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Ever since American Express announced it would be ending free guest access to Centurion Lounge for those with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, traveling couples and families have been feeling the sting of these changes.
From complimentary food from local chefs and free-flowing drinks, the Centurion Lounges are the top tier of airport sanctuaries. Because of this, getting in for as little money as possible is crucial, and we'll show you how.
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Amex Centurion Lounge Guest Policy
On February 1, 2023, American Express changed its Centurion Lounge guest policy and began requiring a per-visit fee for guests. Since then, Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members must pay $50 per adult guest (up to two allowed) or $30 for each child aged 3 to 17. Children under three can still enter for free.
Centurion Lounges are exclusive to select American Express cardholders, and there is no pay-to-access option to get in the lounge outside of your card's benefit.
Related: Skip the Line: How Amex Centurion Lounge Digital Waitlists Help You Avoid the Wait
How to Unlock Complimentary Centurion Lounge Guest Access
To unlock complimentary guest access at Centurion Lounges, Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members must spend $75,000 in eligible purchases within a calendar year.
Once that threshold is met, they can bring up to two guests into the lounge free of charge for the rest of that year, the entire following year, and through January 31 of the third year.
Big spenders can rest easy knowing they’ll enjoy the company of up to two guests every time they travel. But for the rest of us, it’s a pretty big hurdle.
Track your progress toward complimentary Centurion Lounge guest access
To check your progress toward the $75,000 annual spend requirement for complimentary Centurion Lounge guest access, log in to the Amex app or website. Navigate to Membership and Benefits, then click on The Centurion Lounge Complimentary Guest Access. There, you’ll see your accrued eligible spend for the calendar year.
But you can avoid needing to log into your Amex account. Savvy travelers who use AwardWallet and have connected their American Express account will see details about their Membership Rewards balance and card benefits — including a tracker showing progress toward unlocking complimentary guest access.
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Alternatives to Unlocking Unlimited Guest Access or Paying Guest Fees
If you usually travel solo but occasionally want to bring a guest, the simplest option under the current Centurion Lounge policy is to pay the per-visit fee of $30 to $50 per person. But if you plan to travel with a plus one regularly, you'll want to consider other options.
For families or groups who travel often, adding authorized users can be a more cost-effective solution. In a group of four, just a few trips could make it worth adding up to three authorized user Amex Platinum Cards. Each authorized user gets their own Centurion Lounge access, even when traveling alone, so there is no need to worry about one-time guest fees.
It costs $195 for each additional Platinum Card for Authorized Users (Rates & Fees). At $50 per visit, you would break even after just four visits.
If you've got the Business Platinum Card, you can add up to 99 employee cards, but this comes with a steep cost of $350 per user (Rates & Fees). Be sure to do the math before adding an authorized user by comparing that fixed cost to the one-time guest fee.
Related: Full Review of The Platinum Card® from American Express
Encourage your travel companion to apply for their own card
If you regularly travel as a couple, it may be worth having your player two apply for their own Amex Platinum account.
While it may not be worth paying another annual fee just for this one perk (Rates & Fees), your travel companion can also take advantage of the other benefits that come with the Amex Platinum. These include a $209 credit for CLEAR® Plus, a monthly Uber Cash credit, the Saks Fifth Avenue credit, various statement credits, and more. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Amex Disclosure: To receive the Uber Cash benefit, you must add The Platinum Card® from American Express to your account in the Uber app. Please see full terms for more details.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Accept an invite to a more exclusive Amex card
The American Express Corporate Platinum Card® and Centurion® Card from American Express are exempt from these guest access limitations. That means if you're one of the lucky senior executives issued a Amex Corporate Platinum Card, you'll still be able to bring up to two guests into the lounge at no extra charge.
If you're invited to apply for the Amex Centurion Card and are comfortable with the $10,000 initiation fee and $5,000 annual fee (who wouldn't be…), you’ll also enjoy complimentary access for up to two guests. The card is made of anodized titanium, after all.
Bottom Line
If you're concerned that you won't spend enough to unlock complimentary guest access to Centurion Lounge locations every year, well… don't be. If you're not already spending such large amounts on a regular basis, it does not make sense to stretch your spending on the Amex Platinum. That large spend is generally better spent on credit cards that reward your spending with more tangible rewards or on new card welcome bonuses.
Consider how often you expect to bring guests into a Centurion Lounge each year, and choose the option that makes the most sense for your situation. With the right strategy, you can navigate the Centurion Lounge guest policy without breaking the bank.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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