A Guide to American Express Centurion Lounges: Locations, Amenities, and Access (2024)

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In a travel world filled with airlines that serve pretzels and peanuts, a few bold companies began handing out treats like Stroopwafels and Biscoff cookies. And, in an airport full of mediocre places to wait for flights, American Express offers up the Centurion Lounge.

A trip to the Centurion Lounge promises a next-level lounge experience, so naturally, access is in demand. Only eligible American Express cardholders can access these coveted lounges. Here's a list of the cards that can get you in and everything else you need to know about Amex's Centurion Lounges.

A Quick Explanation of Airport Lounges

Airport lounges are exclusive facilities that have conditions for entrance. Usually, lounges require membership to enter (though elite traveler status, a purchased day pass, or even cash payment may work for some). Lounges are often complete with comfortable areas to relax, work, drink, and dine — traditionally offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of the main airport.

American Express offers access to a host of different lounges: more than 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries in fact. The American Express Global Lounge Collection provides eligible cardholders access to Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Delta SkyClubs, and more. Note that several of these benefits require enrolling an eligible Amex card.

Credit: American Express

In addition to providing access to these lounges, American Express owns and operates its own collection of lounges: The Centurion Lounge.

Each lounge is designed to be a complete experience and includes free access to chef-prepared meals, complimentary drinks, shower suites, special areas for kids/families, and even a spa (in a few locations).

Credit: Tyler Glatt/AwardWallet

Cards With Amex Centurion Lounge Access

American Express premium cards offer a slew of fantastic benefits, and one of those benefits is Centurion Lounge access. If you have one of the following cards, you're in! But do note that you'll need to show your card, same-day boarding pass, and government-issued I.D. at the door to get in. Eligible cards include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express Platinum Card® by Charles Schwab
• The Platinum Card^® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
• Centurion^® Card from American Express (Card is available by invitation only)
• The American Express Corporate Platinum Card^® (Unavailable to outright applicants)

If you carry any other “flavors” of an Amex Platinum, you're also eligible to enter. This extends to internationally-issued cards as well.

Delta cards with Centurion Lounge access

Two co-branded Delta cards will also grant you access to Centurion Lounges when flying on Delta that day:

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Amex Centurion Lounge Locations

Travelers can visit 15 Centurion Lounges in the U.S. and several located internationally across 11 airports. Plus, American Express is in the process of building at least one more lounge in the United States. It will cut the ribbon on new spaces in Salt Lake City (SLC) and Tokyo Haneda (HND) in 2025 and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in 2026.

Credit: American Express

If you have an eligible Amex card and find yourself at one of the airports listed below, make sure to stop by and check it out.

U.S. Centurion Lounge locations

• Atlanta: Centurion Lounge ATL
• Charlotte: Centurion Lounge CLT
• Dallas: Centurion Lounge DFW
• Denver: Centurion Lounge DEN
• Houston: Centurion Lounge IAH
• Las Vegas: Centurion Lounges LAS
• Los Angeles: Centurion Lounge LAX
• Miami: Centurion Lounge MIA
• New York City: Centurion Lounge JFK andCenturion Lounge LGA
• Philadelphia: Centurion Lounge PHL
• Phoenix: Centurion Lounge PHX
• San Francisco: Centurion Lounge SFO
• Seattle: Centurion Lounge SEA
• Washington DC: Centurion Lounge DCA

International Centurion Lounge locations

American Express updated its international lounges, re-branding all of them to Centurion Lounges and refurbishing to align them with the rest of the brand.

• Buenos Aires: Centurion Lounge EZE
• Delhi: Centurion Lounge DEL
• Hong Kong: Centurion Lounge HKG
• London: Centurion Lounge LHR
• Melbourne: Centurion Lounge MEL
• Mexico City: Centurion Lounge MEX
• Monterrey: Centurion Lounge MTY
• Mumbai: Centurion Lounge BOM
• São Paulo: Centurion Lounge GRU
• Stockholm: Centurion Lounge ARN
• Sydney: Centurion Lounge SYD

Amex Centurion Lounge Access Rules

Centurion Lounges are unlike Priority Pass lounges, for example, where you can buy a membership outright or even a day pass at the door. If you don't have a card that offers membership, you won't be able to enter the Centurion Lounge. Plain and simple.

• To enter a Centurion Lounge, you must have your eligible card, boarding pass, and a government-issued I.D.
• For Platinum and Delta co-branded cardmembers, Centurion Lounges are only accessible to members departing on that same day.
• Entry for Business Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve cardmembers is limited to entry when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.
• You can only access Centurion Lounges prior to departure and on connections. Entry after arriving at your final destination isn't permitted.
• Additionally, you can only enter the lounge up to three hours before your scheduled departure time. If you're connecting or laying over, the three-hour limit isn't enforced. Additionally, you can enter three hours before the lounge closes, even if that's more than three hours before your flight departs. Make sure to have proof of your inbound and next flight on hand.

The bar at the Centurion Lounge in Atlanta. Credit: Tyler Glatt/AwardWallet

Centurion Lounge Guest Policy

Centurion Lounge guest policies varies by card.

• Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Card: Primary cardholders have access to Amex's Centurion Lounges but must pay $50 for guests (or $30 for children aged 2 through 17). The guest fee is waived for cardholders who spend $75,000 in a calendar year. Children under 2 are admitted at no cost with an eligible adult.
• Delta Reserve and Business Delta Reserve: Primary cardholders may enter at no extra cost and can bring up to two additional guests, but guests will each be charged $50 for a day pass (or $30 for children aged 2 through 17).
• Amex Centurion Card: Cardholders may enter with two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner plus children under 18).

Children under 2 are permitted into the Centurion Lounge if the primary cardholder is with them.

Finally, authorized users (not Companion cardmembers) of the Platinum-branded card can also use the Centurion Lounge. The annual fee is $195 for each additional Platinum Card for Authorized Users for additional Platinum Cards. Authorized users also can bring guests into the lounge but must pay $50 (or $30 for children aged 2 through 17). This only works for the Platinum-branded cards; authorized users of the no-annual-fee Companion Platinum Card do not have Centurion Lounge access (Rates & Fees).

International Centurion Lounge guest policy

American Express guest access policies for international locations vary and may provide complimentary access for additional guests. Here's a summary of each international location's guest policy for complimentary guests:

• Buenos Aires (EZE): One guest plus children under 16
• Delhi (DEL): One guest plus children under 12
• Hong Kong (HKG): Same as U.S. (paid access for up to two guests at $50 or waived with $75k in annual card spending )
• London (LHR): Same as U.S. (paid access for up to two guests at $50 or waived with $75k in card spending annually)
• Melbourne (MEL): Two guests OR immediate family (spouse and children under 17)
• Mexico City (MEX): Two guests OR immediate family
• Monterrey (MTY): Two guests OR immediate family
• Mumbai (BOM): Two guests plus children under 12
• São Paulo (GRU): One guest
• Stockholm (ARN): One guest
• Sydney (SYD): Two guests OR immediate family (spouse and children under 17)

Credit: Tyler Glatt/AwardWallet

Final Thoughts

Access to Centurion Lounges is a great perk on Amex's premium cards. For some, the lounge access alone can justify the hefty annual fee. With new locations opening semi-frequently, look to see if you can use this benefit on your next flight! But with ever-increasing popularity, note that you may run into a crowd. That's because there are capacity limits at each lounge.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card^® from American Express (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)