Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
- If you have an Amex Platinum or Centurion card, you can access Amex Centurion lounges.
- You can also access Centurion lounges when you’re flying Delta with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
- Centurion Lounges boast premium food and drink options along with semi-private work areas.
- Read Insider’s guide to the best premium credit cards.
There are many reasons to open The Platinum Card® from American Express
or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, two of the most premium travel cards on the market. From the valuable Amex Membership Rewards points you can earn to thousands of dollars in annual statement credits, It’s not difficult to offset the $695 annual fee by utilizing even a fraction of card benefits each year.
For many frequent travelers, the single best card perk is access to airport lounges — particularly, access to Amex Centurion lounges. These are among the highest quality in the world, with amenities you won’t find at the vast majority of other lounges. Here’s everything you need to know about them.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
What are American Express Centurion lounges?
American Express operates its own network of lounges exclusively for premium Amex cardholders. Walking through the doors feels like being whisked into a completely different world than the loud, busy airport terminals with dirty bathrooms and other unpleasantries.
Lounges feature complimentary food, drinks, internet, and other luxury amenities at 13 US airports and in select international destinations like London (LHR) and Hong Kong (HKG). More locations are currently in the works at some of the busiest airports business travelers are likely to visit, such as Washington, DC (DCA), Newark (EWR), and Atlanta (ATL), which will house the largest Centurion Lounge at 26,000 square feet.
There are also a number of Escape Lounges, the Centurion Studio Partner, in domestic airports such as Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Oakland (OAK), and Sacramento (SMF).
Each Centurion Lounge has slightly different offerings. But all lounges have member services that can double as a travel concierge for your current and future trips. All locations have semi-private work areas and a computer bar with printer, fax, and copier access as well as TV, magazines, and newspapers. Some lounges offer spa services, wine tasting areas, conference rooms, shower suites, family areas, and luggage lockers.
How to access Amex Centurion lounges
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$695
See Rates and Fees
Show more
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, or the Amex Centurion Card, you can gain admission to these peaceful oases in the otherwise bustling airport terminal. Cardholders can bring up to two guests or immediate family members — however, beginning February 2023, this will change. You will only be able to bring complimentary guests after spending $75,000 on your card in a calendar year.
You’ll have to pay $50 per adult guest and $30 for anyone under the age of 18. However, children under 2 are free.
You may also access Centurion Lounges if you’ve got one of the following Delta credit cards:
You can only access the Amex Centurion lounges when you’re flying Delta, and you’ll need to pay $50 per guest.
Food, drinks, and other Centurion lounge amenities
I’ve been to a good number of airport lounges around the world, but few have been as impressive as the culinary experience at Centurion lounges, particularly for lounges in the US. The food, cocktails, and wine are a step above most other lounges, some by a longshot.
Menus are designed and inspired by award-winning executive chefs. Dishes change seasonally and are filled with flavor. During my last visit to a Centurion lounge in Philadelphia, food was fresh and refilled regularly. There were meat and vegetarian options, and even some good choices for kids.
At the bar, all drinks were included. These are not well drinks. You can enjoy signature cocktails, premium spirits, and a curated wine list. Remember, it’s not free. You pay for it in your annual fee to American Express, so make sure to take full advantage!
Where to find an Amex Centurion lounge
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Concourse E) — coming soon
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (between Concourse D and E)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Terminal D)
- Denver International Airport (Concourse C)
- Intercontinental Houston Airport (Terminal D)
- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (Concourse D)
- Los Angeles International Airport (Tom Bradley International Terminal)
- Miami International Airport (Concourse D)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (Terminal A) — not yet open
- New York LaGuardia Airport (Terminal B, pre-security)
- Philadelphia International Airport (Terminal A)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Terminal 4)
- San Francisco International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Concourse B)
- Washington, DC Ronald Reagan National Airport (Terminal B) — coming soon
- London Heathrow (Terminal 3)
- Hong Kong International (Terminal 1)
- Hong Kong International Airport (Terminal 1)
- London Heathrow Airport (Terminal 3)
- Stockholm Arlanda Airport (Terminal 5)
- Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Terminal 2)
- Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Terminal B)
- Sao Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Melbourne Airport (Terminal 2)
- Mexico City International Airport (Terminals 1 and 2)
- Monterrey General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (Terminals A and B)
- Sydney Airport (Terminal 1)
- Hartford Bradley International Airport (Terminal A)
- Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (Concourse B)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (Concourse B)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (Concourse B)
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (Terminal 1)
- Oakland International Airport (Terminal 1)
- Palm Beach International Airport (Concourse B)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Terminals 3 and 4)
- Rhode Island T.F. Green Airport (Main Terminal)
- Reno-Tahoe International Airport (Concourse B-C corridor)
- Sacramento International Airport (Terminals A and B)
For a full listing of lounges you can access with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can also view Amex’s lounge search tool here.
