Amex Platinum Lounge Access: Every Lounge You Can Enter (2026)

Overview

The American Express Platinum Card is widely regarded as the single best credit card for airport lounge access. No other card comes close to the sheer number and variety of lounges it unlocks.

With the Amex Platinum, you get access to six separate lounge networks, giving you coverage at virtually every major airport worldwide. Here's a summary of what's included:

Centurion Lounges -- Amex's own flagship lounges with premium food, cocktails, and spa services
Delta Sky Clubs -- When flying Delta, access to 50+ Sky Club locations
Priority Pass Select -- 1,500+ lounges in 148 countries
Plaza Premium Lounges -- Select locations worldwide
Escape Lounges -- US domestic airport lounges
Airspace Lounges -- Additional US domestic locations

Combined, the Amex Platinum Card gives you access to well over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide -- more than any other single credit card.

Browse all lounge access methods →

Centurion Lounges

The Centurion Lounge is the flagship benefit of the Amex Platinum Card and the primary reason many cardholders pay the $695 annual fee. These are American Express's own lounges, and they're widely considered among the best airport lounges in the United States.

What Makes Centurion Lounges Special

Unlike most Priority Pass lounges or airline clubs, Centurion Lounges offer a genuinely premium experience:

Chef-curated menus with seasonal dishes that rotate regularly
Full cocktail bar with craft cocktails designed by mixologists
Spa services including complimentary treatments (varies by location)
Premium design with modern interiors and thoughtful layouts
Shower suites at most locations
Dedicated work areas with fast Wi-Fi and power outlets

Centurion Lounge Locations

Centurion Lounges are located at major US airports and a growing number of international locations. Current locations include Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York JFK (JFK), New York LaGuardia (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Charlotte (CLT), among others.

International locations include London Heathrow (LHR), Hong Kong (HKG), and Sydney (SYD), with additional locations opening regularly.

View all Centurion Lounge locations →

Centurion Lounge Access Rules

Platinum and Centurion cardholders only -- no day passes or memberships available
2 free guests per cardholder (guests must be travelling on the same day)
Children under 18 enter free and do not count toward the guest limit
3-hour time limit before departure (enforced at some busy locations)
Must present your physical Platinum Card at check-in

Important: Since 2023, Amex has implemented a 3-hour access window at Centurion Lounges. You can only enter within 3 hours of your departing flight. This was introduced to manage overcrowding at popular locations.

Read our complete Centurion Lounge guide →

Delta Sky Clubs

The Amex Platinum Card includes complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs -- but only when you're flying Delta on that day. This is a significant benefit, as Delta Sky Clubs are among the best domestic airline lounges in the US.

How Delta Sky Club Access Works with Amex Platinum

You must be flying Delta on a same-day departing flight
Present your Amex Platinum Card and Delta boarding pass at check-in
Access is available at all 50+ Delta Sky Club locations
2 guests can accompany you for free
Children under 2 enter free; children 2-17 cost $39 each (unless they have their own Delta ticket and you have remaining guest slots)

What to Expect at Delta Sky Clubs

Delta Sky Clubs offer a comfortable lounge experience with complimentary food, drinks (including alcoholic beverages), Wi-Fi, and shower facilities at select locations. The food quality has improved significantly in recent years, with many locations offering fresh-prepared options alongside buffet items.

Note: If you hold both an Amex Platinum Card and Delta SkyMiles status, the benefits stack. For instance, Diamond Medallion members get additional guest privileges.

Read our complete Delta Sky Club guide →

Priority Pass Lounges

The Amex Platinum Card includes a Priority Pass Select membership -- the highest tier of the world's largest independent lounge network. This gives you unlimited visits to over 1,500 lounges in 148 countries worldwide.

How to Enroll in Priority Pass with Amex Platinum

Log into your American Express online account
Navigate to Benefits or Card Member Benefits
Find the Priority Pass benefit and click Enroll
You'll receive a digital membership card immediately and a physical card by mail

What's Included with Priority Pass Select

Unlimited lounge visits at 1,500+ locations worldwide
Restaurant access at 200+ airport restaurants (varies by program; typically receive a dining credit of up to $36 per person)
Digital membership card via the Priority Pass app for easy check-in
No per-visit fee for the primary cardholder

Priority Pass Guest Policy with Amex Platinum

Unlike standalone Priority Pass Select memberships that include free guests, the Amex Platinum's Priority Pass benefit charges $35 per guest per visit. This is an important distinction that catches many cardholders off guard.

If you frequently travel with a companion, consider adding them as an authorized user ($195/year) so they get their own Priority Pass membership.

Browse Priority Pass lounges →

Plaza Premium and Escape Lounges

Beyond the three major networks above, the Amex Platinum Card also grants access to additional lounge brands.

Plaza Premium Lounges

Plaza Premium operates over 250 lounges worldwide, with a strong presence in Asia, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. Amex Platinum cardholders can access select Plaza Premium locations directly -- no Priority Pass needed.

Key details:

Access is available at select locations (not all Plaza Premium lounges)
Present your Amex Platinum Card at the front desk
Guest policies vary by location -- some charge for additional visitors
Food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and shower access (where available) are included

Escape Lounges

Escape Lounges are located at smaller US airports that often lack premium lounge options. They're a great fallback when there's no Centurion Lounge or Delta Sky Club at your departure airport.

Current Escape Lounge locations include airports like Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), Oakland (OAK), Phoenix (PHX), Reno (RNO), Sacramento (SMF), and several others.

