How to access American Express Centurion Lounges, which feature curated menus, craft cocktails and other luxe perks

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express, as well as other card issuers such as Capital One and Chase, are upping the ante when it comes to enhancing your airport experience and providing cardholders exclusive lounge access — and all the benefits that come with it.

Centurion® Lounges are known the world over for their luxe amenities, with complimentary perks such as high-speed Wi-Fi, shower suites, spa services, semi-private workstations, relaxation rooms and a robust menu of gourmet seasonal food and craft cocktails curated by popular local chefs.

There's just one thing: You'll only be able to enter if you have certain American Express cards — in particular, The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Centurion® Card from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card— or you're visiting as a guest of a current cardmember. 

With plans for two more Centurion Lounges, there will soon be a total of 16 U.S. locations. The new lounges in the pipeline will be located at:

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, at Terminal B (opening 2024).
• Newark Liberty International Airport, in the new Terminal A (opening 2026).

Here's where to find current Centurion Lounges within the U.S.:

• Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, in Concourse E between the domestic and international terminals.
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Between Concourses D and E; Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal D across from Gate D12; Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Denver International Airport, Concourse C (post-security), near gate C46; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Houston - George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal D, take the elevator from the Duty-Free Shop near Gate D6; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Las Vegas - Harry Reid International Airport, Concourse D, across from Gate D1; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Los Angeles International Airport, Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), on the left after security; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Miami International Airport, Concourse D, on the fourth floor near Gate D12; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• New York City - LaGuardia Airport, Terminal B (post-security) on the fourth floor just before the pedestrian bridge; Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Friday, and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
• New York City - John F. Kennedy International Airport, Terminal 4, just past security, to the left of the escalators; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal A West near Gate A14; Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Terminal 4 across from Gate B22; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 3 next to Gates F1 and F2; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, On the mezzanine level in the Central Terminal; Open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Additional Centurion Lounges can be found internationally in Hong Kong (HKG), London (LHR), Stockholm (ARN), Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Buenos Aires (EZE), São Paulo (GRU), Melbourne (MEL), Mexico City (MEX), Monterrey (MTY) and Sydney (SYD).

American Express has rebranded Escape Lounges into a concept called "Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner," and these locations serve as mini-Centurion Lounges. Centurion Studio Partner locations are open at 15 airports, including Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Columbus (CMH), Sacramento (SMF) and Phoenix (PHX).

Whichever lounge you visit, you can expect to find a range of complimentary perks including seasonal food and beverage options curated by popular local chefs, signature craft cocktails, high-speed Wi-Fi, semi-private workspaces, access to The Centurion Lounge Digital Library, access to a Member Services travel concierge team, luxury amenities such as spa services and shower suites and little touches like family rooms and customized relaxation spaces.

To enter any Centurion Lounge, you'll need to have a same-day boarding pass. You can only access these lounges before you fly or during a layover if you have a connecting flight. You can't enter a Centurion lounge after you land. You must also be able to produce a valid government-issued photo I.D. and the eligible card that's associated with your membership (unless you are a guest of a current cardholder).

Children ages two and under get in free with a qualifying parent who can show a "lap infant" boarding pass or proof of their child's age.

You'll only be allowed to enter the lounge within three hours of your flight's departure and cannot reserve a spot ahead of time — entry will be based on capacity and access to some amenities based on availability. You also won't be allowed in if you have a standby ticket, unless you can show you have a boarding pass showing a confirmed seat or assigned zone.

Complimentary or discounted access

Travelers with The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the Centurion® Card from American Express receive complimentary access to any outpost within the Centurion Lounge network.

Those with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card are permitted to enter U.S. Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner and Centurion Lounges within the U.S., in London (LHR) and in Hong Kong (HKG) — and only if they're traveling on a same-day flight that's operated or marketed by Delta Air Lines.

Amex Platinum cardholders have access to more than 1,400 lounges

Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders also receive complimentary access to The Global Lounge Collection®, which includes Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, Delta Sky Club® lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass™ lounges and Lufthansa Lounges, giving you access to more than 1,400 airport lounges in over 650 cities worldwide.

Note, however, that the rules vary by lounge regarding how many guests you're allowed to take with you and whether their entry is also complimentary. Additionally, to access Delta Sky Clubs, you'll have to be traveling on a same-day flight that is operated or marketed by Delta Air Lines.

Paid access

Due to the exclusivity of these lounges, you won't be able to enter unless you are a qualifying cardholder (see above) or a guest of one (see below).

Centurion cardholders can bring their immediate family (spouse, partner and children under 18) or up to two guests free of charge to any Centurion Lounge or Escape Lounge. Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders can bring two free guests to Escape Lounge locations but have to pay $50 per guest ($30 per child ages 2–17) at Centurion Lounge locations. Consumer and business Platinum card members can qualify for two complimentary guest passes per Centurion Lounge visit after spending at least $75,000 on your card within a calendar year. Once earned, that complimentary guest access will be valid through January of the second calendar year (if you earned it by Nov. 1, 2024, it would be active through January 31, 2026).

Those with a Delta SkyMiles Reserve card can bring up to two guests per visit by paying a fee of $50 per person per visit ($30 per child between 2 and 17 years old; children under 2 are free) as long as you're all traveling on a same-day flight that is being operated or marketed by Delta Air Lines. Delta SkyMiles Reserve card members may bring guests to Escape Lounge locations but will pay the per-visit fee that the specific lounge charges.

Here's a look at the various American Express cards that will gain you access to the Centurion Lounge network, as well as their current welcome bonuses:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of account opening.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 within the first three months of account opening.
• Centurion® Card from American Express: This "Black Card" is available via invitation only, though you may be able to request a membership consideration.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 95,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card: Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/17.

Centurion Lounges are known for their luxury amenities and exclusive access, which you can score by signing up for certain eligible cards. With more locations popping up in cities all over the U.S. and around the world, now might be a good time to take advantage of a lucrative welcome bonus so you can make your next airport experience a relaxing and memorable one.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card and airport lounge review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card, click here.

Information about the Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.