First Time in the Houston Centurion Lounge — Pretty Underwhelming

Just had my first experience at the Houston Amex Centurion Lounge, and honestly, it didn’t live up to the hype.

The space felt cramped and overcrowded, the food selection was underwhelming, and the overall cleanliness wasn’t what I’d expect from a “premium” lounge. It’s not the end of the world — I’ll keep the card for other perks — but it’s hard to ignore how average the experience felt compared to the branding.

What really gets me is that Chase, a direct competitor, seems to understand what “premium” should feel like. Their lounges aren’t as widespread yet, but every Chase Sapphire Lounge I’ve been to felt thoughtfully designed, elevated, and actually worth stopping for.

For a company as established as Amex, it’s wild that Chase — the newer player in the lounge space — is already delivering a better experience. Makes you wonder where all those annual fees are going.