How to Access American Express Centurion Lounges
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American Express, as well as other card issuers such as Capital One and Chase, are upping the ante when it comes to enhancing your airport experience and providing exclusive lounge access — and all the benefits that come with it — to cardholders.
Centurion® Lounges are known the world over for their luxe amenities, with complimentary perks such as high-speed Wi-Fi, access to The Centurion® Lounge Digital Library, a Member Services team to assist you with all your travel needs, shower suites (temporarily closed due to the pandemic), spa services, semi-private work stations, relaxation rooms and a robust menu of gourmet seasonal food and craft cocktails curated by popular local chefs.
There’s just one thing: You’ll only be able to enter if you have an active membership with certain American Express cards — in particular, The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Centurion® Card from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card — or you’re visiting as a guest of a current cardmember.
Below, Select details what it takes to access American Express Centurion® Lounges — or any of Amex’s worldwide partner lounges — and which cards to consider adding if you want to visit one on your next trip.
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American Express Centurion Lounge locations
With three more Centurion Lounges expected to open in Atlanta (ATL), Newark (EWR) and Washington, D.C. (DCA) in 2023, there will soon be a total of 16 U.S. locations.
These three new locations are expected to open in late 2022 or in 2023:
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, near Terminal B, post-security; Opening late 2022.
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in Concourse E between the domestic and international terminals; Opening 2023.
- Newark Liberty International Airport, on the third floor of the new Terminal A building; Opening 2023.
Here’s where to find current Centurion Lounges within the U.S.:
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Between Concourses D and E; Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal D across from Gate D12; Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Denver International Airport, Concourse C (post-security), near gate C46; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Houston – George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal D, take the elevator from the Duty-Free Shop near Gate D6; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Las Vegas – Harry Reid International Airport, Concourse D, across from Gate D1; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Los Angeles International Airport, Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), on the left after security; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Miami International Airport, Concourse D, on the fourth floor near Gate D12; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- New York City – LaGuardia Airport, Terminal B (post-security) on the fourth floor just before the pedestrian bridge; Open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Friday, and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
- New York City – John F. Kennedy International Airport, Terminal 4, just past security, to the left of the escalators; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal A West near Gate A14; Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Terminal 4 across from Gate B22; Open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 3 next to Gates F1 and F2; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (temporarily closed for renovations but expected to reopen in late 2022).
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Concourse B across from Gate B3; Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Additional Centurion Lounges can be found internationally in Hong Kong (HKG), London (LHR), Stockholm (ARN), Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Buenos Aires (EZE), São Paulo (GRU), Melbourne (MEL), Mexico City (MEX), Monterrey (MTY) and Sydney (SYD).
American Express Centurion Lounge at Hong Kong international airport on September 29, 2017.
Billy H.c. Kwok | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
American Express is also in the process of revitalizing some of its current Escape Lounges into a new concept it’s calling “Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner,” which will serve as mini-Centurion Lounges. Keep an eye out for these on your next trip to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) or Columbus (CMH), as both are expected to open later in 2022.
Whichever lounge you choose, you can expect to find a range of complimentary perks including seasonal food and beverage options curated by popular local chefs, signature craft cocktails, high-speed Wi-Fi, semi-private workspaces, access to The Centurion Lounge Digital Library, access to a Member Services travel concierge team, luxury amenities such as spa services and shower suites (temporarily closed due to the pandemic) and little touches like family rooms and customized relaxation spaces.
An attendee samples food inside the American Express Centurion Lounge during a media preview event at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on March 5, 2020.
Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
How to access Amex Centurion Lounges
To enter any Centurion Lounge, you’ll need to have a boarding pass reflecting a flight you’ll be traveling on that day — it’s not possible to access these lounges after you land, only before you fly or during a layover, if you have a connecting flight. You must also be able to produce a valid government-issued photo I.D. and the eligible card that’s associated with your membership (unless you are a guest of a current cardholder).
Children ages two and under get in free with a qualifying parent who can show a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of their child’s age.
You’ll only be allowed to enter the lounge within three hours of your flight’s departure and cannot reserve a spot ahead of time — entry will be based on capacity and access to some amenities based on availability. You also won’t be allowed in if you have a standby ticket, unless you can show you have a boarding pass showing a confirmed seat or assigned zone.
Free or discounted access
The Platinum Card® from American Express
On the American Express secure site
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Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit Needed
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
On the American Express secure site
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Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Also, earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
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Welcome bonus
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
On the American Express secure site
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Rewards
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
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Welcome bonus
Earn 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fees
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Credit needed
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
On the American Express secure site
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Rewards
Earn 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases. After you spend $150,000 on your card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
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Welcome bonus
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/9/22.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fees
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Credit needed
Amex Platinum cardholders have access to more than 1,400 lounges
Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders can also score complimentary access to The Global Lounge Collection®, which includes Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, Delta Sky Club® lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass™ lounges, Airspace Lounges and Lufthansa Lounges, giving you access to more than 1,400 airport lounges in over 650 cities worldwide.
Note, however, that the rules vary by lounge when it comes to how many guests you’re allowed to take with you and whether or not their entry is also complimentary. Additionally, to access Delta Sky Club’s, you’ll have to be traveling on a same-day flight that is being operated or marketed by Delta Air Lines.
Paid access
Due to the exclusivity of these lounges, you won’t be able to enter unless you are a qualifying cardholder (see above) or a guest of one (see below).
Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders can currently bring up to two additional guests free of charge. However, starting Feb. 1, 2023 Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders will have to pay $50 per guest ($30 per child ages 2–17), although you can qualify for two complimentary guest passes per visit after you spend at least $75,000 on your card within a calendar year. Once earned, that complimentary guest access will be valid through January of the second calendar year (if you earned it by May 1, 2023, it would be active through January 31, 2025).
Those with a Delta SkyMiles Reserve card can bring up to two guests per visit by paying a fee of $50 per person per visit as long as you’re all traveling on a same-day flight that is being operated or marketed by Delta Air Lines — but remember, you’re limited to Centurion Lounges within the U.S. or the two international locations in London and Hong Kong.
Best American Express cards with lounge access
Here’s a look at the various American Express cards that will gain you access to the Centurion Lounge network, as well as their current welcome bonuses:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 within the first three months of account opening.
- Centurion® Card from American Express: This “Black Card” is available via invitation only, though you may be able to request a membership consideration.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening. Offer ends Nov. 9, 2022.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 within the first three months of account opening (this limited time offer expires Nov. 9, 2022; otherwise, earn 60,000 bonus miles after meeting the spending requirements).
Bottom line
Centurion Lounges are known for their luxury amenities and exclusive access, which you can score by signing up for certain eligible cards. With more locations popping up in cities all over the U.S. and around the world, now might be a good time to take advantage of a lucrative welcome bonus so you can make your next airport experience a relaxing and memorable one.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.