American Express is doing something really innovative by opening up their own lounges at airports which their cardmembers frequent most. The footprint is small, but the lounges they do have blow the ones run by airlines out of the water.
American Express has started opening up more of their own airport lounges in part because quite a bit of value has been lost in terms of the lounge privileges of The Platinum Card® from American Express. The card used to get you access to American Admirals Clubs and US Airways Clubs, though that was discontinued in March. Furthermore, guesting privileges have been reduced at Delta SkyClubs as of May. Either way, this is still one of the credit cards with lounge access available.
The Centurion Lounge Las Vegas complements Amex’s existing US lounge portfolio, which includes locations in Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
The American Express Centurion Lounge Las Vegas hours and location:
- The Amex lounge is open daily from 5AM till 12AM
- Located in the D Concourse of Las Vegas Airport, right across from gate D1
When you clear security you’ll have to take a train to the D Concourse.
Las Vegas Airport train
After you take the train, take the escalator up to the main level.
Las Vegas Airport D Concourse
You’ll actually see a large banner advertisement for the lounge on the ride up.
Las Vegas Airport D Concourse American Express Centurion Lounge Advertisements
Then when on the upper level turn left and follow the signage towards gate D1.
Las Vegas Airport D Concourse
From there you’ll see signage for The Centurion Lounge. Once you turn right towards gate D1 you’ll see the lounge immediately on the left.
Las Vegas Airport D Concourse
The entryway is very similar to the ones in Dallas and New York, with a “plant” background.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Entrance
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Entrance
The American Express Centurion Lounge Las Vegas access guidelines:
- Those with the American Express Platinum Card and American Express Centurion Card receive complimentary access
- Those with either of the above cards may bring two travel companions as guests
- If you have an American Express Card other than the ones listed above, you can purchase a day pass at the entrance for $50
The American Express Centurion Lounge Las Vegas amenities and experience
At the door I was welcomed by Wendy. As I find to be the norm at Centurion Lounges, she was super friendly. One thing that’s interesting is that she could see in her computer that I had been to the other two Centurion Lounges but not this one, and seemed genuinely excited about that.
She offered me a business card with the Wi-Fi code, went over the lounge features, and explained that they had a “gourmet lunch buffet.”
Immediately on the opposite side of the entrance was a Member Services desk, though it wasn’t manned. I’m not sure what purpose it would really serve anyway, but it’s interesting that it’s there (as far as I know the other two lounges don’t have a similar desk, since presumably the associates at the entrance can help you with whatever you need).
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Member Services Desk
The Centurion Lounge Las Vegas is a decent size. It’s smaller than the lounge in Dallas, but also bigger than the lounge in New York. While it was reasonably full for the hours I spent there (I ended up spending six hours there due to a delay), there was always still plenty of seating.
All The Centurion Lounges have a very similar theme in terms of decor. At the entrance there were some lounge chairs with art on the walls.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
That led into the main part of the lounge, which had a variety of seating options. There were cubicle-style couches, standard lounge chairs, wall nooks, etc.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
Then in the back of the lounge was a long table with power outlets, as well as a couple of PCs.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Seating
Then there’s a huge dining area. There are both tables with booths, as well as dining tables with chairs in the center portion of the lounge.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Dining Area
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Dining Area
At the far end of the dining area was the bar, which has an extensive cocktail and wine menu.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Bar
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Bar
The wine and cocktail menu read as follows:
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Bar Menu
I had an “Air Mail,” which consisted of rum, lime juice, and sparkling wine. It was refreshing, especially after spending the week in the Middle East and Vegas!
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Air Mail Cocktail
The lounge also had a buffet. The lunch and dinner buffet was available from 11:30AM till 10PM.
I didn’t think the buffet was quite as good as the ones in Dallas or New York, but it was still leaps and bounds better than anything else you’d otherwise get at a US airport lounge.
There was a selection of both hot and cold items.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Lunch Buffet
In terms of cold food options, they had both a kale and bacon salad, along with a quinoa salad with chickpeas and feta, as well as plenty of accompaniments.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Lunch Buffet
Then in terms of hot options they had ham sandwiches with tomato aioli.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Lunch Buffet
As well as burek lamb & beef pies with Sicilian spices.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Lunch Buffet
Then they had orecchiette with eggplant, tomato, and ricotta, as well as fingerling potatoes with salsa verde and feta. There was also a vegan carrot soup.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Lunch Buffet
For dessert they offered freshly baked brownies, chocolate chip cookies, as well as chocolate pudding with whipped cream and sea salt.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Lunch Buffet
Across from the buffet were two types of tea, as well as a coffee machine.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Drinks
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Coffee Machine
While the Las Vegas lounge doesn’t have a spa like the Dallas location, there is a single shower room with L’Occitane amenities (the New York lounge is quite small and doesn’t have a shower or spa area, for what it’s worth).
