- Introduction: Two Times To Latin America
- Review: LATAM Lounge Miami Airport (MIA)
- Review: LATAM Business Class Boeing 787 (MIA-SCL)
- Review: Ritz-Carlton Santiago, Chile (I’m Conflicted)
- Review: LATAM Lounge Santiago Airport (SCL)
- Review: SkyTeam Lounge Santiago Airport (SCL)
- Review: Delta One Business Class Airbus A350 (SCL-ATL)
- Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Atlanta Airport (ATL)
- Review: Delta First Class Boeing 737-800 (ATL-MEX)
- Review: Hilton Mexico City Airport (MEX)
- Review: Aeromexico Lounge Mexico City Airport (MEX)
- Review: Aeromexico Business Class Boeing 737 MAX (MEX-MIA)
- Review: Boliviana De Aviacion Business Class Airbus A330 (MIA-VVI)
- Review: The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz De La Sierra Airport (VVI)
- Review: VIP Lounge Santa Cruz De La Sierra Airport (VVI)
- Review: GOL Premium Economy Boeing 737 MAX (VVI-GRU)
- Review: TRYP By Wyndham Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)
- Review: Espaco Banco Safra Lounge Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)
- Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)
- Review: Copa Business Class Boeing 737 MAX (GRU-PTY)
For the last portion of my two times to Latin America review trip, I had a layover at Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU) prior to my Copa Boeing 737 MAX business class flight to Panama City.
During my layover, I checked out the Amex Centurion Lounge, which I’ll be reviewing in this installment (separately, I reviewed the Espaco Banco Safra Lounge, which is the contract lounge used by several airlines, and is also a Priority Pass lounge).
The Amex Centurion Lounge is solid, with pretty nice decor, and a decent selection of food and drinks. However, I didn’t actually find it to be better than the Espaco Banco Safra Lounge, so perhaps compared to some other Amex Centurion Lounges, it didn’t impress in the same way.
In this post:
Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo location
The Amex Centurion Lounge is located in Terminal 3 at Sao Paulo Airport, which is the airport’s primary international terminal. After you clear passport control and prior to getting to the main area with the gates, you should see an escalator and elevator on the left leading to many lounges. This is right near the duty free shopping area.
Once on the mezzanine level, just turn right, and you’ll see the entrance to the Amex Centurion Lounge on the left.
Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo hours
The Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo is open 24/7, which was much appreciated, given my 3AM departure. While this lounge can get super busy during peak periods, the great thing about having such an early morning flight is that the lounge was basically empty during my visit.
Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo entry requirements
The Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo follows standard international Amex Centurion Lounge access rules. The primary way to access the lounge is with The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review).
When it comes to accessing Amex Centurion Lounges, there are some terms to be aware of:
- You need a same day boarding pass to access Centurion Lounges
- You can access Centurion Lounges up to three hours before departure, unless you’re connecting, in which case you can access earlier
- You can’t access Centurion Lounges on arrival, or with a standby or non-revenue standby ticket
- If you’re guesting people into Centurion Lounges, you need to stay with them the entire time they’re in the lounge
Note that guesting policies differ based on the card you have, where it’s issued, and how much you spend on it.
Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo seating & layout
The Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo consists of one large, rectangular room, which is broken up into a few distinct zones.
As you enter the lounge, there are first several seating arrangements intended primarily for relaxing, mostly with leather chairs.
Then in the center of the lounge is an entertainment area with couches facing a TV, plus some other communal seating options.
Then in the very back of the lounge is the dining area, with the buffet, bar, and cafe-style tables.
Inside the entrance to the lounge and to the right is what’s described as the “beach area,” and I guess it’s called that because of the loungers and the cabanas.
The lounge also has a few other distinct zones. There are some private workstations, each with a desk and a door, so that you can easily make phone calls without noise being a concern.
There’s also a small play room for kids.
Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo food & drinks
In the United States, Amex Centurion Lounges are known for their buffets with substantial food offerings designed by well-known local chefs. Meanwhile the Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo had a simpler setup. As a matter of fact, the actual selection of the food was almost identical to what was in the Espaco Banco Safra Lounge, so clearly this is just all catered centrally and distributed to the various lounges.
There was a large self-serve buffet with everything from whole and cut fruit, to individually plated desserts, to sandwiches, to salads, cold cuts, to cheese bread, to soup, to hot dishes.
There were a couple of coffee machines, from both Nespresso and Nescafe, as well as a fridge with soft drinks.
