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Guide to American Express Lounges: Access and Locations 2024

Updated
Matt Frankel, CFP®
Author: Matt Frankel, CFP®
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There are many different airport lounge networks, but the Centurion Lounges by American Express have emerged as the gold standard of luxury airport lounges, with more than two dozen locations in the United States and abroad. Commonly referred to as the "Amex Lounges" because of their exclusivity to certain American Express cardholders, the Centurion Lounges offer perks that are beyond what you might expect from the typical airport lounge experience.

Technically speaking, there are two different American Express lounge networks. The better-known is the ultra-premium Centurion Lounge network, but there is also another Amex lounge network known as Escape Lounges. We'll focus most of this discussion on the Centurion lounges, but be aware that if you see an Escape Lounge, it's an Amex lounge as well.

Who can access American Express airport lounges?

Access to the American Express Centurion Lounges is limited to certain types of American Express card members. Specifically, card members who have any of the following products are eligible for complimentary access to the lounges (terms apply):

As of Dec. 26, 2024
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Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.

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Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.

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Annual Fee:

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Annual Fee:

$650

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$550

Highlights:

  • 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.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
  • Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
  • Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your Card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies, up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
  • $189 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
  • $695 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • 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.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® when you fly Delta. 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 starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
  • Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
  • Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
  • Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • Limited-time offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
  • Complimentary Access to the Delta Sky Club‡ when you fly Delta & 2 Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year so you can bring friends & family when flying together on Delta (Basic Card Members must accompany guest to enter Sky Club®)
  • Earn 3X miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
  • Earn 1.5X Miles on eligible purchases for the rest of the year, after you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year (that’s an extra half mile per dollar). If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
  • Earn 1X miles on all other purchases made using the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card.
  • Get Status Boost - Earn 15,000 Medallion®Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you make $30,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in a calendar year, up to 4X per year. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Terms Apply.
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Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. The information for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Motley Fool Money. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

All of these cards give members access to the Centurion Lounges, as well as several other airport lounge networks. And there are slightly different access rules for each. For example, those who hold a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can only access the Centurion Lounge when they are flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or operated flight.

It's also worth noting that it isn't just the primary cardholders that can access the lounges. Some of the cards mentioned above allow you to bring guests, while others only allow guest access after reaching certain card spending thresholds. Others don't allow guest access at all. And certain types of authorized users on these cards can access the lounges, even if the primary cardholder isn't there.

American Express lounge locations

Here's a full list of the Centurion Lounge locations that are currently operating in the United States, or that will soon be open, and a bit about each one, listed in alphabetical order.

Atlanta (ATL)

The Centurion Lounge in the Atlanta International Airport is the newest in the network, and is located in Concourse E, beside Gate E11. It is also the largest Centurion Lounge, which is appropriate for the busiest airport in the world, and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET every day.

Charlotte (CLT)

The Charlotte Douglas International Airport location of The Centurion Lounge opened in 2020 and is located where Councourses D&E intersect. It is open from 5:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and is accessible from all Concourses without having to exit the secured area.

Dallas (DFW)

The Dallas location is about 12,500 square feet, making it one of the larger locations. It is located in the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Terminal D, across from Gate D12. If you aren't flying into or out of Terminal D, you can access the lounge by the Skylink train.

Denver (DEN)

The Denver Centurion Lounge opened in 2021 and is located in Concourse C of the Denver International Airport, but is accessible from all A, B, and C gates.

Houston (IAH)

The Houston Centurion Lounge is located at Houston Intercontinental Airport, and opened in 2016. It is located near gate D12, and can be accessed from all other terminals by taking the SKYWAY train.

Las Vegas (LAS)

The Centurion Lounge at the Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport was the first Centurion Lounge location, and opened in 2016. It is located in Concourse D, across from Gate D1, and can be accessed from other terminals by the airport's train system.

Los Angeles (LAX)

Open since June 2022, the Centurion Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport is open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day. It is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, and can be accessed by other terminals by either walkway or bus.

Miami (MIA)

The Centurion Lounge at Miami International Airport is one of the larger lounges in the network, with 12,300 square feet of space and is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, It is located in Concourse D, near Gate D12.

