For years, American Express has been considered the gold standard when it comes to premium credit cards in India. Whether it was the Platinum Credit Card, the Gold Charge Card, or the Platinum Reserve Credit Card, Amex managed to build a loyal customer base with rewarding benefits, excellent customer service, and a premium experience.
However, things seem to have changed over the past couple of years.
New applications for almost every American Express Credit Card in India, except the Platinum Charge Card and Platinum Reserve Credit Card, remain paused. This means popular and relatively affordable options like the Platinum Travel Credit Card and the Gold Charge Card are no longer available to new customers. Existing cardholders have also seen several benefit revisions, with the most notable being the annual milestone on the Platinum Travel Credit Card increasing from ₹4 lakh to ₹7 lakh.
At the same time, cardholders have reported a decline in customer service quality following a change in support vendors. While American Express continues to launch new partnerships, attractive welcome offers, and innovative products in markets like the United States, the Indian portfolio appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
The latest development only adds to that sentiment. Effective July 1, 2026, American Express will permanently close its Centurion Lounge at Mumbai Airport Terminal 2. Platinum Card Members will instead receive access to the Adani Business Class Lounge in the domestic departures area.
To be fair, the lounge closure appears to be driven more by airport operational changes than by American Express itself. However, for many cardholders, the Centurion Lounge was one of the few truly exclusive airport benefits available in India. Its closure naturally raises a larger question: has American Express started losing its edge in the Indian market?
Whether these changes are temporary or part of a broader shift in strategy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the value proposition of American Express cards in India isn’t what it used to be.
Other Upcoming Changes to AmEx Credit Cards in India
Etihad Guest Miles to Exit Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
American Express has also confirmed that Etihad Guest Miles will no longer be a Membership Rewards points transfer partner from 1 July 2026.
Card Members can transfer their Membership Rewards points to Etihad Guest until 11:59 PM IST on 30 June 2026. After this deadline, transfers to the Etihad Guest program will no longer be available.
For those who regularly redeemed Membership Rewards points for Etihad flights or partner airline bookings, this marks the loss of another valuable airline transfer option from the American Express ecosystem in India.
Centurion Lounge Guest Access Rules Changing From July 8, 2026
From 8 July 2026, the following changes will apply:
- Complimentary guest access will be reduced from two guests to one guest for eligible Platinum Personal and Platinum Business Card Members.
- All accompanying guests must be traveling on the same flight as the Card Member to enter The Centurion Lounge.
- During a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of their connecting flight. Same-day round-trip itineraries will not be treated as connecting flights.
Note – There has been a lot of speculation regarding these changes. We have confirmed with American Express that the revised terms will only come into effect from 8 July 2026. Until then, eligible Platinum Personal and Platinum Business Card Members can continue to bring up to two complimentary guests to The Centurion Lounge.
Bottom Line
Although American Express has undoubtedly lost some of its appeal in India, I wouldn’t say it’s the end of the road just yet. I still use the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card because it’s one of the simplest cards to maximize if you can hit the spending milestones. Even the Platinum Reserve Credit Card can offer decent value when used strategically.
The bigger concern, however, is the direction the company seems to be taking. With most consumer card applications still on hold, fewer attractive offers than before, and recent changes like the closure of the Mumbai Centurion Lounge, it has become harder to stay optimistic. Meanwhile, competitors like HSBC are becoming more aggressive with new products and rewarding offers, making the contrast even more noticeable.
American Express still has a loyal customer base and a strong brand, but the company needs to reassure cardholders that India remains an important market. Until then, every new update raises more questions than confidence about its future in the country.