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Shower Room
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Shower Room
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Shower Room
The lounge also has a childrens area, which no one seemed to be using.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Childrens Room
In terms of views, the lounge looks out over the tarmac, so has fairly nice views.
AmEx Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport View
Service in the lounge was excellent. The bartender was friendly, and there were servers roaming that were constantly clearing plates and asking if I wanted anything to drink.
American Express Centurion Lounge Las Vegas Airport Bottom Line
This is yet another fantastic lounge. While my favorite is still the Centurion Lounge in Dallas and I slightly prefer the one in New York, this is still a great, great lounge.
What American Express is doing with these lounges is extremely innovative, in my opinion. They’re not just building lounges which compete with the other ones at airports, but rather are providing an experience that blows the airline lounges away.
It’s fascinating to sit in The Centurion Lounges and overhear people on their phones genuinely delighted and raving about how amazing the lounges are.
I sent my mom to The Centurion Lounge New York last week for the first time, and she was so delighted that she was actually confused. She called me from the lounge and said “I don’t understand, they have real food… and drinkable wine… and it’s free. Why?”
Can’t wait for the lounges in Miami and San Francisco!
Have you visited The Centurion Lounge Las Vegas? If so, what was your experience?
This is the most welcome addition in Vegas, for me at least. It seems every time I'm in the airport waiting to leave Vegas, I want to do ANYTHING but wait at the gate. This changes everything.
Pro tip: if you have a black card you get a FREE Johnny Walker Blue with your entrance.
Good review, this is a game changer for me in my Vegas travels.
I love it, without a doubt the best airport lounge either in the US or Asia that I have ever visited. A real good reason to have the Platinum card
A truly wonderful, elegant experience. I am a centurion member and find this lounge to be one of the finest-I can not understand what anyone could possibly complain about. If you are reading this-I guarantee you will enjoy as I did. Wonderful food and wine, quiet, peaceful and elegant. The complainers are very clearly loud outliers.
I purposefully arranged a 7:30 a.m. arrival in Las Vegas on 9/5 so that I could check this lounge out for several hours before I checked into the Vdara.
After all the gushing reviews, I suppose I expected unicorns and rainbows so I was immediately disappointed by the "West Elm" inspired decor but, after an adjustment of expectation versus reality and ensconcing myself at a corner table triangulated from the bar and above-average buffet,...
I purposefully arranged a 7:30 a.m. arrival in Las Vegas on 9/5 so that I could check this lounge out for several hours before I checked into the Vdara.
After all the gushing reviews, I suppose I expected unicorns and rainbows so I was immediately disappointed by the "West Elm" inspired decor but, after an adjustment of expectation versus reality and ensconcing myself at a corner table triangulated from the bar and above-average buffet, I decided that THIS was a reason to carry the AMEX Platinum versus the United Club Card (at whose excessively, over-crowded lounges I can expect to gorge myself on an endless supply of yogurt pretzels - yum....).
Good job, AMEX, in this new world of where the consumer no longer need to chain himself to a specific airline's "loyalty" program in the hope of receiving superior service.
"do they put cheese on everything?"
Well, it is 'Murica....
Was there last Friday night and as everyone said, the bypass doors between C and D were wide open, though there was a large "Do Not Enter" sign on one of the open doors. We acted ignorant, like we didn't see it. There was a meeting of about 10-15 TSA agents taking place nearby, and they didn't notice us or if they did, didn't care, so we walked through back to C to get to...
Was there last Friday night and as everyone said, the bypass doors between C and D were wide open, though there was a large "Do Not Enter" sign on one of the open doors. We acted ignorant, like we didn't see it. There was a meeting of about 10-15 TSA agents taking place nearby, and they didn't notice us or if they did, didn't care, so we walked through back to C to get to our Southwest flight. Maybe they leave the doors open and just monitor people going through them, but it's a lot more convenient now than it used to be, having to find a TSA agent to open it for you.
