American Express Centurion Lounges are some of the most desirable airport lounges, with many free luxury perks. These include locally inspired food, top-shelf alcohol and outstanding amenities. Further, some locations offer spa services, wine tasting areas, shower suites and luggage lockers. Access to Centurion lounges is limited to certain Amex cardholders, and the access policy depends on your card.
The only way to get access to American Express Centurion Lounges is to have the right American Express card. In addition, these lounges are “day of departure lounges” — meaning you can’t gain access if you’re arriving from a flight that just landed unless you can prove you have a connecting flight in the same airport.
The following Amex cards can help you gain access to Centurion Lounges:
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Authorized User Access | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express*
|
$695 | Yes (requires $195 authorized user fee). Users added to complimentary Gold and Green Cards on your account are not eligible for access | ||
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*
|
$695 | Yes (requires $350 authorized user fee). Users added to complimentary Gold and Green Cards on your account are not eligible for access | ||
Centurion® Card from American Express*
|
$5,000 | Yes (requires $2,500 authorized user fee for a Centurion card or $175 for an authorized user Platinum card) | ||
The American Express Corporate Platinum Card®*
Review Coming Soon
|
N/A | $550 | Information not publicly available | Review Coming Soon |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card*
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
$650 | Yes (requires $175 authorized user fee) |
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
|
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card*
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
$650 | Yes (requires $175 authorized user fee) |
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
Centurion Lounge Access policies
You can typically enter the lounge with a same-day boarding pass if there are three or fewer hours before your expected departure time
To access Amex Centurion Lounges, members will need to present:
Card members must be at least 18 years of age to enter Centurion Lounges without a parent or legal guardian. The minimum age for card members to enter a lounge without a parent or legal guardian at locations that feature a self-service bar is the local legal drinking age.
What is the Amex Centurion Lounge guest policy?
When Centurion lounges were first introduced, Platinum and Business Platinum cardmembers could bring two guests or immediate family for no charge. As Centurion lounges have become more popular (and more people have gained access to them), the Amex Centurion Lounge guest policy has changed.
Currently, the guest policy for American Express Centurion lounges is as follows, depending on which card you have that grants you access:
Platinum and Business Platinum cardmembers qualify to bring two complimentary guests to most Centurion lounges if they spend $75,000 or more on their Platinum card in a calendar year. Once that spending threshold is reached, you’ll get complimentary guest access for the remainder of that calendar year, the following calendar year and until Jan. 31 of the next calendar year.
Centurion Lounge pet policy
Pets, service animals and emotional support animals are allowed in most Centurion lounges. Pets and emotional support animals must remain in their closed carriers and with their owners at all times. For service animals, Amex requests that they wear a harness tag or vest indicating status as a service animal and be kept on a leash or harness at all times, unless this would impede the animal’s ability to perform its duties.
Centurion Lounges offer luxurious perks, as well as locally inspired food and drinks. These lounges also have typical amenities like food, beverages, Wi-Fi, work areas and more, but you won’t have to buy a premium flight ticket to get in.
Benefits you can expect when you escape to an American Express Centurion Lounge vary depending on the location, but may include:
American Express has lounges open or scheduled to open at 16 domestic and 11 international airports.
