AMEX cuts lounge perk and replaces it with coffee bar upgrade

Travelers flying out of John F Kennedy no longer have the privilege of enjoying a luxurious perk at the American Express lounge.

American Express (Amex) confirmed it removed the Equinox Body Lab from the Centurion Lounge in Terminal 4 before the holiday season.

The Equinox Body Lab offered lounge members the chance to enjoy activities like yoga and meditation sessions before their flights.  

The credit card company replaced the Body Lab with a full-service coffee bar dubbed Blue Roast by American Express.

The coffee bar sells various caffeinated drinks such as espressos, cold brews, and seasonal coffees.

Its menu also features smoothies, avocado toast, and chia pudding.

This was Amex's second Centurion Lounge to replace its Equinox Body Lab with the coffee bar.

The company first added the Blue Roast bar to its lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in 2023.   

Equinox is a fitness company that operates over 300 locations in the US, UK, and Canada. 

Amex and Equinox began a partnership in 2020 when the credit card company began offering statement credit of up to $25 a month for eligible cardholders.

The two-story JFK Centurion Lounge opened its doors in 2020 and included the Equinox Body Lab. 

It was the first Equinox Body Lab to ever be in the company's airport lounges.

Besides yoga and meditation, members could participate in stretching sessions through the Variis by Equinox (now Equinox+) app and use vibro-acoustic chairs.

The Body Lab at JFK was available to all Amex Centurion Lounge members ages 18 or older.

Despite the closure, Amex continues to offer up to $300 in annual statement credits for eligible Equinox Fitness Club monthly membership fees or digital memberships.

Amex lounge members are required to own at least one qualified card, such as the Platinum Card, the Amex Centurion Card, and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card.

Before entering the lounge, members are required to provide their card, boarding pass confirming their travel date, and an ID.

All members are allowed to purchase guest passes for two travelers at most that cost between $30 and $50 per guest.

Any members' guests under the age of two will be allowed in free of charge.

Qualified members and guests who enter the JFK lounge will have access to premium bars, a digital library,  and high-speed internet.

They will also have access to printers and copiers, flight monitors, televisions, showers, and premium food.

The JFK Centurion Lounge is located at Terminal 4 and is open between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm seven days a week. 

Amex was notably the first credit card company to open an airport lounge after debuting a lounge at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas in 2013.

Today, there are 26 successful Amex Centurion Lounges in airports worldwide. 

The company quietly made noticeable changes in 2024 to its card rules and lounge entry organization.

Amex recently introduced a digital waitlist that allows qualified cardholders to enter the line for access to any of its lounges in the US.

Those members will receive a notification when they're allowed to enter the lounge and receive 15 minutes to check in.

Amex had already been facing backlash due to its drop in points value in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The backlash grew in August 2024 after eBay customers were no longer allowed to pay for products using Amex cards.

In a statement, American Express said that eBay's cost to accept AmEx cards is 'comparable to what eBay pays for similar cards on other networks' and that AmEx cardmembers usually spend double at eBay what is spent on other networks.

Despite the issues, US News & World Report revealed its Delta SkyMiles Blue card had the best credit card offer of January 2025.   

Daily Mail has reached out to American Express for comment.