas for premium credit cards.
American Express helped set the standard with its Centurion Lounge network, which now includes 32 locations worldwide.
At the same time, competitors are investing heavily in their own lounge concepts, with a focus on food, design, and local partnerships.
“We learn from all of them,” Hendley said in an interview last month. “They all have different personalities and different customers who go through them.”
What stands out in American Express’s latest round of updates is how much the strategy is splitting in two directions at once.
On one end, the company is building larger lounges to handle demand in busy hubs. On the other, it is rolling out smaller spaces like Sidecar that are built for speed and shorter visits.
Together, those changes suggest the company is no longer designing for one kind of traveler, but for several. Whether someone has three hours to spare or just enough time for a quick drink before boarding, the goal is to keep them inside the American Express ecosystem.
