The Centurion Lounge by American Express, at Miami International Airport.
American has also launched automated screening lanes at hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and New York City. Also, American Express expands its location of The Centurion Lounge at Miami International Airport.
MIAMI – American Airlines, in coordination with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Miami-Dade Aviation Department, has launched two automated security screening lanes in Terminal D at Miami International Airport (MIA).
These new automated screening lanes, funded by American, incorporate technology and screening station modifications that enhance security effectiveness while decreasing the time travelers spend in security screening.
The advanced equipment in the automated lanes offers a number of unique features designed to improve the screening of travelers by automating many of the functions currently conducted manually, allowing passengers to move more swiftly through the checkpoint. These innovations include:
- Automated belts that draw bags into the X-ray machines, returning the bins back to queue after completion of the screening
- Bags with a potential threat can be directed to a separate area to allow bins behind it to continue through the system uninterrupted
- Property bins that are 25 percent larger than the bins in regular screening lanes
- Unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that are attached to each bin to allow for additional accountability of items as they transit throughout the system
- Cameras that capture photos of the outside of the bag, which is linked to the X-ray image of the bag’s contents
“We are proud to be working collaboratively with the TSA and Miami-Dade Aviation Department to launch next-generation screening technology in Miami,” said Ralph Lopez, American Airlines vice president – Miami. “These state-of-the-art lanes enhance security effectiveness and efficiency and will improve the customer experience for many of the 29 million American customers who visit MIA each year.”
“We are proud to partner with American Airlines and the TSA on this latest innovation to improve the passenger experience at MIA,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “We are exploring any and every way that we can safely expedite travelers through security screening and further decrease wait times. The new automated screening lanes do exactly that.”
“Airports in the future must be about moving passengers from reservation to destination, through an almost invisible yet integrated ecosystem of distributed security, with less stress and frustration for both passengers and the officers who screen them,” said Dan Ronan, TSA federal security director – MIA. “These new, innovative automated screening lanes enable us to do that by automating several of the functions previously conducted manually, thereby increasing security effectiveness and enabling passengers to move more swiftly and efficiently throughout the checkpoint.”
American has also launched automated screening lanes at hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and New York City.
Additionally, American is investing in state-of-the-art Computed Tomography (CT) checkpoint technology. CT technology is expected to provide an enhanced level of detection for aviation security officials. This technology provides officials with scanning equipment that more clearly identifies potential threat items, including those concealed within personal electronic devices (PEDs).
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CT technology is one way the aviation community, including foreign airports, can “raise the bar for aviation security globally.”
This past June, the TSA, working collaboratively with American, began demonstrating CT technology in a checkpoint lane of Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). This was the first time ever that CT technology was deployed to screen carry-on bags. Three-dimensional CT technology could make it possible to allow passengers to leave liquids, gels and aerosols, as well as laptops, in their carry-on bags at all times. This results in a quicker throughput and less bin use.
As part of the commitment to CT technology, American and Analogic Corporation announced earlier this summer a joint partnership that will greatly expand the use CT technology at airports worldwide. American will purchase multiple units of the Analogic ConneCT aviation checkpoint security screening system, making it the official launch customer of ConneCT, a breakthrough in checkpoint security scanning technology. ConneCT is designed to enhance aviation security and increase passenger throughput using an upgradeable CT platform.
“American will always be on the forefront of efforts to invest in state-of-the-art aviation security technology,” said Jose Freig, American Airlines Chief Security Officer. “In coordination with our partners at DHS and TSA, we continue to look at ways to raise the bar for aviation security globally in order to keep our customers and team members safe.”
The Centurion Lounge at MIA Gains County Approval for Expansion
American Express will add 4,000 square feet and more amenities to its popular airport lounge
The Centurion Lounge by American Express, at Miami International Airport
The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners gave final approval in October to an agreement that allows American Express to expand its location of The Centurion Lounge at Miami International Airport. The expansion project will add more than 4,000 square feet to the existing 8,000-square-foot facility near MIA’s Gate D12, and will offer American Express’ premium Card Member base access to even more space and amenities when they travel through Miami.
After opening in June 2015, The Centurion Lounge at MIA quickly became one of the most popular of American Express’ signature airport lounge network locations.
The expansion, which includes connecting an existing 1,833-square-foot outdoor balcony to the lounge and enclosing an outdoor space adjacent to the balcony, is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. Card Members can look forward to enjoying:
- Additional food buffet and beverage area
- Wine bar
- Additional restrooms
- Additional tranquility area
- More lounge seating
- Two private telephone rooms
“We applaud the enormous success of The Centurion Lounge, and we thank American Express for their partnership in providing this world-class customer experience to our passengers,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “We proudly welcome their increased presence at MIA, which will better meet the growing demand for The Centurion Lounge’s acclaimed services.”
The Centurion Lounge at MIA will continue to offer the features and amenities Card Members have come to know and love at the existing location, including:
- Fresh, locally-inspired cuisine designed by James Beard Award-winning chef, Michelle Bernstein
- Full premium bar with specialty cocktails developed by Centurion lounge mixologist Jim Meehan, and wines handpicked by Centurion lounge wine director Anthony Giglio*
- Complimentary spa treatments from exhale® spa, including massages and manicures
- Semi-private, and dedicated work area with high-speed Wi-Fi
- Member services desk
- Conference space
- Family room
- Computer bar
- Large flat-screen TVs
“We are very excited for this tremendous opportunity to expand The Centurion Lounge at Miami International Airport,” said Josh McKay, Vice President and General Manager Global Benefits and Services. “We know our Card Members value the services and amenities of this lounge, and we look forward to making this an even more luxurious space for them to relax and recharge in when they travel through Miami.”
As part of American Express’ growing Global Lounge Collection, the forthcoming expansion of The Centurion Lounge at MIA comes on the heels of other recently announced news surrounding The Centurion Lounge locations at Hong Kong International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy.
He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