Get a little more relaxation on the go
Travel can be tiring and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be an all-around bad experience. Even if you’re not flying in a first or business-class seat, you can get a first-class experience on the ground in an Amex Centurion lounge. If you travel frequently, particularly through any of the airports where you can find a Centurion lounge, securing a ticket for admission with The Platinum Card® from American Express may be a great idea.
Amex Centurion Lounges frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How many Centurion Lounge locations are there?
There are currently 24 Centurion Lounges — 13 in the US and 11 at international airports. More domestic Centurion Lounges are already in the works (three more are being built at the time of writing).
There are also “lite” Centurion Lounges, called Centurion Studios (Escape Lounges). Though these are not full-fledged Centurion Lounges, they deliver the ambiance and upscale nature of the Centurion name.
Amex Platinum cards offer the most comprehensive airport lounge access of any credit card on the market. With these cards, you can enter 1,300+ lounges from networks such as:
- Amex Centurion Lounges (widely considered to be the best airport lounges in the US)
- Priority Pass** (access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide)
- Delta Sky Club lounges (only when you have a same-day Delta boarding pass)
- Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner
- Plaza Premium lounges
- Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or SWISS)
No. If you don’t have a Platinum or Centurion card, you cannot enter a Centurion Lounge — you can’t even buy a day pass.
The only exception is the Amex Delta Reserve credit cards, which grant access to Centurion Lounges when flying same-day on Delta as long as you used your Reserve card to pay for your ticket.
You cannot enter a Centurion Lounge at your final destination. However, you can access them during connections.
In short, you won’t be able to enter a Centurion Lounge more than three hours before your flight. Therefore, you won’t be eligible to enter upon arrival.
If you are an Amex Platinum cardholder, you can bring two guests with you for free. But after February 1, 2023, you’ll pay $50 per guest age 18+ and $30 per guest age 17 and below.
Each calendar year you manage to spend $75,000 on your card, you’ll get two free guests any time you visit.
Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
- If you have an Amex Platinum or Centurion card, you can access Amex Centurion lounges.
- You can also access Centurion lounges when you’re flying Delta with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
- Centurion Lounges boast premium food and drink options along with semi-private work areas.
- Read Insider’s guide to the best premium credit cards.
There are many reasons to open The Platinum Card® from American Express
or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, two of the most premium travel cards on the market. From the valuable Amex Membership Rewards points you can earn to thousands of dollars in annual statement credits, It’s not difficult to offset the $695 annual fee by utilizing even a fraction of card benefits each year.
For many frequent travelers, the single best card perk is access to airport lounges — particularly, access to Amex Centurion lounges. These are among the highest quality in the world, with amenities you won’t find at the vast majority of other lounges. Here’s everything you need to know about them.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
What are American Express Centurion lounges?
American Express operates its own network of lounges exclusively for premium Amex cardholders. Walking through the doors feels like being whisked into a completely different world than the loud, busy airport terminals with dirty bathrooms and other unpleasantries.
Lounges feature complimentary food, drinks, internet, and other luxury amenities at 13 US airports and in select international destinations like London (LHR) and Hong Kong (HKG). More locations are currently in the works at some of the busiest airports business travelers are likely to visit, such as Washington, DC (DCA), Newark (EWR), and Atlanta (ATL), which will house the largest Centurion Lounge at 26,000 square feet.
There are also a number of Escape Lounges, the Centurion Studio Partner, in domestic airports such as Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Oakland (OAK), and Sacramento (SMF).
Each Centurion Lounge has slightly different offerings. But all lounges have member services that can double as a travel concierge for your current and future trips. All locations have semi-private work areas and a computer bar with printer, fax, and copier access as well as TV, magazines, and newspapers. Some lounges offer spa services, wine tasting areas, conference rooms, shower suites, family areas, and luggage lockers.
How to access Amex Centurion lounges
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$695
See Rates and Fees
Show more
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, or the Amex Centurion Card, you can gain admission to these peaceful oases in the otherwise bustling airport terminal. Cardholders can bring up to two guests or immediate family members — however, beginning February 2023, this will change. You will only be able to bring complimentary guests after spending $75,000 on your card in a calendar year.
You’ll have to pay $50 per adult guest and $30 for anyone under the age of 18. However, children under 2 are free.