| City/Airport | Location | Hours | Past Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta (ATL) | Concourse E | 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Yes |
| Charlotte (CLT) | At the intersection of Concourses D & E, mezzanine level. | 5:30 a.m - 10:30 p.m. | Yes |
| Dallas (DFW) | Terminal D, across from Gate D12 | 5:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Yes |
| Denver (DEN) | Concourse C, just past Gate C46 on the mezzanine level (post-security) | 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Yes |
| Houston (IAH) | Terminal D near Gate D12 | 6 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Yes |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Concourse D, opposite Gate D1 | 5 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Yes |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) near the Great Hall | 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Yes |
| Miami (MIA) | Concourse D, near Gate D12 | 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Yes |
| New York (JFK) | Terminal 4 | 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Yes |
| New York (LGA) | LGA Terminal B, 4th floor (before the the Eastern Concourse pedestrian bridge) | 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Sun-Fri) 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Sat.) | Yes |
| Newark (EWR) | The new Terminal A | Opening in 2026 | TBA |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | Terminal A West, near Gate A14 | 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Yes |
| Phoenix (PHX) | Terminal 4 across from Gate B22 on the upper level | 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Yes |
| San Francisco (SFO) | Terminal 3, near Gate F1/F2 | 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Yes |
| Seattle (SEA) | On the mezzanine level in the Central Terminal | 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Yes |
| Washington D.C. (DCA) | Terminal B, near the entrance at National Hall | Opening in 2024 | TBA |
| Buenos Aires (EZE) | Terminal B, near Gate 15 | 9 a.m. – 12 am | Yes |
| Delhi (DEL) | Terminal 3 adjacent to Gates 27 and 28 | 24 hours | Yes |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | Terminal 1, up the escalator before Gate 60 | 7 a.m. - 12 am. | Yes |
| London (LHR) | Terminal 3 on level 2 | 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Yes |
| Melbourne (MEL) | Terminal 2 on the lower level | 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Yes |
| Mexico City (MEX) |
|
|
|
| Monterrey (MTY) |
|
|
|
| Mumbai (BOM) | Terminal 2 on Level 3 | 24 hours | Yes |
| São Paulo (GRU) | Terminal 3 | 11 a.m. – 3 am | Yes |
| Stockholm (ARN) | Terminal 5 on Mezzanine Level* | 5 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.* | Yes* |
| Sydney (SYD) | Terminal 1, International Departures near Gates 50-63 | 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Yes |
American Express also has an Amex Centurion Club, currently with one location on the 55th floor of New York City’s One Vanderbilt building. But although it has a similar name to the Amex Centurion Lounges you’ll find inside of airports, the Amex Centurion Club is actually more akin to an upscale restaurant.
While the Amex Centurion Lounge is the main lounge network exclusively affiliated with American Express cards, some cards also offer access to other lounge networks. For example, both The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express give cardholders a complimentary membership to Priority Pass (enrollment required).
The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also grant access to other Amex-affiliated lounges within the Global Lounge Collection. These include:
Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the Centurion® Card from American Express can also enter Delta Sky Clubs when they fly with Delta Air Lines, as well as Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa.
The value of American Express Centurion Lounges will vary widely depending on how often you can use them. If you frequently fly out of or through an airport with a Centurion Lounge location you can use during meal times, then you can easily get hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in value from your membership each year.
If, on the other hand, you rarely fly out of an airport with a Centurion Lounge location, that perk might not be important to you. Access to Centurion Lounges is only one of the benefits that comes with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, and there are other airline lounges that you might be able to access more often. It’s a good idea to regularly review the benefits of these cards and decide if they outweigh the cost of the annual fee for your specific situation.
American Express Centurion Lounges are currently located in the following airports: Atlanta (ATL), Buenos Aires (EZE), Charlotte (CLT), Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), Delhi (DEL), Hong Kong (HKG), Houston (IAH), Las Vegas (LAS), London (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX), Melbourne (MEL), Mexico City (MEX), Miami (MIA), Monterrey (MTY), Mumbai (BOM), New York (JFK), New York (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), San Francisco (SFO), São Paulo (GRU), Seattle (SEA), Stockholm (ARN) and Sydney (SYD).
There are currently two Centurion Lounges under construction — Washington D.C. (DCA) and Newark (EWR).
Cardholders who carry The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the Centurion® Card from American Express can access Amex Centurion Lounges. Cardholders with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card can also enter these lounges when they’re flying Delta and pay for their flight with their card.
Whether or not you can bring guests to the Centurion Lounge depends on the American Express card that you have:
Yes, the food inside the Centurion Lounge is complimentary, subject to availability. The menu and available food will vary by location, with some locations working with local chefs and artisans to provide gourmet food and drink.
There are currently 25 American Express Centurion Lounges around the world: 14 in the United States and 11 international Centurion Lounge locations. There are another two Centurion Lounge locations in the United States that have been announced but aren’t open yet.
Drinks are free in American Express Centurion Lounges, although drink options can vary by location. All locations offer bar access, but some lounges have special features like a craft beer bar or a wine tasting area.
You can enter Centurion Lounges if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the The American Express Corporate Platinum Card® or the Centurion® Card from American Express. If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you can enter when you fly with Delta and pay for your airfare with your card.
The information related to the The American Express Corporate Platinum Card®, Centurion® Card from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