Newark (EWR): Coming soon

American Express is planning to open a new lounge at Newark International Airport in 2026. It will be a large space with 18,000 square feet, and will feature an outdoor terrace and piano lounge, in addition to the more common Centurion Lounge amenities.

New York -- Kennedy (JFK)

One of the larger Centurion Lounges, the location at John. F. Kennedy International Airport in New York has 15,000 square feet of space over two levels. It is located in Terminal 4 just past the TSA checkpoint.

New York -- LaGuardia (LGA)

The Centurion Lounge at LaGuardia airport is located in Terminal B post-security (Note: The original Centurion Lounge at LaGuardia was located before security). It has about 10,000 square feet of space and opened in its current location in 2021.

Philadelphia (PHL)

The Centurion Lounge at the Philadelphia International Airport opened in 2017 and at 6,300 square feet, is one of the smallest in the network. It is located in Terminal A, near Gate 14, and is open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Phoenix (PHX)

The Centurion Lounge at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport opened in 2020 and is a mid-sized lounge with about 9,500 square feet. It is located in Terminal 4 near Gate B22, and is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

San Francisco (SFO)

The Centurion Lounge at San Francisco International Airport opens at 5 a.m. every day and doesn't close until 11 p.m. It has about 8,200 square feet of space, and is located in Terminal 3, across from Gates F1 and F2 in Concourse F.

Seattle (SEA)

There is a relatively small (4,500 square foot) Centurion Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport that is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. It is located in the Central Terminal on Mezzanine level and is unique in that it doesn't have a full kitchen.

Washington, D.C. (DCA): Coming soon

American Express hasn't announced an opening date yet, but it is currently building a new Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C.

International Centurion Lounge locations

In addition to the U.S. lounges discussed earlier, there are about a dozen international Centurion Lounges in the following locations:

  • Buenos Aires (EZE)
  • Delhi (DEL)
  • Hong Kong (HKG)
  • London -- Heathrow (LHR)
  • Melbourne (MEL)
  • Mexico City (MEX)
  • Mumbai (BOM)
  • São Paulo (GRU)
  • Stockholm (ARN)
  • Sydney (SYD)

American Express lounge perks

The exact amenities Centurion Lounges offer vary by location, and generally speaking, the larger locations have more amenities. However, here's a quick list of what all Centurion Lounges have:

  • Chef-designed food buffets
  • Complementary cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, and soft drinks
  • Free high-speed internet
  • Private and semi-private workspaces
  • Print/fax/copy access
  • Magazines and newspapers

In addition, certain Centurion Lounges have:

  • Spa services
  • Shower suites
  • Wine tasting rooms
  • Specialty bars
  • Conference rooms
  • Family rooms

Beyond this list, some locations have unique amenities that are specific to each location.

Can you access American Express lounges without an Amex card?

The short answer is "not usually." The main purpose of the American Express Centurion Lounges was to create a cardmember-exclusive perk. You cannot buy a membership to the American Express Centurion airport lounges like you can with the airline-run lounge networks. However, it's worth noting that the Escape Lounges do sell single-day passes. Check out our list of the best credit cards with airport lounge access for options to visit other airport lounges.

Having said that, there are two main ways you can access the Amex lounges if you don't have one of the qualifying American Express cards. First, you can find someone who has guest access. Centurion Card members have guest access, as do Amex Platinum Card members who spend more than $75,000 on the card in a calendar year (terms apply, up to two guests per visit). Amex Platinum Card members who don't have complimentary guest access can still bring in guests, but it will cost $50 each.

Alternatively, you can ask a friend or relative who has one of the qualifying cards to add you as an "additional card member." Essentially, this means that you're added as an authorized user on their account, but it comes with a fee to cover certain benefits -- and lounge access is one of them. The Platinum Card® from American Express allows members to add additional card members (up to three) for $195 per year each, and every additional card member will have their own lounge access benefit (terms apply).

The American Express Centurion Lounge network was built from the ground up by Amex to be an exclusive benefit to its premium cardholders and their guests. These lounges are a step above the traditional (and already luxurious) airport lounge experience, and have proven to be a valuable and attractive benefit of some of the high-end American Express cards.

See more of what American Express has to offer

To explore American Express cards and get the full rundown of perks available, check out our guide to the best American Express cards.

Learn more about American Express