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American Express Centurion Lounge access and locations
Enjoy fine dining, a hot shower and more at these high-class lounges.
Among airport lounges, few carry the first-class reputation of Amex Centurion Lounges. Indeed, there are only a handful of Centurion lounges around the world making them all the more exclusive. In these lounges, you’ll find impeccably designed spaces, semi-private workspaces, shower suites, bars and dishes prepared by award-winning chefs.
How to get in and pricing
In line with the bourgeois reputation of the Centurion Lounges, you have just one primary way to gain access: owning an eligible credit card.
Credit card access
Amex offers a few credit cards that provide complimentary access to Centurion lounges. These cards include:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Business Platinum Mastercard®
- Corporate Platinum Card®
- Centurion® Card from American Express
Access is complimentary for these cardholders. To enter the lounge, you’ll need to provide the lounge agent with the following:
- Your valid credit card
- A boarding pass showing same-day travel
- A government-issued ID
Access limitations
Centurion lounges are what Amex calls a “day of departure” lounge. That means you won’t be eligible to enter the lounge if you possess a standby ticket or are a non-revenue standby passenger. To enter, you’ll need a boarding pass showing a confirmed seat or zone assignment for your flight, according to the Amex Centurion Lounge site.
Pricing
Access to Centurion lounges is considered complimentary if you have an eligible card. That said, you’ll still need to front the annual fee of that credit card, which will run you the following:
| Amex Card | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $550 (see rates & fees) |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | $595 (see rates & fees) |
| Corporate Platinum Card® | $395 |
| Centurion® Card from American Express | $2,500 with a $7,500 initiation fee |
Compare credit cards that offer lounge access
You only have a few choices when it comes to Centurion Lounge credit cards and it largely comes down to whether you want a personal, business or corporate credit card.
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Centurion lounge benefits and amenities
You’ll find an assortment of luxurious amenities when you walk into a Centurion lounge, ranging from a fully stocked premium bar to fine dining created by established local chefs. Exact amenities and access hours depend on your location, but here’s a taste of what you can expect:
- Access to a computer bar
- Semi-private workspaces
- Up-to-date magazines and newspapers
- Print, fax and copy device access
- High-speed Wi-Fi
- Premium food and drink
- Large flat-screen TVs
- A member services desk
- A shower suite
- Spa access
Centurion lounge locations
You can currently find a Centurion lounge in nine different locations worldwide.
| Location | Airport | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Tacoma | SEA | 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| San Francisco | SFO | 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Las Vegas | LAS | 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Dallas | DFW | 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Houston | IAH | 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Miami | MIA | 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Philadelphia | PHL | 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| New York | LGA | 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday |
According to the Centurion Lounge website, you can expect to see lounges in five new locations soon, including DEN, JFK, LAX, LHR and CLT. Amex hasn’t announced an official date for these lounges as of this writing.
Bottom line
With so many amenities you’d expect to see at a spa rather than an airport lounge — that includes an actual spa — there’s no better way to pamper yourself while waiting for your flight than kicking up your feet at a Centurion lounge.
However, if the Amex Platinum series of credit cards aren’t to your liking, there are plenty of other lounge credit card options available. Compare travel credit cards to find one that suits your needs and offers access to other types of lounges.
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