What AmEx Cards Get You Into Centurion Lounges? – NerdWallet

The Centurion Lounges by American Express are some of the nicest airport lounges currently available. Centurion Lounge benefits include chef-prepared hot meals from a buffet, complimentary cocktails, liquors and wine, and a variety of seating areas to either relax or get some work done before your flight. Some lounges have a spa where you can enjoy a complimentary treatment.

However, access to these areas doesn’t come cheap — you must be a cardmember of a qualifying American Express card to access Centurion Lounges. Memberships and day passes are not available to non-cardmembers, as you cannot buy access to a Centurion Lounge.

Here’s a look at where you’ll find AmEx Centurion Lounges and what AmEx cards will get you in.

AmEx Centurion Lounge locations

As of 2023, American Express operates 13 domestic and 11 international Centurion Lounges.

Domestic AmEx Centurion Lounge locations can be found in the following airports:

Domestic Centurion Lounge locations

• Charlotte.

• Dallas-Fort Worth.

• Denver.

• Houston-Intercontinental.

• Las Vegas.

• Los Angeles.

• Miami.

• New York-JFK.

• New York-LaGuardia.

• Philadelphia.

• Phoenix.

• San Francisco.

• Seattle.

You can also have access abroad, as international Centurion Lounges can be found in:

International Centurion Lounge locations

• Hong Kong.

• London-Heathrow.

• Stockholm.

• Mumbai.

• Delhi.

• Buenos Aires.

• São Paulo.

• Melbourne.

• Mexico City.

• Monterrey.

• Sydney.

Cards with Centurion Lounge access

AmEx cardholders with one of the seven cards below can receive complimentary Centurion Lounge access (subject to other lounge access restrictions):

Terms apply.

Unfortunately, there is no Centurion Lounge access with an American Express® Gold Card.

Note that the access and guest policy — as well as other card perks — vary across products. Here’s a closer look at which card is potentially best for your situation.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

NerdWallet rating 

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Learn More

The Platinum Card® from American Express is AmEx’s most popular card for travelers. For a hefty $695 annual fee, cardmembers get access to the Centurion Lounge any time they fly. To enter, show your card, a same-day boarding pass with a confirmed seat or zone assignment and your government-issued identification.

Cardmembers have to pay a $50 guest fee ($30 for children ages 2 to 17). The exception is for cardmembers who have spent $75,000 on their card in the prior calendar year; these members will maintain complimentary guest access.

If you’re not flying through an airport with an AmEx Centurion Lounge, you can still fly in style. Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express get access to more than 1,400 other airport lounges through AmEx’s Global Lounge Collection. Plus, you’ll be able to bring two guests into these lounges for no cost.

Airport lounge access is just one of many reasons to carry The Platinum Card® from American Express. The premium travel card is packed with enough benefits to fill an entire article. Highlights include over $1,500 in potential statement credits — including up to a $200 hotel credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash, up to $200 toward airline incidental fees and much more. Just keep in mind that enrollment is required for most card benefits. Terms apply.

If you don’t have The Platinum Card® from American Express yet, you might be enticed by the current offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

NerdWallet rating 

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Learn More

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also comes with Centurion Lounge access anytime the primary cardmember travels through a qualifying airport.

Business Platinum cardmembers need to pay $50 per guest ($30 for children ages 2-17) per visit, up to a maximum of two guests. Complimentary guest access will only be granted to cardmembers who spent $75,000 or more in the prior calendar year. Terms apply.

Like its personal card counterpart, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also offers airport lounge access to several additional lounges around the world via the AmEx Global Lounge Collection.

However, the other perks of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express are targeted toward small business owners. For example, Business Platinum cardmembers can get up to:

• $400 in statement credits for Dell purchases.

• $360 in statement credits for Indeed purchases.

• $150 in statement credits for qualifying Adobe purchases.

• $120 in statement credits toward wireless telephone purchases.

Terms apply.

Small-business owners can earn the following welcome offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Platinum Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express charges a $695 annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

NerdWallet rating 

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Learn More

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card provides a lower-cost way to access domestic and select international Centurion Lounges (Hong Kong and London). The card charges an annual fee of $550 versus $695 for The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

However, there are two catches. To access a Centurion Lounge, cardmembers need to be flying on Delta Air Lines and must have booked that flight using an AmEx card. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card members can bring up to two guests — provided the guests are also flying on Delta — at a cost of $50 per guest.

In addition to Centurion Lounge access, Delta Reserve cardmembers get the following benefits when flying on Delta:

• Delta Sky Club access.

• First checked bag free.

• Upgrade priority.

• 20% back on in-flight purchases.

Terms apply.

Each year, cardmembers receive an annual companion certificate on Delta. Plus, you can earn Delta Medallion status quicker by spending your way to a Medallion Status Boost or a Medallion Qualification Dollar waiver.

Eligible new cardmembers can earn a welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

NerdWallet rating 

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Learn More

Delta-loyal small-business owners can gain access to AmEx Centurion Lounges by utilizing the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. Like with the personal version of the same card, cardmembers get access when flying Delta on a ticket that they purchased using an AmEx card.

Cardmembers don’t get any free guest allowance. However, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card members can bring two fellow Delta travelers into the lounge with them at a cost of $50 per person.

In addition to Centurion Lounges, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card members can access Delta Sky Club and Escape lounges when flying on Delta. The card’s benefits also provide perks on Delta flights — including a first checked bag free, priority boarding and complimentary upgrades.

Plus, primary cardmembers can spend on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to earn a status boost toward Medallion elite status.

If you don’t already have this $550 annual fee card, small-business owners can earn the following welcome offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Final thoughts on Centurion Lounge access

Cardmembers of seven different AmEx cards offer free access to Centurion Lounges. However, not all of these cards are publicly available to new cardholders.

Travelers should consider whether The Platinum Card® from American Express or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a better fit for them. Small-business owners have the option to sign up for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to gain Centurion Lounge access.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page.