Amex Centurion Lounges are the largest network of airport lounges run by a credit card company. A lot has changed in the credit card lounge landscape in recent years, and in this post I wanted to cover everything you need to know about Amex Centurion Lounges, ranging from the basics of what they are, to who can access them, to where they’re located.
In this post:
What are Amex Centurion Lounges?
Lounge access has become an extremely popular perk for premium credit cards. Not only does this come in the form of offering a Priority Pass membership, but credit card companies have also started to build networks of lounges as an exclusive perk for cardmembers.
Amex’s network of Centurion Lounges is the largest network of lounges run by a credit card company, and the lounges are also pretty high quality. Generally speaking, Amex Centurion Lounges feature hot food, complimentary beer, wine, and cocktails, and lots of other awesome amenities. It’s one of the perks of the Amex Platinum that people value most.
Other credit card issuers are trying to catch up in this regard, as we’ve seen the introduction of Capital One Lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounges.
Amex Centurion Lounge access
Let’s start by talking about everything you need to know about Amex Centurion Lounge access. Which credit card do you need to access Amex Centurion Lounges, what are the restrictions on lounge entry, and how many guests can you bring with you?
Amex Centurion Lounge access credit cards
Amex Centurion Lounges can be accessed by those who have any of the following cards, with restrictions noted next to each card:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) — cardmembers can be flying any airline, no guests allowed unless you spend $75K per year on the card, in which case you can bring two guests or immediate family (spouse and children under 18)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review) — cardmembers can be flying any airline, no guests allowed unless you spend $75K per year on the card, in which case you can bring two guests or immediate family (spouse and children under 18)
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card (review) — cardmembers must be flying Delta same day, no guests allowed
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (review) — cardmembers must be flying Delta same day, no guests allowed
- Amex Centurion Card — cardmembers can be flying any airline, and can bring two guests or immediate family (spouse and children under 18) with them at no extra cost
Those with Amex Platinum or Amex Centurion cards can purchase day passes for additional guests beyond their allowance for $50 each (there’s a reduced fee of $30 for guests under the age of 18). Also note that Amex Platinum authorized users have the same lounge access perks as primary cardmembers, so they can access lounges and even bring guests.
Amex Centurion Lounge access restrictions
When it comes to accessing Amex Centurion Lounges, there are some terms to be aware of:
- You need a same day boarding pass to access Centurion Lounges, and in the case of Delta Reserve cardmembers, the boarding pass needs to be for travel on Delta
- You can access Centurion Lounges up to three hours before departure, unless you’re connecting, in which case you can access earlier
- You can’t access Centurion Lounges on arrival, or with a standby or non-revenue standby ticket
- If you’re guesting people into Centurion Lounges, you need to stay with them the entire time they’re in the lounge
Amex Centurion Lounge locations
The network of Amex Centurion Lounges is quite big, and keeps growing. Let’s take a look at the current and future Amex Centurion Lounge locations.
Current Amex Centurion Lounge locations
Currently there are 16 purpose-built Amex Centurion Lounges, at the following airports (along with the locations and sizes):
- Atlanta (ATL) — 26,000 square feet, located in Concourse E
- Charlotte (CLT) — 13,000 square feet, located between Concourses D & E
- Dallas (DFW) — 12,000 square feet, located in Terminal D
- Denver (DEN) — 14,500 square feet, located in Concourse C
- Hong Kong (HKG) — 8,000 square feet, located in Terminal 1
- Houston (IAH) — 8,500 square feet, located in Terminal D
- Las Vegas (LAS) — 13,000 square feet, located in Concourse D
- London (LHR) — 7,000 square feet, located in Terminal 3
- Los Angeles (LAX) — 14,000 square feet, located in Tom Bradley International Terminal
- Miami (MIA) — 12,000 square feet, located in Concourse D
- New York (JFK) — 15,000 square feet, located in Terminal 4
- New York (LGA) — 10,000 square feet, located in Terminal B
- Philadelphia (PHL) — 6,000 square feet, located in Terminal A
- Phoenix (PHX) — 5,000 square feet, located in Terminal 4
- San Francisco (SFO) — 16,000 square feet, located in Terminal 3
- Seattle (SEA) — 14,000 square feet, located in Central Terminal
As you can see, above I specifically mentioned how the above are the purpose-built Centurion Lounges. I say that because historically there has been a network of Amex International Lounges, though these have now largely been rebranded as Centurion Lounges.
For example, Amex lounge locations in Melbourne and Sydney have been rebranded as Centurion Lounges. You can find the full network of international lounges here.
