Have you ever heard of an American Express Centurion Lounge before? They’re known to be the most elite airport lounge brand of them all. If you travel regularly, you’ve probably at least noticed an airport lounge before. They look like a place where only business travelers and the rich are allowed to set foot in. Looks can be deceiving. There are other ways to gain access to these exclusive lounges where members receive free drinks and food in a more luxurious setting than the airport terminal.
The easiest and least expensive way to gain access to airport lounges is through premier travel credit cards. There are a handful of credit cards that offer the benefit of complimentary airport lounge access. Two of those cards offer the elite Centurion Lounge access.
What is a Centurion Lounge?
A Centurion Lounge is an exclusive room that members can enter while traveling. Inside they will be greeted with comfortable places to sit and lounge, TV’s to watch, newspapers to read, workspaces with computers and printers, and of course, amazing food and drinks that come complimentary.
- Free high-speed Wi-Fi
- Lounge pods
- Computer workspaces
- Printers
- Large televisions
- Premium cocktail bars
- Showers
- Buffet style dining at breakfast, lunch, and dinner
While most other lounges have just snacky type food, Centurion Lounges have full on cooked buffet’s that are prepared by chefs and have ever-changing menus. An example of a typical meal available in Centurion Lounges is a menu of fried chicken, wild rice, fresh bruschetta, Brussel sprouts, side salads, and vegetables, with chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
Of course, you’ll find typical drink choices like beer, wine, and cocktails available at the bar, but you’ll also find a menu of specially designed mixed drinks from renowned mixologist Jim Meehan. The drinks are designed around the Centurion Lounge location with recipes like the “Tex Mex” (Tito’s Vodka, Cabeza Blanco tequila, corn, honey, lime, and jalapeno) at DFW in Dallas or the “Big Apple” (Zubrowka Bison Grass vodka, Doc’s draft hard apple cider, Yellow Chartreuse, Miracle Mile celery bitters) at LGA in New York City.
Food and drinks aren’t the only amenities you’ll find at a Centurion Lounge. Some of the Centurion Lounge locations even offer professional spa treatments like massages, skin treatments, and manicures. Yes, these amenities are included too. Once you’re in a Centurion Lounge, what you see is what you get, included. You are free to tip as you’d like but per American Express, it is not expected.
How to Get Centurion Lounge Access
Unfortunately, Centurion membership cannot be bought. Gaining Centurion Lounge access can be had in only one way. By applying for one of two American Express credit cards that exclusively offer Centurion lounge access. These two cards are the Platinum Cards by American Express that are offered in a personal and business version. The cards not only come with Centurion Lounge access but also have an array of great travel benefits.
Amex Platinum Card |
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INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months. |
REWARDS You’ll earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. You’ll earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. |
BENEFITS Enjoy Uber VIP status and free rides in the U.S. up to $15 each month (bonus $20 in December). Enjoy access to the exclusive Global Airport Lounge Collection. $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 every calendar year with one qualifying airline. Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your card. Enrollment required. Fine Hotels & Resorts Access. Hilton & Marriott Gold Status. Discounts on First/Business/Premium Economy tickets. |
FEES $550 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. Terms Apply |
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS With a large introductory offer, statement credits, and airport lounge access, this is an excellent premium travel credit card. |
[earnist_link ref="the-platinum-card-from-american-express" id="6500"]LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >>[/earnist_link] |
Instantly earn Centurion Lounge access plus more. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply [earnist_link ref=”the-platinum-card-from-american-express” id=”6500″]HERE[/earnist_link].
Amex Business Platinum Card |
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INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months. |
REWARDS You’ll earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. You’ll earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Earn 50% more points on purchases over $5000. (up to 1 million bonus points.) |
BENEFITS $200 airline credit. Global Lounge Collection access. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Get 35% back when booking a flight with Membership Rewards on a select airline. Two $100 statement credits from Dell annually. 1 year of Platinum Global access to WeWork. (enrollment through 2019) |
FEES $595 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees Terms Apply |
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS If you have many high ticket purchases yearly, this card will earn you a good percentage back. The WeWork membership could be very valuable, if you need a place to work for a year. |
[earnist_link ref="amex-business-platinum-card-apply" id="6252"]LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>[/earnist_link] |
Instantly earn Centurion Lounge access plus more. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply [earnist_link ref=”the-business-platinum-card-from-american-express-open” id=”6252″]HERE[/earnist_link].
If you’re a frequent traveler, the Centurion lounge access alone can make up for the annual fee of either Amex Platinum credit card, but they come with a bunch of very valuable benefits. The travel benefits offered by either of these cards are easily worth over $1000 in value.
I value the introductory offers at more than $1000 because you can often redeem them for at least two cents per point through Amex travel transfer partners. The statement credits are worth about $500 together. Even though the annual fee can look to be very high and be a mental hurdle to get over, it’s a no-brainer when it comes to the value you’ll receive in return.
