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It wasn't long after American Express opened the doors to its first Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge that we got a hint about where the second location might land.
At the media event unveiling the first Sidecar, Amex representatives were clear that this type of “lounge” makes the most sense at space-constrained airports — and at airports where the issuer might need a pressure-release valve to help ease crowding at its primary Centurion Lounges.
That makes Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) a logical place to look. And based on what came out of the City Council's business meeting on March 9, 2026, it appears the City of Charlotte is on board with Amex's plans to expand in the Queen City.
Here's what to know.
Coming Soon to CLT: City Approves Lease for Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge
Ahead of the Charlotte City Council's business meeting on March 9, WSOC-TV's Joe Bruno shared via X/Twitter that an item on the agenda was a vote on an “Airport American Express Sidecar Lounge Lease.” It was confirmed shortly after the meeting that the city approved the terms of the lease.
In other words, it looks like there will be a Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge coming soon to CLT.
A few other interesting details came out of the meeting, including that Amex would lease a 4,641-square-foot space for a period of five years, with an option to renew for an additional five years. Moreover, this new build will be located in CLT's Concourse A, which is currently undergoing expansion.
What's interesting about that is that the new Sidecar won't be a literal sidecar. That's because the primary Centurion Lounge is located between concourses D and E. So, you'll have to walk a bit to get between the lounges.
Related: Amex Centurion Lounges: Locations, Rules, and Guest Policy
What to expect at the Amex Sidecar at Charlotte
We will caveat, though, that while all signs point to a new space, an Amex spokesperson stopped short of confirming it.
But that doesn't mean we can't speculate based on the information we do know. For instance, the Sidecar at Las Vegas (LAS) measures about a third the size of the planned Sidecar at Charlotte, so we can guesstimate that the new lounge could have space for upwards of 100 guests. That's a big increase from Las Vegas' 33 Card Member capacity.
It's also likely the issuer will tap The Culinary Collective team to pull together a menu that's unique to the space.
Time will tell when the issuer might even open the doors to such a space. Amex likes to work quickly, but this could easily be a year or two away.
Related: Upgrade Your Travel Experience: Best Travel Credit Cards With Lounge Access
Bottom Line
It's an exciting time to be a CLT regular — especially if you've got an American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. In the future, it looks like you'll be able to access an upscale dining experience starting 90 minutes before your flight out of CLT.
And this is just one of many new and refreshed lounges coming to CLT. If you might recall, Capital One also has bold plans to bring a lounge to Charlotte, and American Airlines has plans of its own to step up its lounge game at one of its busiest hubs.
But just how far in the future Amex will unveil its new Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge remains to be seen. We're hopeful it's soon, but for now it's anyone's guess.
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