Everything You Need to Know About AmEx Centurion Lounges

Do you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Centurion® Card from American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?

If so, there’s a top-shelf cocktail, premium snacks and a comfortable lounge with free Wi-Fi and other luxuries waiting for you at more than a dozen airports.

Cardholders also have access to AmEx’s Global Lounge Collection, which includes more than 1,400 lounges across 140 countries.

Although the network includes Centurion Lounges, International American Express Lounges, Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass Select lounges (enrollment required), you'll find Centurion Lounges are the swankiest. These locations offer custom drinks created by a nationally renowned mixologist, a member services desk that can help with travel plans and semi-private workspaces — some locations even have shower suites, a spa and a wine-tasting area.

» Learn more: 5 reasons you should be using airport lounges

Centurion Lounge access is exclusively available to holders of the cards listed above (premium American Express cards and premium Delta credit cards), as well as Centurion members. (Centurion membership is a privilege reserved for folks who spend somewhere in the six figures on an American Express card in a prior year and either got an invitation to join or requested access for their high spending). You can’t purchase a membership or a day pass to Centurion Lounges; they're for cardholders and members only.

To get in, present your eligible credit card, your boarding pass for travel that day and a photo ID. Certain cardholders can bring up to two guests for free and additional guests for $50 per person (more on exceptions to that policy below). Pets are allowed in carriers, service animals are allowed on a leash or harness and admittance for emotional support animals varies from lounge to lounge.

In addition to those who hold the Centurion® Card from American Express, other AmEx cards that offer Centurion Lounge access, not surprisingly, carry steep annual fees. They include:

For the aforementioned Delta cards, access is limited to Centurion Lounges in the U.S., Hong Kong and London, and the guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight as the card holder.

Holders of the American Express Corporate Platinum Card® may bring up to two guests at no charge to Centurion Lounges in the U.S., Hong Kong and London. Those who have The Centurion® Card from American Express and the American Express Business Centurion Card can bring up to two guests (for no additional fee) into any Centurion Lounge location.

Want to get into a Centurion Lounge but forgot the card? You're in luck: You may be able to do mobile check-in instead, which requires the AmEx mobile app rather than your physical card.

» Learn more: Best premium credit cards right now

All Centurion Lounges come with some basic perks, including gourmet snacks, a premium bar, high-speed Wi-Fi, power stations, large flat-screen TVs and are staffed. Some lounges come with extras, including hot meals.

There are nearly two dozen airports where you’ll find designated Centurion Lounges. But AmEx also operates 15 other lounges worldwide called Escape Lounges that offer similar amenities, and more Centurion Lounges are slated to open soon in Washington D.C. and Newark.

Here are the details for the Centurion Lounges and the usual hours of operation.

U.S. cities with Centurion Lounge locations

1. Atlanta (ATL). Concourse E besides Gate E11. Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, multi-purpose room, premium bar, showers.

2. Charlotte (CLT). Intersection of Concourses D & E, mezzanine level. Open 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, family room, premium bar, showers.

3. Washington-Dulles (DCA). Coming in 2024 to Terminal B.

4. Denver (DEN). Concourse C on the mezzanine level near Gate C46. Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Passengers from Concourse A, B and C are able to access the lounge by taking a train from Concourse C. Italian-inspired menu, craft beer bar, game room, shower suites.

5. Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW). Terminal D, across from Gate 12. Open 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fresh seasonal cuisine, spa, family room, shower suites, conference space.

6. New York-Newark (EWR). Coming in 2026 to Terminal A.

7. Houston (IAH). Terminal D, access via elevators near Gate D12. Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, family room, premium bar, shower suites and wellness space in partnership with meditation and relaxation app Calm.

8. New York-JFK (JFK). Terminal 4 on level 4. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. This is the largest of all lounges, including two floors and six unique rooms, each inspired by a different New York City landmark or design era. Equinox body lab, family room, premium bar, speakeasy, coffee bar, shower suites.

9. Las Vegas (LAS). Concourse D, opposite Gate D1. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fresh seasonal fare, family room, premium bar, shower suites.

10. Los Angeles (LAX). Terminal TBIT on level 2. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, family room, spa, shower suites.

11. New York-LaGuardia (LGA). Terminal B on the fourth floor. Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m Sunday through Friday and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m on Saturday. Fresh seasonal fare, premium bar, shower suites.

12. Miami (MIA). Concourse D, fourth floor near Gate D12. Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fresh seasonal fare, family room, premium bar, shower suites, spa.

13. Philadelphia (PHL). Terminal A West, near Gate A14. Open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, premium bar, shower suites.

14. Phoenix (PHX). Terminal 4 across from Gate B22 on the upper level. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, premium bar, shower suites.

15. Seattle-Tacoma (SEA). Central terminal on the mezzanine level. Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Snacks, premium bar, shower suites.

16. San Francisco (SFO). Terminal 3, near Gate F1/F2. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fresh seasonal cuisine, family room, wine-tasting area, shower suites.

International cities with Centurion Lounge locations

1. Buenos Aires (EZE). Terminal B. Take the stairs by Gate 15 to the entrance on Level 2. Open 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.

2. Delhi (DEL). Terminal 3, next to Gate 27 and 28. Open 24/7.

3. Hong Kong (HKG). Terminal 1, level 7. Take the escalator just before Gate 60. Open 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, premium bar, shower suites.

4. London (LHR). Terminal 3, Level 2, Area A. Open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, premium bar, private wellness room, tea cart, private showers.

5. Melbourne (MEL). Located inside Terminal 2, International. Take the escalator opposite Gate 7 down to the entrance on the lower level. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

6. Mexico City (MEX). This airport has three Centurion Lounges.

   • Terminal 1, International before security between Gate 8 and F1. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

   • Terminal 1, Domestic departure area between Gates 17 and 18. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

   • Terminal 2, after security on the mezzanine level. Open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

7. Monterrey (MTY). This airport has two Centurion Lounges.

   • Terminal A, departure level near Gate 4. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

   • Terminal B, departure level near the Food Court, in front of Gate 4. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

8. Mumbai (BOM). The lounge is in Terminal 2 in the Domestic Departure Area. Open 24/7.

9. Sao Paulo (GRU). Located inside Terminal 3. After security and passport control, turn left and follow the signs to ‘VIP Lounges.’ Open from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

10. Stockholm (ARN). Pier F, past security and Duty Free. Open from 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

11. Sydney (SYD). Terminal 1 International (near Gates 50-63). Take the escalator or lift to Level 1 to reach the lounge. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

All information about The Centurion® Card from American Express and the American Express Business Centurion Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Centurion® Card from American Express is no longer available through NerdWallet.