What is the Best Card for Centurion Lounge Access?

American Express Centurion Lounges are some of the world’s more upscale airport lounges.

The best? Not quite.

The worst? Far from it.

But they’re pretty darn nice. Although, some airlines are getting close. The new Delta Sky Clubs in Los Angeles [review], Chicago O’Hare [review], and La Guardia [review] are examples.

In addition to complimentary premium cocktails and food buffets, some feature spa treatments or other amenities.

Their decor, service, and ambiance are usually a step above your run-of-the-mill airline lounge.

Plus, there’s the American Express cachet — long perceived as luxury, prestige, and high class.

Anyone with certain premium American Express cards can access Centurion Lounges for free. However, admission rules vary depending on which card you hold.

So, with that in mind, what American Express Card is the best to get you into Centurion Lounges?

Where are American Express Centurion Lounges?

You’ll find Centurion Lounges in the following airports:

• Atlanta (ATL)
• Buenos Aires (EZE)
• Charlotte (CLT)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Delhi (DEL)
• Denver (DEN)
• Hong Kong (HKG)
• Houston (IAH)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Melbourne (MEL)
• Mexico City (MEX)
• Miami (MIA)
• Monterrey (MTY)
• Mumbai (BOM)
• New York (JFK)
• New York (LGA)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Sao Paulo (GRU)
• Seattle (SEA)
• Stockholm (ARN)
• Sydney (SYD)

Plus, cardholders can also access Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner are the following locations:

• Hartford (BDL)
• Cincinnati (CVG)
• Columbus (CMH)
• Ft. Lauderdale (FLL)
• Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)
• Oakland (OAK)
• Palm Beach (PBI)
• Phoenix (PHX) – Two locations
• Providence (PVD)
• Reno-Tahoe (RNO)
• Sacramento (SMF) — Two locations

Which Cards Give You Access to American Express Centurion Lounges?

Five Amex cards give primary cardholders (and fully paid authorized additional card members) complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Access limited to eligible card members.)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• And, of course, the invitation-only Centurion Card or “Black Card.” (All information about the Centurion Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided or reviewed by the card issuer.) 

Let’s face it: the Centurion Card is the best of the bunch in terms of Centurion Lounge access. Cardholders are invited to use special reserved tables and booths — even when the clubs are crowded.

But for the rest of us who don’t qualify for Centurion Card membership, let’s break down the other four options!

General Entrance Rules

Before we get to the nitty-gritty, let’s take a look at the standard rules for admission to Centurion Lounges (although some policies may vary in different countries):

• Three-Hour Rule: Eligible cardholders can enter the lounge only three hours before their scheduled flight’s departure time — not boarding time.
• Confirmed Seat: You must have a confirmed seat (or boarding zone and line position when flying Southwest) on that flight. You’re out of luck if you fly standby. (Though your mileage may vary.)
• No Admittance Upon Arrival: Cardholders will not be admitted to Centurion Lounges when arriving at their final destinations.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The personal/consumer Amex Platinum Card and the Amex Business Platinum Card allow cardholders to enter Centurion Lounges and Centurion Studios-Escape Lounges — regardless of the airline they travel. (Access is limited to eligible card members.) This benefit also extends to paid authorized cardholders. (The Platinum Card® from American Express holders can add authorized card members for $195 each. See Rates and Fees. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express members can add up to 99 authorized card holders for $300 each. See Rates and Fees.)

The cards also carry additional airport lounge benefits such as:

• Both Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card members receive complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight departing from or arriving at the airport in which the Delta Sky Club is located.
  • Cardmembers receive up to 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. A “Visit” is an entry to one or more Delta Sky Clubs or usage of the Delta Sky Club “Grab and Go” feature at one or more airports for a period of up to 24 hours starting upon the first Delta Sky Club entry or Grab and Go usage, during an Eligible Card Member’s travel on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. A single Visit permits using Delta Sky Club(s) in multiple airports during the 24-hour period.
  • Once all 10 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card. To earn an unlimited number of Visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more during a calendar year and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Up to two guests may be brought in for $50 per person. (See Rates and Fees)
• Cardholders are also eligible for complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment is required).
• Amex Platinum Card members receive complimentary access to select Lufthansa Business Lounges (regardless of ticket class) and Lufthansa Senator Lounges (when flying business class) when flying a same-day trip on a Lufthansa Group flight (Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian airlines)
• Amex Platinum Card members receive complimentary access to select Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide.

