AMEX Lounge - Do I Need to Have Bought The Ticket with My AMEX Card?

witsa on 10/03/2019 - 23:27
Last edited 10/03/2019 - 23:28

So I'm about to go overseas flying out through Sydney. During the ticket buying process, I forgot that my Amex Explorer card had the AMEX lounge and I think I used my non-AMEX VISA card to pay for it.

My question is… can I use the AMEX lounge simply with my flight ticket and Explorer card? Do they require proof that you bought the tickets using your Amex card?

The terms and conditions (https://www.americanexpress.com/au/credit-cards/membership/t…) doesn't actually specify that the tickets need to be bought with the AMEX card but I'm just not sure what the real experience is like.

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Comments

  • ninjawarrior on 10/03/2019 - 23:38
    +4

    As of my last visit to that lounge, not a requirement - all you need is your AMEX card and boarding pass

    • witsa on 10/03/2019 - 23:53

      sweet!

      i just talked to AMEX support and they said not a requirement either.

      That's fantastic. Definitely going to get there early.

      What's inside the lounge? Just like free food and drinks?

      • ninjawarrior on 10/03/2019 - 23:57
        +1

        Just be aware that while the lounge is comfortable, it is extremely small for the number of people who have access and can be crowded during peak times to the point where there is zero seating. Hope your experience doesn't turn out to be like that!

        And yep, some seats with nice views of the tarmac and reasonable selection of drinks and hot/cold foods.

        • FirstWizard on 11/03/2019 - 10:50

          I've been very unlucky and gotten turned away more than 4 times last year as the lounge was full. They take down your mobile number and would call when there's space.
          That's like 50% of the times I've gone overseas.

          • Nuclearvodka on 12/03/2019 - 14:02

            @FirstWizard: I was there in September, and they had "opened" another section downstairs from their normal (very small) lounge
            There was plenty of space.

            • FirstWizard on 13/03/2019 - 07:39

              @Nuclearvodka: I was there 20 Dec 2019, but still got turned away.

              Few years ago they gave me a pass to the plaza lounge downstairs as I had a platinum card. But was only able to get that once. Next few times it was full they said they no longer give plaza passes.

        • witsa on 11/03/2019 - 15:34

          Damn. What time is peak time?

          • FirstWizard on 13/03/2019 - 07:41

            @witsa: I've found that Fridays and days before long weekends, from 5-9pm to be extremely busy.

      • trilby on 11/03/2019 - 09:21

        It's not too bad, but as ninjawarrior states it is on the small side.
        You have to order your drinks, but food is self service - only a small selection, but it's OK.
        You have 2 visits a year and no requirement to have used the card.

  • madreece on 11/03/2019 - 11:30

    Hope it's better than the Melbourne Amex lounge. What a s*ithole.

  • Nuclearvodka on 13/03/2019 - 08:42

    On a side note, you only get the "travel insurance" with your card if you pay for the trip using your Amex.
    A lot of people don't know that

  • tunzafun001 on 14/03/2019 - 19:49

    Got the westpac altitude black Amex. Heading to Hawaii, then vc, then NYC,then LA.

    Anyone know if we have unlimited use of US lounges? Pretty sure it's only 2 visits here in Oz.

    Had a really good experience in Sydney last year.. July, Friday 6pm and it was empty! Great views, drinks poured well.

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