- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
American Express or United Lounge comparison
Posted on 3/27/26 at 12:00 pm
Posted on 3/27/26 at 12:00 pm
I’m assuming Amex is better. I am about to start traveling more often this summer and was looking for some feedback.
I have membership in Amex and two passes for the United lounges.
I have membership in Amex and two passes for the United lounges.
12
Posted on 3/27/26 at 12:23 pm to notiger1997
Lounges have kind of jumped the shark. Everyone and their brother go to them. Sometimes you can't even get in.
Posted on 3/27/26 at 12:54 pm to notiger1997
Not a one size fits all answer here:
1. Are you going to exclusively be flying United?
2. Does your home airport/terminal have a Centurion Lounge? Is it actually usable and not packed all the time?
3. Are you going to use the other benefits to justify the fees?
Unless you are flying United a ton and putting a lot of spend on the card to rack up PQPs, $700 for the United Club card is kind of insane considering most United Clubs are average at best.
1. Are you going to exclusively be flying United?
2. Does your home airport/terminal have a Centurion Lounge? Is it actually usable and not packed all the time?
3. Are you going to use the other benefits to justify the fees?
Unless you are flying United a ton and putting a lot of spend on the card to rack up PQPs, $700 for the United Club card is kind of insane considering most United Clubs are average at best.
Posted on 3/27/26 at 12:58 pm to notiger1997
quote:
two passes for the United lounges.
So do I, but the problem is I'm often laid over in Chicago and they seem to never accept the one time use passes for credit card holders
Posted on 3/27/26 at 12:59 pm to usc6158
quote:
700 for the United Club card is kind of insane
I just got the regular United card a while back and it came with two club passes. Kind of crazy, I went to the lounge in Houston a while back and I’m pretty sure I was too early but somehow the desk clerk let me in and it didn’t count against my pass.
Will be flying out of Nola. I got the American Express Platinum recently and I think I can use most of the benefits.
Posted on 3/27/26 at 1:15 pm to notiger1997
quote:
I just got the regular United card a while back and it came with two club passes. Kind of crazy, I went to the lounge in Houston a while back and I’m pretty sure I was too early but somehow the desk clerk let me in and it didn’t count against my pass.
They are so busy now that they often won't take day passes at peak hours, especially at the big United hubs. New Orleans is probably fine.
Posted on 3/27/26 at 1:16 pm to notiger1997
I have United Club card, but my domestic travel is exclusively United (or United partner internationally) from ORD -> SFO, LAX, LGA, and DCA. Annual fee has been worth it for me because of work, but may not fit others. I would very much make your determination on routes and frequency before pushing yourself into a Club card for lounge access.
As a heads up, it very much depends where you travel but many United hubs (e.g. ORD) won't accept these one-time passes very often. Lounges have been extremely overcrowded as-is.
quote:
two passes for the United lounges.
As a heads up, it very much depends where you travel but many United hubs (e.g. ORD) won't accept these one-time passes very often. Lounges have been extremely overcrowded as-is.
This post was edited on 3/30/26 at 1:56 pm
Posted on 3/27/26 at 1:25 pm to notiger1997
Only been to United Club once at MSY, it was fine, for a medium size airport lounge, but not as nice as the MSY Delta lounge.
The MSY Club is actually slightly nicer that the average "The Club" brand and the more generic priority pass lounges I've visited in most airports. It does have a lot of chair seating and less tables, when its full can hard to find a spot eat/drink and have your laptop out if you want to work.
Also copying this post I shared previously in one of the TSA threads, during the TSA stuff its been harder to get in.
The MSY Club is actually slightly nicer that the average "The Club" brand and the more generic priority pass lounges I've visited in most airports. It does have a lot of chair seating and less tables, when its full can hard to find a spot eat/drink and have your laptop out if you want to work.
Also copying this post I shared previously in one of the TSA threads, during the TSA stuff its been harder to get in.
quote:
I'm a regular MSY Club visitor. Warning you, the shutdown has affected how busy the club is and added substantial wait times to get in.
Generally, there was never a waitlist to get in before 9 am any day of the week. Often there would be a 10-15 minute waitlist on weekdays between 10am and 3pm, and hit or miss if there was a wait after 3 or 4. Until last week longest I waited to get into the club was maybe 20 minutes with 2 people, and 15 minutes when solo.
Past 2 weeks, hearing its been slammed with a waitlist by 7/7:30 am because everyone is getting there 2 or 3 hours before their flights. Middle of last week it was an estimated 100-120 min wait for 2 at 3:30 pm. Ended up 80 minutes before I received text but already on plane.
You can pre-book a spot 3-5 days out for $9 on the PP app. Might be worth doing that if you know you are traveling and want a guaranteed seat. Just letting you know.