You may also access Centurion Lounges if you’ve got one of the following Delta credit cards:
You can only access the Amex Centurion lounges when you’re flying Delta, and you’ll need to pay $50 per guest.
Food, drinks, and other Centurion lounge amenities
I’ve been to a good number of airport lounges around the world, but few have been as impressive as the culinary experience at Centurion lounges, particularly for lounges in the US. The food, cocktails, and wine are a step above most other lounges, some by a longshot.
Menus are designed and inspired by award-winning executive chefs. Dishes change seasonally and are filled with flavor. During my last visit to a Centurion lounge in Philadelphia, food was fresh and refilled regularly. There were meat and vegetarian options, and even some good choices for kids.
At the bar, all drinks were included. These are not well drinks. You can enjoy signature cocktails, premium spirits, and a curated wine list. Remember, it’s not free. You pay for it in your annual fee to American Express, so make sure to take full advantage!
Where to find an Amex Centurion lounge
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Concourse E) — coming soon
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (between Concourse D and E)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Terminal D)
- Denver International Airport (Concourse C)
- Intercontinental Houston Airport (Terminal D)
- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (Concourse D)
- Los Angeles International Airport (Tom Bradley International Terminal)
- Miami International Airport (Concourse D)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (Terminal A) — not yet open
- New York LaGuardia Airport (Terminal B, pre-security)
- Philadelphia International Airport (Terminal A)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Terminal 4)
- San Francisco International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Concourse B)
- Washington, DC Ronald Reagan National Airport (Terminal B) — coming soon
- London Heathrow (Terminal 3)
- Hong Kong International (Terminal 1)
- Hong Kong International Airport (Terminal 1)
- London Heathrow Airport (Terminal 3)
- Stockholm Arlanda Airport (Terminal 5)
- Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Terminal 2)
- Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Terminal B)
- Sao Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Melbourne Airport (Terminal 2)
- Mexico City International Airport (Terminals 1 and 2)
- Monterrey General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (Terminals A and B)
- Sydney Airport (Terminal 1)
- Hartford Bradley International Airport (Terminal A)
- Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (Concourse B)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (Concourse B)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (Terminal 3)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (Concourse B)
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (Terminal 1)
- Oakland International Airport (Terminal 1)
- Palm Beach International Airport (Concourse B)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Terminals 3 and 4)
- Rhode Island T.F. Green Airport (Main Terminal)
- Reno-Tahoe International Airport (Concourse B-C corridor)
- Sacramento International Airport (Terminals A and B)
For a full listing of lounges you can access with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can also view Amex’s lounge search tool here.
Get a little more relaxation on the go
Travel can be tiring and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be an all-around bad experience. Even if you’re not flying in a first or business-class seat, you can get a first-class experience on the ground in an Amex Centurion lounge. If you travel frequently, particularly through any of the airports where you can find a Centurion lounge, securing a ticket for admission with The Platinum Card® from American Express may be a great idea.
Amex Centurion Lounges frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How many Centurion Lounge locations are there?
There are currently 24 Centurion Lounges — 13 in the US and 11 at international airports. More domestic Centurion Lounges are already in the works (three more are being built at the time of writing).
There are also “lite” Centurion Lounges, called Centurion Studios (Escape Lounges). Though these are not full-fledged Centurion Lounges, they deliver the ambiance and upscale nature of the Centurion name.
Amex Platinum cards offer the most comprehensive airport lounge access of any credit card on the market. With these cards, you can enter 1,300+ lounges from networks such as:
- Amex Centurion Lounges (widely considered to be the best airport lounges in the US)
- Priority Pass** (access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide)
- Delta Sky Club lounges (only when you have a same-day Delta boarding pass)
- Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner
- Plaza Premium lounges
- Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or SWISS)
No. If you don’t have a Platinum or Centurion card, you cannot enter a Centurion Lounge — you can’t even buy a day pass.
The only exception is the Amex Delta Reserve credit cards, which grant access to Centurion Lounges when flying same-day on Delta as long as you used your Reserve card to pay for your ticket.
You cannot enter a Centurion Lounge at your final destination. However, you can access them during connections.
In short, you won’t be able to enter a Centurion Lounge more than three hours before your flight. Therefore, you won’t be eligible to enter upon arrival.
If you are an Amex Platinum cardholder, you can bring two guests with you for free. But after February 1, 2023, you’ll pay $50 per guest age 18+ and $30 per guest age 17 and below.
Each calendar year you manage to spend $75,000 on your card, you’ll get two free guests any time you visit.