Frequent flyers have bemoaned how airport lounges, once a beloved oasis for weary travelers, are becoming increasingly overcrowded.<\/p>\n
Now, it seems American Express Amex charges an annual $695 fee for the card, which includes access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide through various partners. But it also gives that same access to the authorized users added by cardholders to their accounts.<\/p>\n Previously, Amex charged cardholders $175 annually for up to three additional users. But Amex recently announced that cardholders will now have to pony up $195 for\u00a0each\u00a0<\/em>person.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n While the change could potentially boost Amex\u2019s bottom line, some who track the credit-card and travel landscape say it\u2019s all about addressing the lounge situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n \u201c<\/span>Previously, Amex charged cardholders $175 annually for up to three additional users. But Amex recently announced that cardholders will now have to pony up $195 for\u00a0 each \u00a0person.\u00a0\u00a0\u201d<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Lounges have become much less inviting in recent years because of the surging demand for them,\u00a0say travelers. There are often long lines to get into a lounge, and the experience inside can be less than that of the pampered perfection people have come to expect.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s horrible,\u201d said Adam Levy, a veteran globetrotter who runs wine, spirits and beer competitions worldwide. Levy, who\u2019s a Platinum cardholder, said 30-minute lounge wait times have become the norm.<\/p>\n By raising the cost to add users to a Platinum account, Amex could deter existing primary cardholders from continuing to do so, experts note. Plus, new primary cardholders may balk at the price for the add-ons and decide not to extend their benefits to others.<\/p>\n In turn, with fewer Platinum add-ons, lounges may end up being less busy. Which might appease Platinum cardholders who particularly value this perk, to say nothing of travelers in general. \u00a0<\/p>\n Or as Kyle Potter, executive editor of the Thrifty Traveler website, said of the current lounge situation: \u201cThere are so many people trying to use these benefits that it doesn\u2019t feel like a benefit at all.\u201d<\/p>\n An Amex spokesperson declined to comment about whether the recent price hike was related to the lounge issue. But the spokesperson said of the hike, \u201cOver the past several years we\u2019ve added significant value to the Platinum Card.\u00a0When we refreshed the Card in 2021, the fee for the primary card increased [from $550 to the current $695], but we did not increase the fee for the additional Platinum Card.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesperson added that the annual benefits of the card are worth more than $1,500, noting they go beyond lounge access to also include everything from a $100 statement credit to offset the cost of applying for the Global Entry program to gold-status qualification in the Hilton Honors loyalty program.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n \u201c<\/span>\u201cThere are so many people trying to use these benefits that it doesn\u2019t feel like a benefit at all.\u201d\u201d<\/span>\n <\/p>\n
\n AXP,
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\n may be trying to tackle the issue through a key change to its premium Platinum Card program, but one that will hit some users in the wallet.<\/p>\n
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