How to access Amex Centurion Lounges (and where the lounges are)

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The first American Express Centurion Lounge was opened in Las Vegas in 2013 and since then, Amex has rolled out its lounge concept to multiple locations around the US as well as to select international locations.

In this article we take a look at who can access these Centurion Lounges, what the rules are surrounding entry, who can bring in free guests, and how much standard guest access costs.

Where are the Amex Centurion Lounges

There are two types of Centurion Lounge. There’s the type that was introduced in 2013 and which is found across the United States and in two worldwide locations.

And there’s the type that is a Centurion Lounge in name only. These are all found outside of the United States and are lounges that were formerly just known as ‘Amex lounges’.

All the lounges are listed below, but this article will focus on the lounges found in the United States and the two international locations.

USA

Atlanta (ATL)
Charlotte (CLT)
Dallas (DFW)
Denver (DEN)
Houston (IAH)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Miami (MIA)
Newark (EWR) – Expected in 2026
New York (JFK)
New York (LGA)
Philadelphia (PHL)
Phoenix (PHX)
Salt Lake City (SLC) – Expected in 2025
San Francisco (SFO)
Seattle (SEA)
Washington, D.C. (DCA)

International

Hong Kong (HKG)
London, UK (LHR)

Other

Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE)
Delhi, India (DEL)
Melbourne, Australia (MEL)
Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
Monterrey, Mexico (MTY)
Mumbai, India (BOM)
São Paulo, Brazil (GRU)
Sydney, Australia (SYD)

How to access Amex Centurion Lounges

The key to accessing an Amex Centurion Lounge is to hold a American Express card that gives Centurion Lounge access as part of its benefits package or to have someone who holds such a card invite into the lounge as their guest.

Currently, these are the US-issued consumer and business cards that offer Centurion Lounge access (terms apply):

• The Centurion Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Note: Holders of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards (both varieties) can only access the Centurion Lounges when flying on a Delta operated or marketed flight.

Access, guests, and time limits

The lounges in the United States, Hong Kong, and London all share the same rules. For the remaining lounges (all of which are found outside the US), the entry and guesting rules vary by location (use the links above to check the access rules for individual lounges).

To access a Centurion Lounge, an eligible cardholder you must present their card, a physical government-issued ID, and their boarding pass for same day travel. Centurion Lounges cannot be used as an arrivals lounge.

Cardholders must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian and all centurion Lounge visitors must be of legal drinking age in the jurisdiction where the Lounge is located to consume alcoholic beverages.

For locations with a self-service bar, the cardholder must be of legal drinking age in the location’s jurisdiction to enter without a parent or legal guardian.

Holders of Platinum Cards

Holders of the various American Express consumer and business Platinum cards (including supplementary cards) originating at an airport with a Centurion Lounge, can access the lounge a maximum of 3 hours before their scheduled departure time.

Platinum cardholders connecting at an airport with a Centurion Lounge, the 3-hour limitation is waived.

Platinum cardholders who spend $75,000 on their card in a calendar year can invite two guests to join them in a lounge without incurring a charge.

After the $75,000 spending target is met, complimentary guest access is available for the remainder of the calendar, the following calendar year, and until 31 January of the next calendar year.

All other Platinum cardholders will be charged a US$50 fee for each guest they wish to invite into the lounge (US$30 for children aged 2 through 17, with proof of age).

Holders of Delta Reserve Cards

As noted earlier, holders of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards (including supplementary cards) can only access the Centurion Lounges when flying on a Delta operated or marketed flight.

Holders of Delta Reserve cards (including supplementary cards) originating at an airport with a Centurion Lounge, can access the lounge a maximum of 3 hours before their scheduled departure time.

Reserve cardholders connecting at an airport with a Centurion Lounge, the 3-hour limitation is waived.

A Card Member may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 USD (or $30 USD for children aged 2 through 17) per person, per location. Guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.

The Delta Reserve cards do not offer cardholders the option to earn free Centurion Lounge guest access by hitting a spending target.

Note: The terms and conditions of the Amex Delta Reserve cards stipulate that a flight must be booked on a US-issued American Express charge or credit card for it to be considered an eligible flight for the purposes of Centurion Lounge entry, but we don’t know of anyone who has had to show proof of this.

Holders of the Centurion Card

Holders of an American Express Centurion Card have unlimited access to Amex Centurion Lounges and can invite two guests to join them on every visit without incurring a charge.

Centurion Card holders are not subject to the 3-hours before departure rule regardless of their itinerary.

Bottom line

To access a American Express Centurion Lounge you’ll have to be the holder of one of Amex’s more premium cards or be fortunate enough to be guested in by someone who holds one of those cards.

Keep in mind that the rules for accessing a Centurion Lounge vary according to the variety of premium Amex card that is being used to access the lounge, so make sure you’re clear on the rules that are applicable to your specific card to avoid disappointment at the airport.