Florida man swears off Amex lounges after his most recent trip: ‘I’m done’

A short TikTok from Matt Hughes (@thematthughes) has gone viral as he disses an American Express Centurion Lounge breakfast buffet with a single line of on-screen text: “Amex lounge is trash, I'm done.”

What's Wrong With the American Express Centurion Lounge?

Hughes pans across a row of uncovered chafing dishes on warmers. It's the usual stuff: sausage links, sausage patties, hard-boiled eggs, breakfast potatoes, and a pan of scrambled eggs. To be fair, the food looks dry and could have used a steaming apparatus to keep it fresher.

The clip doesn't indicate when the buffet was set out, how many guests cycled through, or whether lids were recently removed. In other words, the viewer is missing variables on whether the pans reflect a lounge in decline or simply a slow morning where a spread has sat too long between diners. Hughes does not identify which Centurion Lounge he visited, nor the airport or day.

The other thing here is that it is free-ish food and drinks. If you can get into a lounge—if it's not crowded—at least you're not paying for the exorbitant airport fast-food prices.

But what exactly are you getting yourself into, and how do you get in?

What is the Amex Centurion Lounge?

Centurion Lounges are Amex's flagship airport network, accessible to holders of the Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card, and Centurion Card—plus Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business cardholders when flying same-day Delta, per Amex's Global Lounge Collection terms. There's a whole app for these lounges because you have to sign up to get in if it is at capacity.

Each lounge has a buffet and a bar, and at least ten U.S. locations have showers.

Here's the rub: Amex's personal Platinum carries an $895 annual fee. Guest access starts at $50 per adult unless the cardholder has spent $75,000 in a calendar year.

Whether the shot reflects a one-off or a pattern, the frustration Hughes voiced is not isolated.

Let's see what the people have to say.

‘I Will Never Step in the Centurion Lounge Again'

In the comments section, many viewers chastised the TikToker for criticizing the complimentary spread.

“I don't see the issue…protein, carbs and fat. Well balanced meal,” said one person.

“Just say it's your first time,” quipped a second. “People simultaneously treating the lounge like an all-you-can-eat buffet and expecting a 3-star Michelin experience are the biggest tell. It's a literal airport pit stop.”

Some people had jokes. “I like that I can get a healthy meal in the lounge. Pairs nicely with me 4 glasses of prosecco,” said one person.

One person informed a commenter that the lounge isn't necessarily a main benefit, unless you regularly travel, perhaps a few times a month.

They mentioned “$200 Uber cash, free Uber One free Walmart plus $400 resy dining credit (bougie restaurants), $300 digital entertainment credit (Disney plus/hulu/YouTube prem and more), $300 Lululemon credit, $600 hotel credit, $200 airline incidental credit, premium car rental status,” and a host of other benefits.

“Personally, I have the gold card, which also has decent perks and is less than half the annual fee,” they continued. “If I traveled more, I'd definitely get the platinum though.”

Centurion Lounge: Not Just One Bad Buffet

Complaints about Centurion food and crowding have piled up for years across the travel trade press. Gary Leff of View from the Wing reported in March 2026 that the Atlanta location “received a failing score of 69 from the Georgia Department of Public Health” on Dec. 10, 2024, with inspectors flagging uncovered food and repeated insect violations in the main bar.

Leff also pointed out the “Chase lounges and Capital One lounges” as perhaps better options.

At Thrifty Traveler, senior editor Jackson Newman framed the broader problem as “an issue of quantity over quality,” arguing Amex has admitted more cardholders than its lounges can absorb. The alternative—buying a typical breakfast at an airport terminal—is rarely cheaper or better, which is part of why frustrated cardholders keep coming back.

Subplot News reached out to Matt Hughes via TikTok direct message and comment and to American Express via email. We will update this story if they respond.

@thematthughes #amexlounge ♬ original sound – Matt Hughes

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