I thought the Centurion lounge, for all the hype, was underwhelming, and didn't like the dinner food choices. They also didn't have chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon on their wine menu (we also asked the bartender), which I thought was odd.
I have a flight on E gates, how hard is to get to the lounge? Also I would like to know if I acctualy can bring 2 guests with my amex platinum
@ Guilherme -- Yes, you can bring two guests.
You can enter on arrival from the southwest terminal as mentioned above without your boarding pass. I've done this multiple times. If asked I say I'm going to the Centurion Lounge. Aafter all, you're already security screened so BP shouldn't matter.
Bgriff - Was there two weeks ago and the 'bypass doors' between "C" and "D" are now wide open. No longer need to ask TSA to open them (although we never had a problem with them opening the doors for us.)
Love that lounge!
Did you tip?
If so, how much?
Thanks,
@ Lark -- I tipped the lady that cleared my plates and offered me drinks $5.
One more thing - they do ask you for a boarding pass (only one of us had to show one) and we speculated that it was perhaps because AMEX offers this as a travel benefit; asking people for a boarding pass ensures that they are actually traveling that day, not just using the lounge to obtain unlimited free food and drinks.
I've spent an inordinate amount of time in this lounge, and I really like it.
At DFW, they do a better job with providing table service, but since I find that kind of offputting (how much do I tip, who do I tip, what do I ask for?), I like the LAS experience a bit better.
In terms of the member services desk, I actually asked about their services on my last visit, and apparently...
I've spent an inordinate amount of time in this lounge, and I really like it.
At DFW, they do a better job with providing table service, but since I find that kind of offputting (how much do I tip, who do I tip, what do I ask for?), I like the LAS experience a bit better.
In terms of the member services desk, I actually asked about their services on my last visit, and apparently they are kind of like a live concierge. So, if you want show tickets, dinner reservations, day trips, etc, they can do that for you.
The one thing that is somewhat bothersome about LAS is that it gets absolutely ridiculously packed at certain times. I flew out right after CES, which is one of Vegas' biggest conventions, and there was not a single empty seat anywhere. I think they may have capacity controlled it at a certain point.
My husband and I were just there on Saturday and I totally agree, we thought it was fantastic - heads and shoulders over any airline lounge! Having said that, we have a free membership with my Platinum card, but:
- I'm not sure we would pay $100 for two people for a fairly short layover,
- unless there are a few more than are currently planned, I'm not sure how valuable this benefit is to those who don't often travel via Dallas and New York.
@James - you can, but you have to be let through a special security door between the two areas (find a tsa person to ask to let you through). DON'T actually leave security or you will be stuck. Was just there a couple of months ago, though I did it backwards (started in D, then went over to C, which is where SW flies into).
Thanks for the review ...Was just going to go in last Tuesday had a flight at gate D1 But the cost $50 per person (Only have Delta Platinum) was a bit much since I was getting a meal on my flight.
Thanks for giving me a peek inside.
Robert
@James
The door leading to the Terminal D train is now left open. As you are exiting Terminal C, IMMEDIATELY before stepping onto the escalator down to the baggage claim, turn to the right and you will see the open set of doors with an understated mention of access to Terminal D.
I have always been asked to show a boarding pass, which you wouldn't have upon arriving on WN, but I don't know that they would deny you access without one.
@Ben Thanks!
@BGriff Thanks! I will check it out.
Deja vu, I was there last week (Sep 2 night 8~11 pm) after checking out from Vdara
It was okay and not as hyped as everyone made it to be, just like a "regular" Asian lounge I find.
The dinner food options were all too spicy for all of us, including kids - spicy chicken, potato (exactly like your photo), less spicy pasta, pumpkin soup. Salad & pudding were the same as yours
It...
Deja vu, I was there last week (Sep 2 night 8~11 pm) after checking out from Vdara
It was okay and not as hyped as everyone made it to be, just like a "regular" Asian lounge I find.
The dinner food options were all too spicy for all of us, including kids - spicy chicken, potato (exactly like your photo), less spicy pasta, pumpkin soup. Salad & pudding were the same as yours
It was very quiet at night though, awesome! and with kids, somehow I forgot to take pictures :(
I did use the shower room (badly designed as water kept coming out) and the Family room (the nicest perk of the lounge for me), and got a scare when our carry-on got somewhat locked inside the locker (4 of them, next to the entrance) and finally "freed" when they kicked & pushed the door (lesson: don't put too many things inside the locker to block the "lock opening mechanism"....or AMEX should switch to a key locker instead)
Having been to the LAS location several times and now the LGA location, I have to say I am blown away each time (after all, I am comparing this to the Admirals Club and SkyClubs), and as an AA flyer, after losing Admirals Club access, the Centurion Lounges are the sole reason I am keeping my Amex Plat. I would venture to say that the food beats most European business class lounges and even some...