Future Amex Centurion Lounge locations
In addition to the 16 current Amex Centurion Lounges, there are a couple more lounges planned for the following airports:
- Newark (EWR) — an 18,000 square foot lounge is planned for Terminal A, and it’s expected to open in 2026
- Washington (DCA) — a lounge is planned for Terminal B, and it’s expected to open in 2024
Amex Centurion Lounge food, drinks, and amenities
Amex Centurion Lounges have a pretty consistent food and beverage offering. While they each have their own flair with a local celebrity chef, the general offerings are similar. The good news is that food and drinks are complimentary in Centurion Lounges.
As far as drinks go, Centurion Lounges have the following:
- There’s a selection of complimentary alcoholic drinks, including signature cocktails, beer, and wine
- There are also soft drinks, coffee, and water; for those who are coffee snobs, unfortunately there’s no cold brew or barista-made espresso drinks at most locations
As far as food goes, Centurion Lounges have the following:
- First breakfast is served; often around opening time there’s first a continental breakfast, and then a warm breakfast is usually served around 30-60 minutes after opening, give or take
- For the remainder of the day there’s a lunch and dinner menu, including several hot options
- Food is typically served from a buffet, so there’s no a la carte dining
- Centurion Lounge menus are different at each location, though menus at a particular lounge don’t tend to rotate a whole lot
In addition the food and drink selection, some Centurion Lounges feature unique amenities. For example:
- The Houston (IAH) Centurion Lounge has a wellness area in partnership with Calm, offering Calm content, neck warmers, and a health and wellness cart with healthy beverage choices
- The New York (JFK) Centurion Lounge has a speakeasy, where you can enjoy your favorite cocktail
- The Seattle (SEA) Centurion Lounge has a barista coffee station and wellness cafe
Amex Centurion Lounge crowding
Amex Centurion Lounges are on the surface far superior to what you’d typically find in a US airline lounge, and as a result they’re quite popular, especially with so many travelers having the Amex Platinum. If you ask me, Centurion Lounges are largely a victim of their own success, in the sense that they’re consistently quite crowded.
Personally I often avoid Amex Centurion Lounges, even though I’m eligible for entry. That’s simply because I value a quiet environment from which to work over a superior food and drink selection (I don’t really drink alcohol when flying domestically, and for that matter I usually bring snacks with me when traveling as well).
Amex has done what it can to control crowding, including having new guesting policies. However, it seems that crowding hasn’t improved much with the new policy.
On the plus side, Amex has introduced a Centurion Lounge crowding tracker. With this, you can get a live look at how busy a lounge is, with one of the following descriptions being displayed:
- Not busy
- A little busy
- Very busy
- Almost full
This tracker can be accessed through the Amex app, and you can find out how to check crowding here.
Bottom line
Amex Centurion Lounges are extremely popular with travelers, given that they offer great food and drinks, as well as some awesome amenities. These lounges are currently located at 16 airports, and can primarily be accessed by those with the Amex Platinum Card. Hopefully the above is a useful rundown of the access requirements, locations, and amenities of these lounges. If I missed anything, please let me know.
What’s your take on Amex Centurion Lounges? Do you love them, or avoid them due to crowding?
Visited the lounge in the late afternoon / early evening recently. Here to report that the lounge is already crowded to capacity at peak hours - this thing is going to be super popular and super crowded. Good lounge though, it will be my first choice in ATL if I have time (which I may not given connection times)
Consistently disappointing, always overcrowded. From Australia to USA. Drek. I don't bother anymore, stay with Airline premium lounges. No Centurion experience to be found, even for the Centurions.
Just skip it altogether, especially MIA. It is a hot mess. Everything you need to know about Amex Centurion Lounges.
I believe SFO has often had iced coffee next to the water dispensers and I recall it tasted better than the diluted concentrate that Panera Bread serves.
"Washington (DCA) — a lounge is planned" - this is way beyond planned. Major construction of a new structure at DCA. Construction stage is to complete the final touches on the interior and furnish. I think it should be open in 6 months max (looking in the window from outside). I would venture this is likely AmEx most expensive lounge to build.
Mexico City has a great Centurion Lounge. I think this was accidentally left off the list.
Every Centurion Lounge I've been in has the ambiance of a bus station or a frat house. Overpopulated. Slobs taking up entire couches. And, subpar food. They are an embarrassment to the Amex brand. I will take an airline lounge or Priority Pass lounge over a Centurion Lounge every time. I love my Business Platinum but it's definitely not for Centurion Lounge access.
