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Guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum

Katie Genter
Katie Genter
Senior Writer
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
Sept. 29, 2023
•
12 min read
American Express Centurion Lounge Seattle
2021
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Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Many of the best travel cards confer valuable benefits. For example, some cards provide hotel elite status while others offer travel statement credits. But The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offer perhaps the most comprehensive benefits of any premium travel rewards card.

Chief among these benefits is access to Amex Centurion Lounges. What many Amex Platinum cardmembers don't realize, however, is that Centurion Lounges are just one type of lounge they can visit through the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection.

In this post, we'll go through all the types of airport lounges that are part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

What lounges can I access with the Amex Platinum Card?

American Express Centurion Lounge in Seattle. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

With the Amex Platinum Card or Amex Business Platinum Card, you have access to the following types of lounges:

Using the Global Lounge Collection website, you can find participating airport lounges during your travels. American Express states that you'll have access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.

As an Amex Platinum cardmember — including authorized users with additional Platinum cards but not authorized users with companion Platinum cards — you'll get access to most eligible lounge networks by showing your Platinum card, government-issued identification and a valid boarding pass. However, each lounge network has different access requirements and guest policies, so let's look at each.

Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card

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American Express Centurion Lounges

American Express Centurion Lounge in San Francisco. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Centurion Lounges are the most exclusive lounges available to Platinum cardmembers. They offer a staffed bar, meals, ample nonalcoholic drinks, high-speed Wi-Fi and various seating options. Some Centurion Lounges also provide additional complimentary amenities, such as family rooms and spa services.

Centurion Lounge locations

Amex is also planning to open Centurion Lounges at Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport (DCA), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Access policy for Centurion Lounges

Check-in desk at the American Express Centurion Lounge in Seattle. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Platinum cardmembers may only access the Centurion Lounge within three hours of their flight's scheduled departure. Access upon arrival isn't allowed unless you have a layover or connecting flight, in which case the three-hour rule doesn't apply. However, access policies may vary from country to country in international locations.

You'll need to provide a same-day, confirmed boarding pass, your Amex Platinum card and your government-issued identification to gain access.

Guest policy for Centurion Lounges

U.S. Platinum cardmembers must pay $50 per guest aged 18 or older and $30 per guest aged 2 through 17 (guests under 2 years of age are complimentary with proof of age).

However, U.S. Platinum cardmembers can qualify for complimentary guest access for up to two guests per visit after spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their card within a calendar year. Suppose you spend at least $75,000 on your Platinum card within a calendar year. In that case, you'll get complimentary guest access for up to two guests per visit for the remainder of the calendar year, the following calendar year and until Jan. 31 of the next calendar year. So, if you earned complimentary guest access in 2023, it would be valid through Jan. 31, 2025.

However, note that guest policies may vary from country to country in international locations.

Related: Don't get turned away at the door — top ways to still bring guests into the Amex Centurion Lounge

Access to other lounge networks

Centurion Lounges are great, but most airports don't have a Centurion Lounge. So, most of the lounges you can visit with an Amex Platinum Card or Amex Business Platinum Card are in other lounge networks. You can use the lounge search function on Amex's website to see the current operating hours and locations for lounges.

Delta Sky Club lounges

A Delta Sky Club in Newark. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Amex Platinum cardmembers get access to Delta-operated Sky Club lounges when flying on a Delta-operated flight or a Delta-marketed flight operated by WestJet. To find eligible lounges, head to Delta's website and select "Platinum Card® Members From American Express" as your membership type.

To gain access, show your Platinum Card, government-issued identification and same-day boarding pass. You can only access Delta Sky Club lounges up to three hours before the scheduled departure of a same-day Delta-operated flight or during a connection between two Delta-operated flights on the same ticket.

