- Brazil Madness: Introduction
- Review: American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class New York to Sao Paulo
- Review: Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo
- Review: American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo
- Review: GOL Smiles Lounge Sao Paulo
- Review: American Airlines Admirals Club Sao Paulo
- Review: Delta 767 BusinessElite Sao Paulo to Detroit
- Review: Delta 767 BusinessElite Detroit to Sao Paulo
- Review: Hotel Caesar Park Sao Paulo Airport
- Review: American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class Sao Paulo to New York
To be on the safe side we left plenty of time to get to the airport, given that our ride from the airport to the Grand Hyatt took 2.5 hours. We were lucky that our drive from the Grand Hyatt to the airport only took 40 minutes, so we arrived with plenty of time to spare. We first checked out the American Express Centurion Lounge, which is located landside. While most lounges are located past security, the Centurion Lounge is in terminal one on the upper level, just above the check-in desks.
Sao Paulo Airport departures hall
We received complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge on account of the American Express Platinum Card, one of my favorite credit cards with airport lounge benefits. The associate at the front desk was friendly and after entering my card number into the system promptly admitted us.
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport entrance
So the lounge was really nice… for a DMV waiting room. In all honesty, the lounge was extremely underwhelming. It was tiny and overcrowded, with seating for maybe a bit over a dozen people.
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport seating
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport seating
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport seating
There was a tiny business center with a few PCs.
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport business center
And there was also a children’s play area which was completely empty. It sure seems like that space could be better utilized, given how overcrowded the lounge is otherwise.
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport children’s area
The food spread was pretty pathetic as well, and just consisted of some finger sandwiches, tarts, and one dessert option.
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport food spread
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport food spread
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport food spread
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport food spread
There was a coffee machine and a cooler with soft drinks, though the lounge didn’t have any alcohol.
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport coffee machine
American Express Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport drinks
Look, ultimately any lounge is better than no lounge, but of the lounges I visited at Sao Paulo Airport this was the worst (and there’s a lot of competition for that title, trust me!). While I realize all lounges operated by American Express are called “Centurion Lounges,” I feel like they’re not doing themselves any favors with this one. The new Centurion Lounge in Dallas/Ft. Worth is spectacular, for example, but do you really want a lounge like this named after your most prestigious card?
Anyway, after snapping a few pictures of the lounge we headed for security to check out the airside lounges.
so many rich people in there..
but lounge itself is rubbish compering to *A lounge
After spending a few hours at the brand new and amazing Centurion Lounge at SFO before my flight to GRU, I was looking forward to spending some time at the GRU Centurion lounge before my flight back to SFO. It looks like I'm going to have to adjust my expectations. The GRU Centurion Lounge pictures remind me of the waiting room at my doctors office.
hello ! i have a credit cards american expres platinum of bank santander rio (argentina) can i used for entry in this vip ?
A few years back I tried this lounge with my US Platinum card. Initial reaction from the front desk was that access was for local cardholders only. Whether bogus or not she did let me in, but when I got in and saw the setup I wondered if it was worth fighting for...
Are you aware of any place to store baggage? We would like to explore sao paulo on a layover, I heard rumors that there may be baggage storage in the centurion lounge?
@ Jon B -- Don't believe it's possible in the lounge, though per this page it does appear like there's baggage storage available at the airport:
http://www.airport-desk.com/airports/south-america/brazil/sao-paulo-guarulhos-international-airport.html
Whenever you go back to saying you're not taking lounges/premium products for granted, I know that the lounge/premium product is so bad, you're pissed.
This looks like a priorty select lounge that got a make over and turned into a Centurion lounge. Clearly if one was starting from scratch and doing build out it wouldn't look like THIS!
This is amazing! Except for the kids play area, this looks the same as the Pam Am lounge in Rome in 1990; right down to the clocks on the wood paneling. The lounge in Rome was small and crowded to the same extent. I thought that it was deplorable at the time and that vivid memory stuck with me. AMEX needs to change this so that they don't create the same lasting impressions on a new generation of flyers.
Looks like a Walmart.
@ wwk5d -- Yep, I'd say it's certainly in the running.
@Mike - - ha, good point. i do miss the trailways days. ;)
Low ceilings, no natural light, no booze, and extremely limited food options. I think this qualifies for one of the worst loungers you've ever visited Lucky, no?
I think all the international airline lounges at GRU are embarrassingly small and outdated. I imagine space is completely maxed out in the existing terminals, but the construction of a new, state-of-the-art Terminal 3 is underway and will be partly open for June. Not sure which lounges will get space there, but I'd bet hometown Gol and Tam get first dibs.
Wow I'm surprised how bad that is given how outstanding the DFW Centurion lounge is. Ok that's good to know next time I'm ever in Sao Paolo.
@Abidjan,
Clearly you haven't been to a Trailways bus station in the 80s...it's missing 3 homeless guys, two pimps and a mugger.
Just sayin' ;)
Stunningly bad. Looks like a sitting area for a Trailways bus from the 80s.
"do you really want a lounge like this named after your most prestigious card?"
The American Express logo is a Roman Centurion. Cards are issued by American Express Centurion bank. The card and the lounge have a name stemming from the company's branding. ;)