Centurion Lounge Locations
There are nine Centurion lounges worldwide, with eight of those being in the United States. American Express has three more lounges in the works, all of which should open in 2019. There are also another six international lounge locations and two arena locations that Amex Platinum cardholders have access to.
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge (LAS)
Location: Concourse D, opposite Gate D1
Hours: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Dallas-Fort Worth Centurion Lounge (DFW)
Location: Terminal D, opposite Gate D17 on the upper level
Hours: 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM
San Francisco Centurion Lounge (SFO)
Location: Terminal 3, Boarding Area F, opposite Gate 75 on the mezzanine level
Hours: 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM
New York-La Guardia Centurion Lounge (LGA)
Location: Terminal B, pre-security, third level
Hours: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
Miami Centurion Lounge (MIA)
Location: North Terminal, Concourse B, 4th floor, across from Gate D14
Hours: 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Houston Centurion Lounge (IAH)
Location: Terminal D, near Gate D6
Hours: 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Seattle Centurion Lounge (SEA)
Location: Concourse B, near Gate B3
Hours: 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Hong Kong Centurion Lounge (HKG)
Location: Just before Gate 60, take the escalators or lift up to the 7th Floor, follow the signs to the lounge entrance
Hours: 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM
Philadelphia Centurion Lounge (PHL)
Location: Near Gate A14
Hours: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Centurion Lounge Future Locations
As mentioned above, there are three Centurion Lounges being worked on for future locations. Denver, Los Angeles, and New York will be getting the newest and likely most lavish Centurion lounges in the near future. All three lounges will be very large and all three will likely include a spa inside.
Denver Centurion Lounge (DEN)
The DEN Centurion lounge is expected to be 14,650 square feet and will include all of the Centurion lounge basics, plus even more. It will feature a premium cocktail bar, high-speed internet, hot food buffet, showers, a family room, phone rooms, and a tranquility area for sleeping. On top of those amenities, the Denver Centurion lounge will have a spa (like DFW and MIA). It will also offer local beer and wine tastings within the lounge.
Los Angeles Centurion Lounge (LAX)
The LAX Centurion lounge is expected to be 13,900 square feet and will offer the typical luxurious amenities of all Centurion lounges. It will feature a full cocktail bar, a hot food buffet, and showers. The Los Angeles Centurion lounge location will also feature a spa, a family room, and a “tranquility area” with a mix of bright and dimly lit areas specially designed to help travelers adjust to new time zones.
New York City Centurion Lounge (JFK)
Coming in at an expected 15,000 square feet, the JFK Centurion lounge will be the biggest Amex lounge in their Global Lounge portfolio. It will occupy two levels in terminal 4 at JFK in New York City. While the exact details have not been officially announced, the New York Centurion Lounge should open in early 2019. The lounge will supposedly have extravagant views of the JFK airfield and extraordinary amenities. The amenities will include a complimentary bar, a food buffet, showers, soundproof workspaces, and likely much more. With that amount of space, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a spa as well.
Centurion Clubs & Platinum Lounges at International Airports
American Express also has a few international lounges that are accessible for Amex Platinum cardholders. They include the Centurion Clubs and Platinum Lounges located in the following airports:
- Mexico City (MEX)
- Buenos Aires (EZE)
- Rio De Janeiro (SDU)
- Sao Paulo (CGH)
- Mumbai (BOM)
- Delhi (DEL)
Centurion Suite Locations in Arenas
American Express has expanded their lounge locations from exclusively in airports to other stadiums and arenas. Literally, professional basketball arenas to be exact. There are now lounges, which American Express is calling Centurion Suites, in both the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They also had a Centurion Suite at the 2018 US Open Tennis Championship.
At the two arena Centurion Suites, food and drinks are not complimentary but you may have more options than the stadium food. At both locations, there are a limited amount of people who will get access to the lounge and it is on a first come first served basis. You’ll likely need to arrive at the arena when it opens to get access.
Amenities in the Centurion Suites
- Premium Food & Beverages
- Dedicated Servers
- Flat-Screen TVs
- Limited Seating with a View of the Event
- Complimentary Wi-Fi Access
- Phone Charging Stations
Our Concluding Takeaway: Amex Platinum is Worth Getting for Access to Centurion Lounges
If it’s luxury travel you’re looking for, access to the Centurion lounges is the perfect way to both start and end your vacation the right way. With an American Express Platinum card you’ll be living a life of luxury the minute you walk into the airport. It gives you both lounge access and priority security so forget having to sit in the crowded, dirty, and expensive airport terminal. Say hello to traveling with comfy seating, amazing complimentary food, custom cocktails and sometimes even spa treatments.
My wife used to call me a “princess traveler” when I first told her about airport lounge access. Now she complains if we’re at an airport that doesn’t have such lounges. Once you get used to traveling in luxury with things like lounge access, it’s hard to go back to the life of a peasant traveler. Go get an Amex Platinum to try it out for yourself. I’ll bet you won’t ever want it to end!