Side note: I noted in my review of the Oakland Escape Lounge that my Platinum Card members received complimentary liquor upgrades for my wife and me.

Guest Access

Centurion Lounges charge $50 per guest per visit. However, if you spend $75,000 on eligible expenses per calendar year on your Platinum Card, you may bring two guests in for free to the Centurion Lounge for the rest of the year.

Up to two guests are permitted complimentary access to Centurion Studios-Escape Lounges.

Delta Reserve and Reserve Business Cards

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cards allow members to access eligible Centurion Lounges — but only when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. However, that flight must be booked with a U.S.-issued American Express Card.

By the way, “eligible” lounges include all Centurion Lounges in the United States, Hong Kong, and London. For those of you taking AeroMexico MQD mileage runs and connecting through Mexico City: no such luck, sorry, accessing the MEX Centurion Lounge.

The “same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight” rule applies to Centurion Studio-Escape Lounge visits — though I didn’t see any verbiage requiring your flight to be purchased with an Amex card.

Guest Access

The guest policy is the same as the Platinum Cards: up to two guests for $50 a pop. Guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.

Meanwhile, the guest rate is $30 each for Escape Lounges. Those guests must travel on a same-day Delta-marketed flight. The Escape Lounge’s website says nothing about the flight needing to be Delta-operated — but something tells me it probably should(?).

My Take: The Platinum Card is the Best Card for Centurion Lounge Access

The consumer/personal Platinum Card® from American Express is, for my money, the best card for getting into Centurion Lounges.

Why?

It’s far less restrictive than the Reserve cards — and offers many statement credit opportunities that easily help you earn back the $695 annual fee. (Rates and Fees.) Those credits can be used for expenses I think many of us already incur.

Plus, I like the fact it comes with Plaza Premium lounge access.

That said, the Business Platinum Amex works just as well in terms of Centurion Lounge and Escape Lounge access. Depending on your business and spending, earning back that $695 annual fee shouldn’t be an issue. (Rates and Fees.)

No Credit Card or Travel Prerequisites

Here’s a big plus about the Platinum Cards: Centurion Lounge access isn’t contingent upon which airline you fly that day — or the method of your trip’s payment. The same can’t be said for the Delta Reserve cards.

This is also a huge upshot for people taking Delta partner mileage runs on airlines such as AeroMexico, Air France, and KLM. (Although those trips are usually in business class, which gains entry into airline lounges anyway.)

For example, one of my clients travels me almost exclusively on Southwest. This client pays with their own cobranded Visa credit card. So, that doesn’t matter when I’m in, say, Las Vegas for business and want to visit the LAS Centurion Lounge. Either my Amex Platinum Card or Amex Business Platinum Card get me in just fine.

I’d be out of luck, though, if my only Centurion Lounge card were my Delta Reserve Business Amex Card. There are rare occasions, though, when the client books me on Delta. But again, the Reserve card would be worthless in this situation because the client books me with their Visa card.

Or for people who book Delta tickets with other credit cards — such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® because of its great trip cancellation and interruption benefits — having a Platinum Card for Centurion Lounge access is the best option.

Plus, keep in mind that the Delta Reserve cards don’t get you into nearly as many Centurion Lounges as the Platinum Cards.

Final Approach

The Platinum Card® from American Express is, in my opinion, the best card for Centurion Lounge access. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the same. The only reason I give the Platinum Card the edge is because of its better overall benefits and ease of use to redeem statement credit opportunities.

The Delta Reserve cards require cardholders to jump through more hoops. Plus, Platinum Cards get better benefits at Escape Lounges.

Which card do you think is the best for Centurion Lounge access? Please share your take in the below Comments section!

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.