6 Things to Know About AmEx Lounge Access - NerdWallet (2024)

American Express offers many credit cards with airport lounge access. But American Express lounge access isn't equal across all AmEx cards. Some cards include complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges around, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs and Escape Lounges. Terms apply.

Let's review the must-know details of AmEx lounge access — including which American Express cards have lounge access and how to access American Express lounges.

American Express offers dozens of different types of cards, but most AmEx cards don't include lounge access.

In addition, several airline and hotel co-branded credit cards offer some sort of American Express lounge access. Each card has its own limitations and restrictions, but here's a quick overview:

Terms apply.

The American Express® Green Card offers up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for LoungeBuddy purchases. The upside of this perk is that you can use it for any type of lounge that sells day passes. However, the card doesn't get you access to AmEx's premium lounges. Terms apply.

Centurion Lounges are some of the most highly regarded airport lounges available. Domestic travelers can enjoy more than a dozen Centurion Lounge locations in major airports across the U.S. plus more than 10 Centurion Lounges in major airports around the world.

Although each of these lounges displays the American Express logo, only cardmembers of certain AmEx cards get lounge access to these Centurion Lounges.

The six AmEx cards that include complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge are:

Terms apply.

American Express Centurion Lounges are located in the U.S. and abroad. If you’re wondering what airports have Centurion lounges, the list below shows all open locations:

U.S. cities with Centurion Lounge locations

International cities with Centurion Lounge locations

If you find yourself at an airport without a Centurion Lounge, you can still benefit from the American Express Global Lounge collection as discussed below.

Centurion Lounge access is the marquee lounge benefit of premium AmEx cards. However, Centurion Lounges are just a small subset of the many lounges available to eligible cardmembers through American Express lounge access benefits.

Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection is a benefit available to Platinum and Centurion cardmembers, and it includes entry to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. Here are some of the lounge brands that are part of this extensive collection:

AmEx lounge finder

If you’d like to know which lounges are available in your airport of choice, check out the AmEx lounge finder for a complete list.

AmEx and Delta are close partners — especially when it comes to American Express lounge access. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardmembers can access Centurion Lounge locations when flying on a same-day Delta marketed or operated flight in the U.S., Hong Kong or London. Likewise, certain AmEx cardmembers get access to Delta Sky Club lounges. Terms apply.

Complimentary Delta Sky Club access is granted when the following types of cardmembers are traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight:

Terms apply.

Similar to the Reserve card, the AmEx Platinum cards will also be limited in the number of Sky Club visits starting in February 2025. Cardholders will only receive 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits per year unless they spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Terms apply.

Just because your American Express card has lounge access doesn't mean you'll necessarily get into the lounge. Each type of lounge in the AmEx Global Lounge Collection has a slightly different policy about when eligible cardmembers can enter.

For example, Centurion Lounge access requires that you're within three hours of the stated departure time on your same-day, confirmed boarding pass. You'll need to show that boarding pass along with your eligible AmEx card and your government-issued identification at the lounge reception to enter. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card customers must be flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or operated flight to get access. Other eligible AmEx cardmembers simply need to be on any confirmed flight.

Likewise, at some other lounges in the AmEx Global Lounge Collection, you need to show your eligible card, I.D. and boarding pass to access your AmEx lounge benefits.

However, AmEx cardholders have to take the extra step of enrolling their card to access Priority Pass lounges. Once you enroll, you'll need to wait for your Priority Pass Select card to arrive in the mail before you can access Priority Pass lounges. Be sure to enroll your eligible AmEx card well ahead of your next trip.

If you want to access AmEx lounges when traveling, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the various ways to get in. Different American Express cards offer lounge access, and the entry policy depends on the card you have.

AmEx offers Platinum Card members a dedicated website that makes it easy to find which airport lounges they can access. Other AmEx cardmembers will need to read the benefits of their card closely. If your AmEx card includes Priority Pass membership, don't forget to enroll well ahead of your next trip so that you have time to receive your membership card in the mail.

All information about The Centurion Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet.

All information about The American Express Corporate Platinum Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express Corporate Platinum Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page.