In early 2021, plans were announced for a new Amex Centurion Lounge at Washington National Airport (DCA). While the lounge was initially supposed to open in late 2022, there were construction delays, as is common for just about any airport project. Fortunately it looks like this lounge will be opening in the near future.
In this post:
Basics of the Amex Centurion Lounge DCA
The American Express Centurion Lounge Washington is expected to open in Q2 2024. Note that this hasn’t officially been announced by Amex (Amex typically only reveals details in the days leading up to the lounge opening), but rather Professor Points notes how the airport’s newsletter recently indicated that this was the opening timeline. So hopefully we see the lounge open by June 2024.
The Amex Centurion Lounge DCA will be located in the National Hall near Concourse B, after security. It’s expected to be roughly 11,500 square feet, and will feature floor-to-ceiling windows and airfield views. It will also boast special local touches, and signature amenities like a complimentary custom bar and food menu, premium restrooms and shower suites, high speed Wi-Fi, noise buffering workspaces, and more.
The new lounge is part of the airport’s Project Journey, a $1 billion capital improvement project. This will be the 17th lounge in the Amex Centurion Lounge network, following the recent opening of the Atlanta Airport Centurion Lounge.
How this fits into the DCA lounge landscape
Nowadays there are really three credit card lounge networks — there are Amex Centurion Lounges, Capital One Lounges, and Chase Sapphire Lounges. As things currently stand, Amex is the only of the three lounge networks that’s bringing a lounge to Washington National. However:
- There’s a Capital One Lounge at Washington Dulles, and a Chase Sapphire Lounge is coming to Washington Dulles (likely in the space of the former Etihad Lounge)
- The new Capital One Landing concept offers a restaurant-style dining experience for cardmembers, and that’s coming to Washington National as well
The Amex Centurion Lounge will be an excellent addition to the airport. The airport otherwise only has airline-run lounges, and no Priority Pass lounges (other than a Priority Pass restaurant). So this will open up lounge access for a lot more people. Furthermore, it should help with alleviating crowding in the Delta Sky Club, given the overlapping entry requirements.
Bottom line
The Amex Centurion Lounge Washington National Airport is expected to open in the coming months, in Q2 2024. The 11,500 square foot lounge should be a great addition to the airport, since DCA doesn’t currently have any credit card lounges.
Are you excited about the new Centurion Lounge DCA?
Also CapitalOne is working on a lounge @ DCA between the C and D gates
Might as well take the AMEX sign down and put a USO one up. If anyone who actually pays the AF for the platinum thinks that they'll ever have access to this lounge, they are sadly mistaken.
Hey if you have issues with servicemembers or veterans you should stop giving them special treatment like thanking them, or giving up seats for them etc. I guess do like what people did during Nam, except please don't burn the flag.
And at least consider that their sacrifice in other people's war is suppose to keep us safe. Let them have something better than USO. Don't you think they earned it.
I think Chris' comment is ridiculous. But I also think that we draw a strange line. There are many people who serve the public and many of those jobs are as dangerous on a daily basis as being in the military. And some service members have never been and never will be in harm's way. So, why single them out?
Firefighters
Cops
Teachers
Nurses
Doctors
Farmers
Construction Workers
Fishermen
etc....
Free Platinum/lounge access, or no? Why/why not?
Am I missing something? I haven't seen Amex Lounges open to servicemembers. American Airlines does, but they have to be in uniform when they enter.
Armed forces get free AMEX platinum
I've seen photos from a friend who is working the project. It'll be nice.
But I echo the sentiment that it's going to be packed. And yes, probably lots of servicemembers....
I can see this being a rough time for "normal", annual fee-paying cardholders. It's likely going to be racked and stacked with servicemembers. They'll get in for "free" via the Platinum they get for $0 annual fee due to the SCRA. Just think...a large percentage of folks that fill up the Pre-Check line at DCA are going to be heading straight to the CL now. I'll stick to the Sky Club. No shade towards those...
I can see this being a rough time for "normal", annual fee-paying cardholders. It's likely going to be racked and stacked with servicemembers. They'll get in for "free" via the Platinum they get for $0 annual fee due to the SCRA. Just think...a large percentage of folks that fill up the Pre-Check line at DCA are going to be heading straight to the CL now. I'll stick to the Sky Club. No shade towards those in uniform as someone who served for 16 years, but from a biz aspect, I think this is a bad move for us "normies" who have to shell out the AF.
Just flagging that per DCA's nomenclature, it's actually near *Concourse B* that Amex is constructing a lounge ("Terminal" is the larger building).
@ TheRubioRoom -- Whoops, thank you, fixed!
Specifically, go through security and hang a right. If you went through south security it's right there. If you went through north security, you're flying AA. Go to their new lounge. If you must go to the centurion lounge than be prepared to walk the length of the terminal from north security.