Free access for Amex Platinum cardholders
2 guests permitted (policies may vary)
Full food and beverage service included

Airspace Lounges

Airspace Lounges are another small US lounge network accessible with the Amex Platinum Card. Locations include San Diego (SAN), Cleveland (CLE), and others. The experience is similar to Escape Lounges -- comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, and Wi-Fi.

Guest Policies

Guest policies are one of the most confusing aspects of Amex Platinum lounge access because they vary by network. Here's a complete breakdown:

Lounge Network	Free Guests	Additional Guest Cost	Children Policy
Centurion Lounge	2 guests	Not available	Under 18 free
Delta Sky Club	2 guests	$39 each	Under 2 free
Priority Pass	0 guests	$35 per guest	Same as adults
Plaza Premium	Varies	Varies by location	Varies
Escape Lounge	2 guests	Varies	Varies
Airspace Lounge	2 guests	Varies	Varies

Tips for Managing Guest Access

Travelling with a partner? Add them as an authorized user ($195/year) to get independent lounge access across all networks
Travelling with family? Centurion Lounges are most family-friendly with children under 18 entering free
Priority Pass guests are expensive -- at $35 per person, bringing 2 guests costs $70 per visit, which adds up quickly

Is Amex Platinum Worth It for Lounges?

The Amex Platinum Card carries a $695 annual fee, making it one of the most expensive consumer credit cards available. Is lounge access alone enough to justify the cost?

The Math

Here's a simple cost analysis based on lounge visit frequency:

Visits Per Year	Value of Lounge Access (at $50/visit)	Net Value vs. $695 Fee
5 visits	$250	-$445
10 visits	$500	-$195
14 visits	$700	+$5
20 visits	$1,000	+$305
30 visits	$1,500	+$805

At roughly 14 visits per year, the lounge access alone covers the annual fee (assuming an average day pass cost of $50). But this calculation doesn't account for the premium Centurion Lounge experience, which has no day pass option at any price.

Beyond Lounge Access

The Amex Platinum Card also includes benefits that offset the annual fee:

$200 airline fee credit (incidental fees like baggage and seat upgrades)
$200 hotel credit (at Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection properties)
$240 digital entertainment credit (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, etc.)
$200 Uber credit ($15/month + $20 bonus in December)
$189 CLEAR Plus credit
Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold status

When you factor in these credits, many of which offset the annual fee dollar-for-dollar, the lounge access becomes a significant bonus on top of already-strong value.

Bottom line: If you travel frequently enough to visit lounges 10+ times per year and use even a few of the card's statement credits, the Amex Platinum is likely worth it. The Centurion Lounge access alone is a benefit unavailable at any other price point.

How It Compares to Other Cards

Card	Annual Fee	Lounge Networks	Total Lounges
Amex Platinum	$695	Centurion, Delta Sky Club, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Escape, Airspace	1,500+
Chase Sapphire Reserve	$550	Priority Pass	1,500+
Capital One Venture X	$395	Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium	1,500+

The Amex Platinum costs more, but the Centurion Lounge and Delta Sky Club access set it apart from every competitor.

Tips to Maximize Your Amex Platinum Lounge Access

Enroll in Priority Pass immediately -- Many cardholders forget to activate this benefit. Log into your Amex account and enroll as soon as you receive your card.
Download the Priority Pass app -- Use the app to find lounges at your airport, check opening hours, and present your digital membership card for entry.
Arrive early for Centurion Lounges -- Popular locations like JFK and LAX can have long waits during peak hours. Arriving shortly after opening gives you the best experience.
Check for Priority Pass restaurant credits -- Even when there's no lounge available, Priority Pass often partners with airport restaurants to provide dining credits.
Add authorized users strategically -- If your travel companion visits lounges 4+ times per year, the $195 authorized user fee pays for itself versus paying $35 per Priority Pass guest visit.
Stack benefits when flying Delta -- Use the Delta Sky Club for a pre-flight meal, then visit the Centurion Lounge for cocktails. Both are included with your card.
Use Escape and Airspace Lounges at smaller airports -- Many travellers don't realize these smaller networks are included. They're especially valuable at airports without Centurion Lounges or Sky Clubs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What airport lounges can I access with Amex Platinum?

The Amex Platinum Card gives you access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass lounges (1,500+), Plaza Premium lounges, Escape Lounges, and Airspace Lounges. Combined, you can access over 1,500 lounges worldwide. Search lounges by access method →

Is the Amex Platinum Card worth it for lounge access?

If you visit lounges 10+ times per year, the lounge access alone can justify the $695 annual fee. Day passes typically cost $50-$75 each, so 10+ visits would cost $500-$750 at the door. Plus you get Centurion Lounges which have no day pass option.

Can I bring guests to lounges with Amex Platinum?

Guest policies vary by lounge network. Centurion Lounges allow 2 free guests. Priority Pass charges $35 per guest. Delta Sky Clubs allow 2 guests when flying Delta. Plaza Premium may charge for guests. See the full guest policy table above.

Does Amex Platinum include Priority Pass?

Yes. The Amex Platinum Card includes a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, giving you unlimited access to 1,500+ lounges worldwide. You can enroll through your Amex online account. Browse Priority Pass lounges →

Can authorized users access lounges with Amex Platinum?

Authorized users on the Amex Platinum Card ($195/year each) get their own Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass, and Delta Sky Club access. However, they cannot bring guests to Centurion Lounges.

What's the difference between Amex Platinum and Centurion Card lounge access?

Both cards access the same lounges, but Centurion Card holders get a private phone room in some Centurion Lounges and may receive additional amenities. The core lounge access is identical.

Amex Platinum Lounge Access: Every Airport Lounge You Can Enter