How to Access American Express Centurion Lounges

The American Express Centurion Network is a growing collection of some of the finer airport lounges available around the world. Lounges in the Centurion Network include the American Express Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges, and other international American Express Lounges.

While this article will focus solely on the American Express Centurion Network, American Express also offers a wide variety of lounge access beyond the Centurion Network to Platinum cardholders.

With 40+ lounges available worldwide, let’s look at everything about the American Express Centurion Network, and how you can access these great lounges.

How to Access American Express Centurion Lounges

Unlike other airport lounge networks such as DragonPass, Priority Pass, and LoungeKey, it’s not possible to purchase a membership or simply pay for access to American Express Centurion Lounges. It also doesn’t matter what cabin you’re flying in, be it economy class, business class, or First Class.

Rather, you’re only granted access three hours before your time of departure if you hold one of the following American Express cards issued from any country:

Centurion Lounge access is available if you hold any of the above Platinum or Centurion Cards, no matter what country the cards were issued in. Note that the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Cards are only available in the United States.

In other words, Canadian-issued American Express Platinum cards will give access to the same Centurion Lounges as US-issued American Express Platinum cards, albeit with some differences relating to guests, which we’ll cover later on.

Once you have one of the above cards, there’s no further registration required. Instead, all you have to do to access an American Express Centurion Lounge is present your valid card, a same-day boarding pass, and government-issued photo ID.

While all of the above cards grant access to American Express Centurion Lounges, there are some slight differences that you should be aware of.

One main difference is with the co-branded Delta Amex cards. If you enjoy lounge access through one of the two Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Cards, you need to be flying on a Delta flight to be granted access to American Express Centurion Lounges.

Centurion Lounge access is only available for passengers on departing or connecting flights, except for American Express Centurion cardholders. If you are one of the lucky few with a Centurion Card, you’ll be allowed to access Centurion Lounges on arrival, too.

Centurion cardmembers can also skip the line if the lounge has reached capacity. Once inside, there’s a dedicated space reserved exclusively for Centurion cardholders.

In this space, Centurion cardholders may receive exclusive perks, including an exclusively curated menu, premium bar snacks, and complimentary cocktails, spirits, and wines.

Some benefits may be different at select international American Express Centurion Lounges, depending on which card you use to access the lounge. For example, the American Express Centurion Lounge in Mexico City differs significantly in how they treat personal and business Platinum cardholders.

American Express Business Platinum cardholders don’t get to enjoy complimentary items. Instead, they need to pay for everything on the menu.

Meanwhile, personal Platinum and Centurion cardholders may select a limited number of complimentary items, and will need to pay to order from a larger menu or get additional portions.

American Express Centurion Lounge Guest Allowances

The guesting privileges at Centurion Lounges differ, depending on the country in which your eligible card was issued.

If you have a US-issued American Express Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card from American Express, you’re subject to a $50 (USD) fee for each adult guest, or a $30 (USD) fee for children aged 2 through 17.

However, if you hold one of the two US-issued Platinum Cards, you can unlock complimentary access for two guests by spending $75,000 (USD) on your card between January 1 and December 31 of the same year.

After meeting this steep spending threshold, you’ll continue to enjoy the complimentary two-guest benefit for the year in which you spent $75,000 (USD), the next year after, and the first month of the year after that.

For example, if you spend $75,000 (USD) by July 2024, you’ll enjoy complimentary guest access until January 31, 2026.

The real winners are the internationally-issued American Express Platinum cardholders. If you have an American Express Platinum Card from outside of the United States, including Canada, you’re still able to enjoy complimentary access for two guests as an ongoing benefit.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders may bring up to two guests in the American Express Centurion Lounge with them; however, there’s a charge of $50 (USD) per adult guest or $30 (USD) per child guest aged 2–17, and the guest has to also be travelling on a same-day Delta flight.

Centurion Card members are allowed to bring up to two guests, or immediate family, at no additional charge.

All Platinum and Centurion cardholders may purchase a day-pass for additional guests for $50 (USD) per adult or $30 per child aged 2 through 17 at the time of entry.

If you’re travelling with a young child, you’ll be happy to know that children under two may enter the American Express Centurion Lounge for free, as long as they’re accompanied by a parent or guardian with an eligible American Express card.

American Express Centurion Lounge Locations

The American Express Centurion Network includes Centurion Lounges and a few other American Express Lounges, as well as Escape Lounges. The majority of the lounges are in the United States, but the network is expanding to include a more global presence.

Generally speaking, Centurion Lounges are of a higher quality than other contract lounges in airports. If you have access, be sure to check one out before one of your next domestic or international flights.

