American Express launches "Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge": a new format for fast travelers
An innovation in the world of airport lounges by Amex, designed for those who are short on time but do not want to compromise on quality and style.
LAS
American Express has announced the debut of a new format within its network Centurion Lounge: Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge. First scheduled to open in 2026 at Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), marking an evolution in premium offerings for traveling Amex cardholders.
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Sidecar was created as a response to a real need: to provide a high-level experience even for those with less than an hour before the flight.
Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, explains, "Many of our guests stay less than 60 minutes in the lounge. Sidecar is designed just for them: a cozy, curated, fast-paced environment without sacrificing quality."
A new lounge concept: smarter, same prestige
Unlike traditional lounges, Sidecar will feature a more intimate speakeasy-inspired design: warm tones, natural stone, brass and green touches to evoke the colors of the Nevada desert. Access will be free for Platinum and Centurion holders, Valid up to 90 minutes before flight departure.
It is clear from this small specification that it is designed for "grab & go" not for a long stay, and thus may be an attempt to offer a smaller service to those who have just enough time for a quick snack and not those who have a very long layover.
The best of US cuisine in a bite-size version
Gastronomic offerings will be curated by the new culinary collective "The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, a team of award-winning chefs-including Mashama Bailey, Kwame Onwuachi, Sarah Grueneberg, and Mike Solomonov-supported by renowned bar director Harrison Ginsberg.
The result? Gourmet small plates and signature cocktails inspired by Afro-Caribbean, Israeli, southern U.S., and Italian cuisines, reinterpreted to be consumed quickly but tastefully.
Two lounges, one philosophy: excellence serving the traveler
The centurion lounge in Las Vegas
With the opening of Sidecar, American Express will become the only credit card issuer to have two lounges at the same airport.
To be fair it must be said, however, that the Las Vegas Centurion is not very big, not even among the most modern of the network and I would not be surprised to see, after a period of coexistence model A/B testing, Amex choose whether to keep one or both. It will be interesting to see if it will have an impact on queues, which are getting longer, and how passengers will decide to choose between the two solutions.
To read this description seems to me to be a very similar solution to what Amex is proposing in Sweden, there is an American Express lounge at Stockholm airport, which is not a Centurion, and is in collaboration with Pontus Frithiof, local chef which operates several venues, here guests are offered a small buffet, a stocked bar, and a medù with ad hoc offerings and nothing else just perfect for those who are short on time and just looking for a snack or a drink.