Having been to the LAS location several times and now the LGA location, I have to say I am blown away each time (after all, I am comparing this to the Admirals Club and SkyClubs), and as an AA flyer, after losing Admirals Club access, the Centurion Lounges are the sole reason I am keeping my Amex Plat. I would venture to say that the food beats most European business class lounges and even some Asian business class lounges. Hopefully Amex will maintain the standards they have established and we don't see the F&B offerings get downgraded down the road.
Gross! do they put cheese on everything??? truly disgusting.
@James -- you can't automatically get to the D concourse from the areas Southwest operates in (A, B and C), but there is an airside door between the C and D concourses near the TSA checkpoint which some have been successful in asking a TSA agent to open for them.
If you are coming from the A or B concourse it's quite a hike though.
The Flyertalk thread about the LAS lounge has more info.
I've been twice. It's lovely, plenty of comfy chairs and the food is good.
Maybe it's me, or maybe it's Vegas, but it was super loud both times I was there. Loud music, people drinking and laughing and chatting VERY loudly.
Felt more like Amex/Costco card members than Amex Platinum card members.
I was hoping for a moment of peace in that airport to decompress before a flight, and that wasn't at all the experience.
@ Neil S. -- There were definitely a few Vegasy types, though no loud music for me. :)
Not sure if you're only meaning to cover US Centurion Lounges but there's also one at EZE.
I was flying from Vegas with AA last month and realised they had no lounge,i entered this Amex lounge and while enquiring anout the condition of admission i was told none of my 11Amex card gave me free access,i have to pay 50$ i asked to have a look and the gentleman at the desk wouldnt let me go alone,he followed me all the way,step by step and to be frank,it was crowded,with so many...
I was flying from Vegas with AA last month and realised they had no lounge,i entered this Amex lounge and while enquiring anout the condition of admission i was told none of my 11Amex card gave me free access,i have to pay 50$ i asked to have a look and the gentleman at the desk wouldnt let me go alone,he followed me all the way,step by step and to be frank,it was crowded,with so many guest with no manners and as usual as in the US shouting as loud as they can,the food wasnt that good,i finally decided not to stay.
Ben, I visit Vegas 5-8 times a year, and have made the Centurion Lounge a regular stop on my way home. I am pleased it's in the D gates, although selfishly, i wish it were one pier over so it were a bit closer to the Delta gates.
That being said, it's an excellent experience that blows any Sky Club away. I often take (relatively) early flights out of LAS to get back to the...
Ben, I visit Vegas 5-8 times a year, and have made the Centurion Lounge a regular stop on my way home. I am pleased it's in the D gates, although selfishly, i wish it were one pier over so it were a bit closer to the Delta gates.
That being said, it's an excellent experience that blows any Sky Club away. I often take (relatively) early flights out of LAS to get back to the east coast, and appreciate the opportunity to stop in for 15 min for a quick breakfast before heading to my gate. Additionally, I got stuck in LAS my last time there in July due to some irrops (there was a medical emergency during boarding which slowed us down considerably, and was going to cause me to misconnect, so I stayed back in LA for 2 extra hours) and found the lounge a perfectly acceptable place to pass the time while waiting for the next LAS-JFK flight.
My only comment/complain would be that I always prefer when there is some sort of self-serve option for soft drinks. I don't drink a ton of soda - but for some reason always enjoy a diet coke when flying, it's just part of the experience for me, and would prefer to grab it myself, similar to the set up they have for the tea and the seemingly rotating fruity drink options, rather than have to wait on a bartender, and usually receive my coke in a pretty small glass and then have to go get a refill.
But i fully admit that that is nit picking, and if that's the worst thing to say about a lounge, then i'm pretty pleased with it.
Flying into LAS in a couple weeks. I can't quite tell if I could access this on arrival if I arrive at a different pier? Flying SWA. Does each pier have its own security or are they connected by train or something? Thanks!
@ James -- You can use it on arrival and I do believe you should be able to connect to it airside.