US American Express Centurion Lounges

There are 13 American Express Centurion Lounges in the USA, as well as three more that are in development. The locations and hours of operation are as follows:

• Atlanta (ATL): Coming soon 
• Charlotte (CLT): Intersection of Concourses D and E, 5:30am–10pm
• Dallas (DFW): Concourse D (near Gate 17), 5:30am–10pm
• Denver (DEN): Concourse C (near gate 46), 5am–10pm
• Houston (IAH): Terminal D, 6am–9:30pm
• Las Vegas (LAS): Concourse D (near Gate D1), 5am–11pm
• Los Angeles (LAX): Tom Bradley International Terminal, 6am–10pm
• Miami (MIA): Concourse D (near Gate D12), 5am–10pm
• New York (JFK): Terminal 4, 5am–10pm
• New York (LGA): Terminal B, 5am–9pm Sunday to Friday, 5am–8pm on Saturday
• Newark (EWR): Coming soon
• Philadelphia (PHL): Terminal A (near Gate A14), 5:30am–9pm
• Phoenix (PHX): Terminal 4 (near Gate B22), 6am–9pm
• San Francisco (SFO): Terminal 3 (near Gate 74), 5am–9pm
• Seattle (SEA): Concourse B (near Gate B3), 5am–10pm
• Washington (DCA): Coming soon

International American Express Centurion Lounges

In addition to American Express Centurion Lounges located in the US, there are 13 Centurion Lounges located in airports worldwide. Hours of operation, access policies, inclusions, and complimentary guest allowances may differ from lounge to lounge.

For example, certain lounges may only grant complimentary alcohol and food to Centurion cardholders and not Platinum cardholders.

The Centurion Lounge in Hong Kong (HKG) is located in Terminal 1 and is open from 7am to midnight daily. It follows the same access and guest rules as the North American Centurion Lounges

The London Heathrow (LHR) Centurion Lounge follows the same access and guest rules as the North American Centurion Lounges. It’s located in Terminal 3, and is open daily from 5:30am–9pm.

The Centurion Lounges in New Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) are open 24/7. Eligible cardholders may bring in one guest, and children under 12 can enter for free.

In Buenos Aires (EZE), each eligible cardholder may bring in one guest, and all children under 16 have complimentary access. The Centurion Lounge is open from 9am–12am daily.

The Centurion Lounge in São Paulo (GRU) is open daily from 11am–3am. Eligible cardholders may bring in one guest, and all children under 12 have complimentary access. According to the Centurion Lounge website, you’ll need to present your Priority Pass membership, too.

Mexico City (MEX) has three Centurion Lounges, and they all follow the same access and guest rules. All eligible cardholders can bring in either two guests or immediate family members at no cost.

The Terminal 1 International and Domestic Centurion Lounges are open from 5am–10pm, and the Terminal 2 Centurion Lounge is open from 5am–11pm.

There are two Centurion Lounges in Monterrey, Mexico (MTY). Both are open from 5am–10pm daily, and allow for either two complimentary guests or immediate family members.

In Australia, you can access Centurion Lounges in Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL). 

The Sydney lounge is located in Terminal 1 (International), and is open daily from 6am–9pm. You can bring in two guests or immediate family (spouse + children under 17) at no cost.

In Melbourne, the lounge is located in Terminal B (International), and is open daily from 6am to 10pm. You can bring in two guests or immediate family (spouse + children under 17) at no cost.

Other American Express Centurion Lounge Network Lounges

In addition to the Centurion Lounges, there are other lounges operating under separate American Express names but are a part of the American Express Centurion Lounge Network.

In Stockholm (ARN), there’s one American Express Lounge where access is included under the Centurion Lounge Network: Pontus in the Air American Express Lounge (ARN)

The American Express Centurion Network also includes Escape Lounges. There are 15 Escape Lounges, all of which are located in smaller airports throughout the United States:

• Bradley (BDL)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG)
• Columbus (CMH)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Greenville–Spartanburg (GSP)
• Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP)
• Oakland (OAK)
• Palm Beach (PBI)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Terminals 3 & 4
• Rhode Island (PVD)
• Reno-Tahoe (RNO)
• Sacramento (SMF) Terminals A & B
• Syracuse (SYR)

Conclusion

While the American Express Centurion Network may not be as extensive as other lounge networks, such as DragonPass or Priority Pass, they have developed a reputation for being some of the finer lounges available, especially in the United States.

If you don’t already have a way of accessing one of these top-tier lounges, your only option will be to sign up for one of the credit cards that provide complimentary lounge access as a benefit.

With over 40 lounges available across the world, the American Express Centurion Network will greatly enhance your future travel plans if you were to grab a Platinum or Business Platinum card to gain access.