All other drinks were available at the bar, including a selection of cocktails.
Again, I was surprised by how the selection was almost identical between this lounge and the contract lounge, so clearly food and drinks aren’t a point of differentiation for the Centurion Lounge in Sao Paulo.
Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo bathrooms & showers
The Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo has bathrooms and shower suites down a hall that’s just inside the entrance to the lounge and to the left.
The men’s room simply has three stalls and three sinks, with no urinals. Toiletries are in unbranded containers, which doesn’t feel particularly premium (that wouldn’t fly on Delta!).
There are also five shower suites, which are basic, much less nice than you’d find at Centurion Lounges in the United States. Once again, toiletries are in unbranded, wall-mounted containers.
Bottom line
The Amex Centurion Lounge is a fine lounge, with comfortable seating and a pretty good selection of food and drinks. What I found interesting was that unlike Centurion Lounges in the United States, the food and drink selection was virtually identical to what was found in the Espaco Banco Safra Lounge.
I’m honestly quite indifferent as to which of the two lounges I prefer. The food and drinks are similar, so the main difference is the decor (and I’m not sure one is necessarily nicer than the other).
What do you make of the Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo?
I don't understand why anyone would be surprised that a lounge open to virtually anyone who can pay a relatively modest annual subscription would be no better than a facility operated by a leading wealth management company. The comparison between AMEX in Brazil and AMEX in the USA is, if course, perfectly relevant, but drawing a comparison between the lounges of two financial institutions that operate within different market niches doesn't come across as very...
I don't understand why anyone would be surprised that a lounge open to virtually anyone who can pay a relatively modest annual subscription would be no better than a facility operated by a leading wealth management company. The comparison between AMEX in Brazil and AMEX in the USA is, if course, perfectly relevant, but drawing a comparison between the lounges of two financial institutions that operate within different market niches doesn't come across as very useful, particularly when the expected clientele isn't taken into account.
I was just here like two weeks ago. I'm not sure how much value is in offering a review of an empty lounge at 5am or whatever because when I was here (7pm-ish on a Thursday) this place was an ABSOLUTE FRIGGIN' ZOO!!!! Screaming kids, used dishes everywhere, incredibly limited seating, and no signs of even attempting to abate overcrowding (people were still flowing in once I left for my gate.) I think there Centurion...
I was just here like two weeks ago. I'm not sure how much value is in offering a review of an empty lounge at 5am or whatever because when I was here (7pm-ish on a Thursday) this place was an ABSOLUTE FRIGGIN' ZOO!!!! Screaming kids, used dishes everywhere, incredibly limited seating, and no signs of even attempting to abate overcrowding (people were still flowing in once I left for my gate.) I think there Centurion Lounge (and access thereto, particularly in US airports) is a scam all in an effort to bilk $700 a year out of cardholders.
I'm not sure if you have visited a Centurion lounge in the US recently, but the food offerings are certainly not much better than that and are way down hill compared to the first few years. And I would even say that the one in Sao Paulo has more choices than the typical one in the US.
I have only been to two Centurion lounges in the US - SFO and JFK - and GRU's look much better than both, in terms of food, seating and comfort.
Well, you clearly are a rookie....
Is it really accurate to claim any more that Amex lounges in the US have local chef-driven offerings? I'm pretty sure all of the ones I've visited lately have virtually the same food lineup and it's good but it's nothing like it was in the early days of Centurion lounges.
"local chef-driven offerings..." Rolling on the floor laughing out loud! Surely Ben was jesting.
Now that anyone can get into an Amex lounge, the quality has also deteriorated, just like the patrons...
"What I found interesting was that unlike Centurion Lounges in the United States, the food and drink selection was virtually identical to what was found in the Espaco Banco Safra Lounge."
Because the food probably comes from the same contractor.
The lounges at GRU are best described as "mid." The bar at this Centurion usually does a pretty good job making cocktails. The real play at GRU is the PP restaurants, which I'm sure you'll be reviewing soon.
My experience in Latin America is the lounge is for people who don't know locals. If you are well liked,someone will insist in driving you to the airport and entertaining with a nice meal before dropping you off. Hotel managers have refused to take my money to compensate for the trouble.
huh??? So they are going to take you to the food court in the check in area? No thanks. Or you mean entertain you before your flight? Well you still need to arrive about 2-3 hours early for international, so what do you do once you clear immigration and security?