By Gisel Habibnejad
Photography Courtesy of American Express
Do you have a fear of flying? American Express cardholders not only hold a card, they now hold the solution too. Last month, the American Express Centurion Lounge opened at the Miami International Airport. Now, flyers have a place to relax before and in-between flights.
Located at the North Terminal near Gate D14, the lounge and all its amenities are complimentary for Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders. For all other Amex cardholders, a $50 day pass must be purchased. Not too shabby!
Upon entrance, guests are instantly greeted with a beautiful backdrop of the Amex signature luscious greenery at the front desk. It is only a few steps away from the Exhale Spa, made-up of 15-minute services such as chair massages, acupuncture, and mini manicures.
Beyond that, the lounge area includes a bar, tables with seating, and couches for comfort. But who can forget that breathtaking view of the runway where you can watch airplanes takeoff and land? Across the way, a floor-to-ceiling window playroom for children is available where parents can watch from the lounge area. The bar comes equipped with a bartender who is ready to fix-up signature cocktails, or serve top shelf premium spirits and wines. Guests will also enjoy delicious meals by Miami’s very own chef Michelle Bernstein – so you know you can expect nothing less than top-rated dishes. Among the various options are: sour cream pancakes with candied pecans and caramelized bananas for breakfast; slow braised short rib of beef with natural jus and green faro as an entrée; and banana tres leches with dulce de leche pudding and fresh cream for dessert. Frequent flyers will be pleased to know the menu items rotate often.
A conference room and several workspaces are dedicated to the business inclined, where flyers have a quiet area to work and also have access to high-speed Wi-Fi (available throughout the lounge). Personal computers, printers, fax and copy machines, and buffers to filter out the noise are among the other amenities available for use. In addition, guests can freshen up with shower suites and have access to luggage lockers.
If that wasn’t enough, Amex concierge services are available to assist with flight information, changes, and future trip planning at your request. The 8,000 sq ft Centurion Lounge really commits to satisfying every need in order to ensure a relaxing atmosphere.
You can find other American Express Centurion Lounges in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, New York’s La Guardia Airport, and San Francisco International Airport. Each location contains artwork specific to the culture found at each destination. As you might’ve guessed, Miami’s is pleasantly decorated with photographs of Latin artists such as Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull.
For more information on the American Express Centurion Lounge, please visit www.thecenturionlounge.com/locations/MIA
Click here to view this post in the July/August digital issue.