Travelers holding premium American Express cards will soon have two fresh ways to relax before takeoff. In 2026, the issuer will introduce Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), an intimate offshoot designed for visits under 90 minutes. One year earlier, on July 16, 2025, Amex cuts the ribbon on a 7,500-square-foot Centurion Lounge in Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) that showcases Japanese flavors, private meditation booths, and a VIP suite. Both projects underscore the brand's push to match fast-rising demand for elevated, efficient lounge service.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Amex adds capacity while solving crowding complaints.
- Sidecar opens at LAS in 2026 for visits capped at 90 minutes.
- Intimate "speakeasy" décor, small plates, and craft cocktails target short layovers.
- Haneda lounge debuts July 16 with ramen, sushi, and meditation booths.
- New Culinary Collective brings James Beard chefs to 15 U.S. lounges this month.
Snapshot
Sidecar trims the traditional lounge blueprint to its essentials: quality food, polished drinks, and just enough seating for travelers rushing to the gate. Guests may enter only within 90 minutes of departure, discouraging long stays and easing congestion in the main LAS Centurion Lounge. Meanwhile, Haneda's full-service outpost preserves the network's hallmark amenities-showers, work pods, dedicated kids' space-while adding Tokyo-specific touches such as a sweets bar inspired by convenience-store confections. Together, the pair offer a blueprint for scalable growth without sacrificing exclusivity.
Background
American Express opened the world's first Centurion Lounge in Las Vegas in 2013. Over the past twelve years the network has expanded to 30 locations across four continents, prized for chef-led menus and open bars that outshine most airline clubs. Rapid membership growth, however, has produced crowding and periodic entry restrictions at hub airports. Sidecar aims to redirect travelers with brief layovers into a purpose-built space, while full lounges continue to serve longer connections. The concept also reaffirms Amex's pattern of piloting innovations in Las Vegas before wider rollout.
Latest Developments
The company detailed three linked initiatives.
Sidecar at LAS
Opening in 2026 beside Concourse D, Sidecar balances speed and style. Designers chose earth-tone upholstery, brass accents, and living greenery to evoke a modern speakeasy. Seating clusters support small groups, while a central bar dispenses classic cocktails and zero-proof spritzes. Gourmet "one-hand" plates-think miso-glazed chicken skewers or chilled soba bites-mirror dishes in flagship lounges but arrive within minutes. Entry policies mirror the main Centurion rules yet cut dwell time to ninety minutes, enforced via departure-time scanning at check-in.
Haneda Debut
At 7,500 square feet, the new lounge near Gate 114 introduces Japan-exclusive perks. Chef Satoshi Ogino curates a rotating menu of ramen, seasonal sushi, and wagyu sliders cooked in an on-view kitchen. A dessert bar highlights regional candies, while private meditation booths stream guided breathing exercises. Centurion-level members gain access to a glass-walled VIP room for discreet meetings. The opening answers surging post-pandemic travel demand: Japan sat atop Amex Travel's fastest-growing outbound destinations through early 2025.
The Culinary Collective
Launching July 29, the Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge enlists Mashama Bailey, Sarah Grueneberg, Kwame Onwuachi, and Mike Solomonov. Each James Beard winner will rotate signature dishes-such as Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon or Suya Short Ribs-into the 15 U.S. Centurion Lounges by month-end. Beverage director Harrison Ginsberg of New York's Overstory crafts complementary cocktails, bringing high-end mixology to the entire network.
Analysis
Sidecar directly tackles two traveler pain points: time pressure and crowding. By funneling short-stay guests into a compact venue, Amex preserves elbow room in the flagship lounge and enhances perceived exclusivity for longer visits. For business travelers on tight turnarounds, guaranteed entry and quick service reduce the gamble of detouring to a lounge that may be at capacity. Haneda's launch, meanwhile, plugs a glaring hole in Amex's Asia footprint. With Tokyo ranking among the top international destinations for U.S. cardholders, a marquee lounge aligns the brand with premium flyers on both sides of the Pacific. Finally, the Culinary Collective signals a shift toward seasonal, regionally nuanced menus that could refresh loyalty among frequent users who have tasted the existing buffet one too many times.
Final Thoughts
American Express is doubling down on premium hospitality while acknowledging that not every traveler has hours to spare. If Sidecar succeeds in Las Vegas, expect similar quick-visit lounges at other high-traffic airports where gate proximity and dwell-time limits can ease congestion. Coupled with chef-driven dining from the Culinary Collective and a culturally rich lounge in Tokyo, the issuer is positioning its cardmembers to eat better, move faster, and relax smarter-hallmarks of the evolving Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge experience.