American Express just launched an insanely tiny airport lounge with only 33 seats. Here’s why it says it’s worth squeezing in

The new Sidecar at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas gives Amex Platinum members with limited time a quick-stop space for food and drinks.

[Photo: courtesy of American Express]

Airport lounges are getting bigger, flashier, and increasingly crowded. American Express (Amex) believes the next evolution might actually be smaller.

On Wednesday, the company opened the doors to Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge, a new 33-seat speakeasy-style lounge concept at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

The space is designed specifically for travelers who have 90 minutes or less before boarding, offering a quick stop for food, drinks, and a moment of calm before heading to the gate.

The opening represents the first new format for the Centurion Lounge brand since the network debuted more than a decade ago.

According to Audrey Hendley, president, global travel and lifestyle services for American Express, the concept emerged after Amex studied how travelers actually use its lounges.

“When we looked at customers’ behavior of the lounges, there are a lot of customers who come on their own or with two people with shorter time available but they still want to experience a lounge,” Hendley tells Fast Company.

Sidecar was designed to meet that demand.

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