I was in the LHR T3 lounge last week. Busy, but not overcrowded - my family group of 6 easily sat together. Food delicious, better than most airline lounges and much better than most contract lounges. Lots of salads, vegetables and healthy options. Wines were palatable and I found some beer to suit my palate. Clean, comfortable, friendly reception staff.
What's not to like?
Someone will be along shortly to tell you the Virgin Clubhouse is far better and your family sat in a damp bus station waiting room.
And, your experience at other Centurion Lounges?
I've been in that LHR T3 lounge. Must have been bad timing on my part. If you're flying OneWorld, try the Cathay Pacific lounge (business or first). I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
After suffering one too many hostile encounters from condescending checkin agents, I cancelled my AXP two years ago, got the Ritz-Carlton card, and have not regretted my decision even once. Sapphire lounges in BOS and LGA have impressed me, and they have more than the chipper chicken AX dishes out.
So do you give up driving because of hostile encounters at DMV too?
Hasn’t the ritz Carlton card been closed to new card members for several years?
Available via product change.
With airport lounges, a person has a choice. With DMV, a person does not. Your analogy is not a good fit.
@Lee
You do have a choice, a lot of them.
You can use public transportation, bus, rail, or call Uber, take a cab, get a driver, etc.
You cancel your card because of bad lounge attendants, that's your choice.
You stop using Uber because of bad drivers, that's your choice.
So yes Darren should avoid DMV.
RE: ... no guests allowed unless you spend $75K per year on the card, in which case you can bring two guests or immediate family
Is this per calendar year or card anniversary year? I checked their website, but it doesn't seem to clarify it.
Calendar.
People who has the card should already know this, it's right on the tracker.
So avoid applying end of the yek looar
I've seen it at SFO, people STILL don't know despite multiple signs at the lounge entrances and people ask why it costs $110 for a spouse and two kids to enter.
Guests are allowed. It's just that there is a fee ($30 if 3 to 17, or $50 if 18+) if you have not met the $75K spend. And while we're here the Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner allows 2 adult guests at no charge.
Where does it say you can bring immediate family? The website seems to say two guests, period, after 75k spend.
It appears the language in the terms and conditions has changed. My sense is that, in practice, immediate family (partner plus children under 21) will be granted complimentary access if the account has seen $75k in spending during the qualification period. If not, then the per guest fee will apply -- but, they'll still get in.
It's not going to get you any referral bonuses, but the Amex Platinum Corporate card gets access with 2 free guests too.
Just left the SFO AMEX Centurion lounge. What a busy bus station it was. Had to wait in line to get in and then still nowhere to sit. We just left and went to a Priority Pass restaurant for a calm, delicious and free sit down lunch.
Indeed regarding SFO. Were you able to peek at the buffets? If yes, how would you assess them?
Airport lounges are past their prime. Centurion lounges are better than nothing at all, but in some airports, you are really better off outside the lounge. I love sushi and I hate BO from socially awkward techbros. The SEA centurion lounge has no sushi and reeks of BO from tech bros who always wear company branded backpacks, but never wear deodorant. But right downstairs there’s a sushi bar and there’s no smell.
Apart from tech...
Airport lounges are past their prime. Centurion lounges are better than nothing at all, but in some airports, you are really better off outside the lounge. I love sushi and I hate BO from socially awkward techbros. The SEA centurion lounge has no sushi and reeks of BO from tech bros who always wear company branded backpacks, but never wear deodorant. But right downstairs there’s a sushi bar and there’s no smell.
Apart from tech bros, a lot of lowbrow people enter lounges that were once full of white shoe professionals.
Lounges used to be full of partners at Skadden, Arps. Now they’re full of partners of skeet-in-my-armpits mixed with cool ranch Doritos.
To your point, imagine seeing a guy come into a Centurion Lounge with an empty gym bag and absolutely loading it up with food from the buffet. Not just a little snack for later. Absolutely loading it up. The lounges have become an embarrassment to the Amex brand.
Is it true that one can bring in spouse and kids as guests after 75k? I thought they had re-worded it so that it’s just 2 guests, period, and the T&Cs on the website don’t say anything about immediate family.
Two guests period - no special provision if they are immediate family. I believe the Centurion card has guest privileges for immediate family - but I cannot confirm. Perhaps you can ask The Points Guy who constantly mentions that he has a Business Centurion card.
I agree they are the victim of their own success, but I shouldn’t have to pay $800 a year for a credit card and sit on the floor of a lounge. That is exactly what happened at DFW and SFO. I canceled the card. I decided to go with Capital One instead.
The Centurion Lounge was expanded and it is still an overcrowded bus station.
That is, the one at SFO was expanded. Sorry.