Amex Centurion Lounges are the largest network of airport lounges run by a credit card company. A lot has changed in the credit card lounge landscape in recent years, and in this post I wanted to cover everything you need to know about Amex Centurion Lounges, ranging from the basics of what they are, to…
Continue reading: Amex Centurion Lounge Access, Locations, And Amenities
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@ben you should add that international Amex platinum members also have access, and that they can still bring guests. They also cannot join an online queue nor can they see how busy it is in the app, as the app is only for US based members.
Amex Cent lounges are OVERCROWDED - I had to sit on the floor twice -- I cancelled the card -- and went with Delta SMR - and I have Cap1 VX which is SUPERIOR to Amex Cent lounges.
A couple of clarifying points for Centurion card holders:
You can enter on your arrival flight. You do not show a boarding pass, just your card and ID.
The lounges are starting to have table service in the separate Centurion section. QR code menus are at each table, plated food that is not available at buffets is delivered within 15 minutes.
Specific to the Houston note as I visit this lounge about every month. The lounge is relatively small and feels smaller as it has no windows; it's sort of tucked into the terminal. The Calm area mentioned is a great concept, but in practice it's just used for standard seating as the lounge is usually quite full and the attendants are basically telling you to take the seating in Calm or nothing. Crowds are worst in early afternoon as most trans atlantic flights leave from Terminal D around 3pm. I still go, particularly early when I can get a good breakfast and snack, and before the lounge gets too busy to enjoy. Bartenders are top notch.
Question for anyone with an actual Centurion card. What have your experiences been getting in (bypassing lines) and getting access to reserved space? I'm being issued a business one next month and am hoping it will help ease access to more busy locations
I'd like to visit all but my recent (yesterday) of the Denver one made me rethink even having the card. I continue to be disappointed with Centurions bc too crowded, def not that quiet place to get away. If they have so many customers why not expand these lounges? I avoid the DFW one bc my last meal was double salted I think. I couldn't even eat it. So I route through CLT which has a great chef, though it too is crowded crowded but I've only waiting once. The Hong Kong Centurion is very small and the showers, though nice, are limited to like 10 min? You basically have to rush in, get clean, then out. Maybe it was busy that day, which is fine. Some people DO take a long time to shower so I probably should appreciate the rule (that day?).
My experience with the Cdn platinum cards is that two guests are allowed (w/o any minimum spend requirement)
While I never feel comfortable bypassing lines, I have seen others use the “Centurion” line on the side and the first available check in agent calls them over.
Regardless of whether you use that line or not, the agent will check your card and ID, then escort you to the Centurion section. That is where you will find the menus.
There are also partner lounges that are listed on the Amex website which you can get in with a platinum card. These are usually at smaller airports that do not have a Centurion Lounge
Was just in LAS Sunday, the line was easily 40-50 people waiting outside. Ridiculous. Years ago they did away with allowing an entire family get access with one card, so you needed two cards to get access for a family of five. Now they added a card spend to allow guests. What next? Raise the card fee to $1000? It'll still be overcrowded. Amex Platinum is the new green card --
They need to do something to reduce crowding further. These lounges are just not that relaxing.
> The Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo is open 24/7,
> same day boarding pass to access Centurion Lounges
Do they strictly enforce the same (calendar) day boarding pass rule like they do in the US? As in, if your flight departs shortly after midnight would you need to wait until midnight to get in? I've got rejected before by Amex for having a flight departing shortly after midnight.
The Amex Centurion lounge at the Mexico City T2 charges like a restaurant, the only complimentary item is water, other than that all for and drinks come with a charge. Very disappointing. It's better to use your Priority Pass card and go to any other lounge.