What Cards Can Get Me Into AmEx Centurion Lounges?

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. And almost all of them have unique, local flair. Just look to the wine wall with seasonal wines from across California at the San Francisco Centurion Lounge, or the tea cart in the London Centurion Lounge, as proof.

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.

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):

1. The Platinum Card® from American Express.

2. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

3. Corporate Platinum Card®.

4. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

5. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.

6. Centurion® Card.

7. Business Centurion® Card.

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

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 (see rates and fees).

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 (starting Nov. 8, 2024, when you use the card to pay for your purchase), 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 $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

» Learn more: Is the AmEx Platinum a glorified coupon book?

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

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 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express charges a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

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 $650 versus $695 for The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees).

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 get four one-time guest passes. Once these are used up, cardholders can bring up to two guests per lounge visit for $50 each.

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

• Delta Sky Club access. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. To earn an unlimited number of visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more the previous year. To earn unlimited visits in 2025, you’ll need to spend this amount between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24.

• First checked bag free.

• Upgrade priority.

• 20% back on in-flight purchases.

Terms apply.

Eligible new cardmembers can earn a welcome offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

» Learn more: What credit cards get me into Delta Sky Club?

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

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.

If you don't already have this $650 annual fee card (see rates and fees ), small-business owners can earn the following welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

» Learn more: Which Delta credit card should you get?

AmEx Centurion Lounge locations

As of 2023, American Express operates more than a dozen domestic and 11 international Centurion Lounges.

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

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

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.