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The Centurion® Lounge remains one of the most valuable airport lounge perks available to eligible American Express cardmembers. With complimentary food, drinks, and more polished spaces than many traditional airport lounges, it can be a welcome escape before a flight.
But access is more restrictive than it used to be — especially for couples and families. Card Members of the American Express Platinum Card® of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express no longer receive complimentary guest access by default at most Centurion Lounge locations. Instead, bringing guests usually means paying a per-visit fee unless you qualify for complimentary guest privileges through high annual spending or use another strategy.
That makes it worth understanding the current Centurion Lounge guest policy before your next trip. Here’s what Amex charges for guests and how to unlock complimentary guest access.
Amex Centurion Lounge Guest Policy
Platinum Card® and Business Platinum Card Members can access Centurion Lounges as a card benefit. However, cardmembers must pay $50 per adult guest, with up to two guests allowed per visit. Children ages 3 to 17 cost $30 each, while children under three can enter for free.
Centurion Lounges are exclusive to select American Express Card Members, and there’s no pay-to-access option outside of an eligible card benefit.
These guest policies apply across Centurion Lounges in the U.S. — as well as new Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge locations — and select international locations, including Tokyo, London, and Hong Kong. Other international Centurion Lounges, such as those in Sydney, Mexico City, and Delhi, may follow different guest policies, with Card Members allowed one or two complimentary guests depending on the lounge.
Note that effective July 8, 2026, Card Member guests must be traveling on the same flight as the primary Card Member to enter a Centurion Lounge. This policy will apply at Centurion Lounges across the U.S., as well as in London (LHR), Tokyo (HND), and Hong Kong (HKG). It does not apply to those with the Amex Centurion Card.
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, Platinum Card® 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. Just a few trips could make it worth adding authorized user Platinum Card® 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.
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 Platinum Card® 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 Platinum Card®. These include several elite statuses, a $600 hotel credit (up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually), a $300 Lululemon credit (up to $75 quarterly), and so much more. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 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.
- 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.
- $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.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $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.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. 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.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your 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, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $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.
- 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.
- 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.
Related: Full Review of the American Express Platinum Card®
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 Platinum Card®. 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: American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
