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Editorial Disclosure
American Express is opening the doors to a new type of airport lounge.
Dubbed Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge, the new concept is built for speed: short visits, quick bites, and maybe even a quick stop in the restroom.
Sidecar isn’t meant to replace the flagship Centurion Lounge experience. (In fact, Amex wants it to be viewed as a companion to the main lounge.)
Nor will it dramatically ease overcrowding — just wait until you see how many people it holds.
Instead, Sidecar targets travelers who arrive at the gate with little time to spare. Until now, those flyers (myself included) often faced a tough choice: wait in a long line and risk gate-checking your rollaboard, or skip the lounge altogether.
Going forward, you can pop into Sidecar, grab a quick bite, freshen up, and head straight to your flight.
Sounds promising. But does it actually work?
Here’s my complete take on the first-ever Amex Sidecar outpost in Las Vegas.
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Amex Sidecar by Centurion Lounge LAS location
Las Vegas is home to the original Centurion Lounge — and now, 13 years later, the very first Sidecar outpost.
You’ll find Sidecar right as you ascend the escalators to Concourse D at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). If you know the airport, the space sits directly across from the Capital One Lounge.
All gates at LAS are connected airside, so you could theoretically visit Sidecar before any flight. Just keep in mind that access restrictions are fairly tight — more on that below — and you might need to take the airport train to reach your departure gate.
If you’re not paying close attention, the entrance can be easy to miss. After stepping off the escalator, turn left, and you’ll see the wood-lined entrance directly ahead.
Sidecar is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It opens a few hours after the main Centurion Lounge since Amex doesn’t expect early-morning demand for this quick-stop concept.
Amex Sidecar by Centurion Lounge LAS access
Sidecar is designed for travelers who are short on time — and Amex is serious about enforcing that.
You can only enter within 90 minutes of your scheduled departure time.
Assuming that boarding is roughly 40 minutes before departure, that leaves you with less than an hour inside. (Honestly, that’s probably all you’ll need. The space is small, and amenities are limited.)
Aside from the new time restriction, Sidecar inherits the same access rules as the traditional Centurion Lounge.
This means that those with the American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express have access to Sidecar.
(Note that guesting policies are the same as those of the Centurion Lounge. Unless you meet a $75,000 annual spending requirement on your card, you’ll pay $50 per adult guest and $30 per child (ages 2 to 17). Children under 2 can enter for free.)
Those with some of Delta’s most premium cards can also use this facility before their same-day Delta-marketed or -operated flight.
Note that you’ll need to choose between visiting Sidecar and the traditional Centurion Lounge, and each space will operate on its own waitlist.
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Amex Sidecar by Centurion Lounge LAS layout
Sidecar is small — by design.
The space accommodates just 33 travelers, and it’s not particularly kid-friendly either.
Amex wants the lounge to serve high volumes of solo travelers and small groups with quick table turnover. (In fact, the issuer used the words “small” or “intimate” six times in its press release.)
The space features an L-shaped layout.
A banquette in the center seats roughly 10 guests, while several solo tables line one wall. The remaining seats are barstools, either high-tops next to the bar or lower tables across from the custom watchdog portrait.
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Upon entering, a host escorts you to a seat. Given the tight footprint, privacy is limited. This isn’t exactly the place for a leisurely date.
At the end of the hallway, you’ll find the restrooms.
Sidecar includes a small back-of-house kitchen where food is cooked to order, while drinks are prepared at the signature bar.
One of the most striking aspects of Sidecar is the design. Amex aimed to create an “oasis in the desert,” and the dark green tones, natural stone textures, and pops of blue help achieve that look.
Amex Sidecar by Centurion Lounge LAS dining
Dining is the main attraction at Sidecar.
The lounge is built around quick, restaurant-style service, and based on the preview I attended, it should excel at that.
After being seated, a server will bring a menu and take your order. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code at your table and order via the Toast platform. Everything is complimentary, and Amex says tipping isn’t necessary.
Amex tapped its Culinary Collective — four James Beard Award-winning chefs from the Resy network — to develop the menu. Dishes will rotate seasonally, but the opening lineup is strong.
My favorite bite was Chef Mike Solomonov’s Israeli-inspired avocado toast, served on brioche with spicy schug labneh and black sesame.
Other savory highlights I tried include a crushed cucumber salad with crispy rice pearls by Chef Kwame Onwuachi and mushroom-and-mustard-greens egg bites by Chef Mashama Bailey.
To match the quick-bite theme, the lounge will also feature a rotating monthly sandwich. At launch, Chef Sarah Grueneberg created the “chicky-chicky-parm-parm” slider, which tastes as good as its playful name suggests.
I also appreciated the subtle branding touches throughout the dining experience.
Wine glasses feature an etched Centurion watchdog, drinks are served on Sidecar coasters, and the sliders arrive stamped with the Centurion logo.
The menu is intentionally limited to keep service moving quickly. The kitchen can accommodate basic dietary restrictions and aims to deliver dishes within eight minutes.
On the beverage side, Amex has partnered with Helen Johannesen, the new Centurion Lounge sommelier. Her wine selections debut at Sidecar and will expand across U.S. Centurion Lounges later this year.
Overall, the experience feels somewhat like a streamlined version of Capital One Landing.
There’s no buffet or self-serve beverage station, but there is restaurant-style service with high-quality food and drinks, which works well for travelers looking for a quick bite before boarding.
Amex Sidecar by Centurion Lounge LAS amenities
Sidecar is focused on efficient dining, and the amenities (or lack thereof) reflect that.
Every seat includes power outlets and USB-A ports, and the lounge offers fast, free Wi-Fi.
There are two single-use restrooms in the back of the space. One is ADA-accessible, while the other is extremely narrow.
You may feel like you’re playing a game of Tetris, trying to fit inside.
If you’re looking for showers, relaxation rooms, phone booths, or other premium amenities, you’re better off heading to the main Centurion Lounge.
Amex Sidecar by Centurion Lounge LAS bottom line
Sidecar is an innovative new lounge concept.
In some ways, it reminds me of a cross between the former Classified restaurant at Newark and Capital One Landing.
The food and beverage program is excellent, but the bigger question is how the concept performs in real-world conditions.
Will Amex be able to turn tables quickly enough to meaningfully increase lounge capacity? Will travelers choose Sidecar over the traditional Centurion Lounge? And if it proves successful, will the concept expand to other airports?
It’s too early to answer those questions, but I’ll be watching closely.
After all, any idea that offers more lounge options while addressing overcrowding should be a win for travelers.
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Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. Responses have not been reviewed , approved, or endorsed by any bank advertisers. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.