Currently, you can get unlimited visits to Delta Sky Club lounges before eligible flights. However, beginning on Feb. 1, 2025, Delta will limit Amex Platinum cardholders to just six Sky Club visits per program year (authorized users with additional Platinum cards get their own six-visit allotment each program year). The program year runs from Feb. 1 through Jan. 31 of the following year. However, if you spend $75,000 or more on your Amex Platinum card during a calendar year, you can unlock unlimited Sky Club access through the end of the next program year. In addition, starting Jan. 1, 2024, American Express cardholders traveling on a Delta Basic Economy or an equivalent ticket with a partner airline will not have access to Dela Sky Club lounges.

Amex Platinum cardmembers don't get any complimentary guests. However, they can purchase guest access for up to two traveling companions (or their spouse or domestic partner and children under 21) on a per-visit basis.

Priority Pass Select lounges

The Turkish Airlines Lounge in Miami is part of Priority Pass. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Platinum Card members are entitled to complimentary membership in Priority Pass Select. This membership provides access to more than 1,400 lounges worldwide but doesn't include Priority Pass restaurant lounges. The quality of each Priority Pass lounge varies, but there are some excellent Priority Pass lounges.

You must enroll in Priority Pass Select on Amex's website or by calling Platinum Travel Services to gain access. I recommend registering as soon as you get your Platinum Card. Then, once your Priority Pass card arrives in the mail, hand it, your government-issued identification and your same-day boarding pass to the front desk attendant at Priority Pass lounges to gain access. Note that some lounges have limited hours for Priority Pass guests.

You can bring up to two guests each visit if the lounge accepts guests. If you have more than two guests, the lounge will charge you $35 per guest.

Related: You can pay extra to guarantee access to select Priority Pass lounges

Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner

Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner in Fort Lauderdale. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Escape Lounges in the U.S. rebranded as "Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner" in 2021. You can access U.S. Escape Lounges by showing your Platinum Card, government-issued identification and a confirmed same-day boarding pass. You may bring two guests with you for no additional cost, but any other guests must purchase a daypass.

The following U.S. airports have Escape Lounges you can access with your Amex Platinum card:

Plaza Premium lounges

Plaza Premium Lounge Orlando. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

You can access a selection of Plaza Premium lounge locations worldwide with your Platinum Card (you can also access some Plaza Premium lounges through Priority Pass).

To enter, you must show your Platinum Card, government-issued identification, and a confirmed same-day boarding pass. You may enter with up to two guests for no additional cost. Other guests can purchase a daypass, but the cost of a daypass will vary by location.

Lufthansa lounges

In a partnership that began in 2017 and was extended multiple times before finally becoming permanent in 2021, Platinum cardmembers can use select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines). You may visit select Lufthansa Business Lounges regardless of your ticket class, but you can also visit participating Lufthansa Senator Lounges when flying business class on these airlines.

Not all Lufthansa lounges participate, so check Amex's lounge finder page. At participating locations, you must show your Platinum Card, a government-issued ID and a boarding pass for a same-day Lufthansa Group flight. No guests are included, but some locations may allow guests for a fee.

Additional Global Lounge Collection partner lounges

Platinum cardmembers also get access to other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges, as indicated by the lounge search function on Amex's website. To access participating lounges, you must show your Platinum Card, a government-issued ID and a same-day boarding pass for confirmed travel. However, guest access and guest fees will vary.

Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?

Bottom line

The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express provide access to more lounges than any other cards. It's why the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum routinely sit at the top of The Points Guy's list of best cards for airport lounge access.

But it's not all about quantity. The quality of the lounges accessible with the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card is excellent also. For example, I love the locally-influenced dishes served at Centurion Lounges and the relaxing spaces at Escape Lounges.

However, we're seeing lounge access limits as American Express and airlines look to reduce lounge crowding. American Express already removed complimentary guests from Centurion Lounges unless you spend a significant amount on your card each calendar year. And in early 2025, Amex Platinum cardmembers will only get up to six Delta Sky Club visits per program year unless they spend significantly on their card each calendar year.

Want to enjoy these lounges? Here are the official application links for The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.