American Express has closed the luxury wellness benefits of its exclusive Centurion Lounge at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport and replaced it with a full-service coffee bar.
Last year, the credit card company closed Equinox Body Lab, where members could participate in restorative therapy sessions such as self-meditation, stretching, compression boots and vibroacoustic chairs for relaxation.
In return, cardholders with access to the luxury lounge will also receive a complimentary cup of joe at Blue Roast by American Express, a full-service coffee bar serving espresso beverages, cold brew and seasonal specialty coffee drinks. can. Smoothies, avocado toast, and chia pudding.
News of Equinox Body Lab closure was first reported By financial advice site The Points Guy.
An American Express spokesperson confirmed the change to the Post. The coffee bar has proven popular among cardholders traveling to Seattle, the company said.
The JFK store is the second free coffee shop American Express has opened inside the Centurion Lounge, the company said.
Multiple media outlets have reported that Equinox Body Lab recently closed, but The Post has learned that it has been closed since April.
Officials said American Express decided to close the spa and use the space as a coffee bar to accommodate more lounge members.
Last year, American Express took similar steps at airports in Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami, closing the Exhale Spa in its Centurion lounges.
In October, The Points Guy reported that the spa had closed due to overwhelming demand.
The spa had two to four treatment therapists on hand at any given time. This meant that a large number of cardholders had to wait for reservations. According to Points Guy.
The luxury spa was first incorporated into the Centurion Lounge as a way to encourage American Express cardholders to upgrade to more prestigious credit cards, such as the Platinum Card or the Black Card. This card is an ultra-luxury account that requires owners to spend at least $250,000 annually. and pay an annual fee of at least $5,000.
Last year, the Post reported that American Express Black Cardholders were unimpressed with the Centurion New York Lounge at One Vanderbilt, a 93-story skyscraper in midtown Manhattan.
“There's no soul in there. You have to go through a turnstile in an office building to get there,” one visitor told the Post.