Posted on 3/27/26 at 3:58 pm to notiger1997
quote:
I’m assuming Amex is better. I am about to start traveling more often this summer and was looking for some feedback.
The Centurion Lounges are better then the United lounges I have been to, same goes for Delta Skyclub. I have Amex Platinum which gets me in both and I fly to a fair amount of Delta hubs.
Posted on 3/27/26 at 4:16 pm to notiger1997
I was flying through DFW with a long layover recently. I have cards and mileage that give me access to Centurion and American lounges. Both were not allowing anyone in and the lines waiting were too long every time I checked. Don't get your hopes up.
Posted on 3/27/26 at 4:24 pm to notiger1997
I have access to both. Denver is my home airport and a United hub which is the main reason I have United.
I generally think Centurion lounges are better, but are over crowded and often have a wait that makes it impossible to use on normal travel.
I prefer United and Delta lounges as I have never been unable to get in as opposed to the AMEX ones and they are usually available near the gate for my flight.
I generally think Centurion lounges are better, but are over crowded and often have a wait that makes it impossible to use on normal travel.
I prefer United and Delta lounges as I have never been unable to get in as opposed to the AMEX ones and they are usually available near the gate for my flight.
This post was edited on 3/27/26 at 4:25 pm
Posted on 3/29/26 at 11:22 pm to TheOcean
quote:
Lounges have kind of jumped the shark. Everyone and their brother go to them. Sometimes you can't even get in.
I couldn’t agree more. Perfect example of social class compression. It’s not a spot to avoid the poors anymore.
Posted on 4/9/26 at 12:12 pm to notiger1997
Wife and I have both. Centurion lounge is better. All alcohol is free and food is better. You can check the app on the way to the airport and register in a virtual wait list for Amex.
Posted on 4/9/26 at 12:24 pm to notiger1997
Amex is a nicer lounge but depending on your flight time could potentially be insanely packed
Had two recent flights out of DFW. One was a 10am flight and got there at 7:30am and had no wait time. The other was a 9pm flight and got there right a 6pm and had to wait maybe 15mins before being able to go up
Didn't have trouble getting food/drinks/seats but was definitely crowded regardless
Idk how viable it is for shorter connections but if you have 2+ hours its probably fine
Had two recent flights out of DFW. One was a 10am flight and got there at 7:30am and had no wait time. The other was a 9pm flight and got there right a 6pm and had to wait maybe 15mins before being able to go up
Didn't have trouble getting food/drinks/seats but was definitely crowded regardless
Idk how viable it is for shorter connections but if you have 2+ hours its probably fine
This post was edited on 4/9/26 at 12:30 pm
Posted on 4/10/26 at 4:59 am to TheOcean
quote:This I laugh so hard at all the lounge snobs out there. They suck who wants to go sit in some overcrowded room with a bunch of other people with mediocre food at best
Lounges have kind of jumped the shark. Everyone and their brother go to them. Sometimes you can't even get in.
I tried to go in the capital one lounge in Dallas a few months ago and the line to get in was insane I immediately walked away
Posted on 4/11/26 at 8:58 am to notiger1997
I went to Amex sidecar lounge in LAS this week and it was awesome
New lounge concept with set table seating and waiters like a restaurant. Craft cocktails and great food menu. I had multiple lobster rolls
Only one in world currently but Amex has plans to expand the concept
New lounge concept with set table seating and waiters like a restaurant. Craft cocktails and great food menu. I had multiple lobster rolls
Only one in world currently but Amex has plans to expand the concept
Posted on 4/11/26 at 8:36 pm to s0tiger
quote:
I have access to both. Denver is my home airport and a United hub which is the main reason I have United. I generally think Centurion lounges are better, but are over crowded and often have a wait that makes it impossible to use on normal travel. I prefer United and Delta lounges as I have never been unable to get in as opposed to the AMEX ones and they are usually available near the gate for my flight.
This 100%. If your airport is a United hub, the ability to come in and out of the clubs at-will is a much bigger value.
Even on short connections, being able to grab a snack/use a cleaner restroom without having to deal with a waitlist is great.
However, Centurion lounges are generally better quality than individual Clubs. I just find them much more inconvenient/distant from my gate when traveling through DEN, ORD, and IAH.
If I were going through DWF a lot, I’d more consider access to Admirals Clubs than either Centurion or United.
Posted on 4/12/26 at 7:21 am to notiger1997
All in all, Centurion is better, but there are only what, 8-10 of them in the US... SLC is by far the nicest lounge I've been in.
Posted on 4/12/26 at 11:21 am to notiger1997
H2O Tiger is best suited to answer this
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News