Amex halves Centurion Lounge guest access — 2 to 1

American Express has announced a significant change to its Centurion Lounge access policy. From 8 July 2026, eligible Platinum Personal and Platinum Business Card Members will only be allowed one complimentary guest, down from the previous two. Furthermore, this guest must be travelling on the same flight as the Card Member. This change is expected to impact Indian Platinum holders, particularly at Delhi T1 and on US trips. The new policy also closes the layover loophole, requiring Card Members to arrive within five hours of their connecting flight, and explicitly excludes same-day round trips as connections. Our take: one guest instead of two, and only if they are on your flight — for a Platinum holder travelling with family that is the same as no guest access at all. The layover loophole goes with it: five hours to your connection, and same-day round trips explicitly excluded. Read it next to the Mumbai closure a week earlier and the direction is unmistakable — Amex is narrowing its lounge proposition in India, not widening it.