The American Express Centurion Network is a collection of exclusive airport lounges located all over the globe. It provides an upscale lounge experience for departing travellers. Access to the Centurion Lounge Network is limited, so it tends to be a quiet, relaxed space. And it offers additional services and amenities to make your day of travel more comfortable and enjoyable.

The Amex Centurion Lounge goes further than the standard airport lounge. Rather than offering some booths or workspaces and a few snacks, the Amex Centurion Lounge Network delivers the following benefits:

1. Meals: Forget the standard peanuts and candy bars. Meals served within the Centurion Lounges are prepared by award-winning chefs using regionally sourced ingredients.
2. Cocktails: Each lounge serves an extensive wine list and cocktails crafted by mixologists.
3. Spa services: You can take advantage of spa services like massages or facials at some locations.
4. Conference room: If you are travelling for work, some Centurion lounge locations have full conference rooms so you can hold meetings or work on projects while waiting for your flight.
5. Shower suites: Some lounges have full shower facilities, a great option for those travelling a great distance or that have layovers.
6. High-speed WiFi: Airport internet connections can be spotty, so travellers will appreciate the high-speed WiFi available at Amex Centurion Lounges.
7. TVs and digital library: All lounges have televisions and digital libraries, allowing you to watch movies or read digital books or magazines.

The Amex Centurion Lounge is limited to Platinum cardholders and their guests. Complimentary access is only given to individuals with one of the following cards:

Keep in mind that none of these cards are cheap. For example, the American Express Platinum Card has a $799 annual fee. And The Centurion Card (also known as the Black Card) is on a whole other level than other cards; it’s issued by invitation only and requires a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual membership fee. The Centurion Lounge is only one of the benefits these cards offer, but with these steep fees, not everyone will think the lounge is worth the cost.

What Is the Centurion Lounge Guest Policy?

Platinum cardmembers can bring up to two companions into many of the Centurion Lounge locations. However, guest access policies may vary internationally by location and are subject to change.

Are Pets Allowed in the Centurion Lounge?

The Centurion Lounge does allow cardholders to bring their service animals, emotional support animals and pets into the lounge. However, pets and emotional support animals must remain in their closed carriers, so you can’t take out your dog or cat and hold it on your lap. They also can’t be brought into the food areas.

There are no pet relief areas in the lounges, so make sure you take your pet to a designated spot within the airport.

You can find your Centurion Lounge’s location by looking up your airport on the Centurion Lounge Network website.

To get into an Amex Centurion Lounge, you must be on a departing flight leaving from a qualifying airport. You can enter the lounge up to three hours ahead of your departure time, as listed on your boarding pass. Cardmembers with a same-day connecting flight can access the lounge at any time before departure.

You can check in at the lounge’s reception desk. Once you arrive, you’ll need to show your government-issued ID, valid Platinum Card and boarding pass at the reception desk.

Currently, there are 13 American Express Centurion Lounge locations in the U.S. However, American Express recently announced that it will open a Centurion Lounge in Atlanta (ATL), Washington (DCA) and Newark (EWR). There are also 11 international lounge locations.

If you are flying out of an airport without a Centurion Lounge, you may be able to take advantage of lounge access through one of the partner lounges within the American Express Global Lounge Collection, namely:

• Escape Lounges, a Centurion Studio Partner within the Centurion network
• Plaza Premium Lounges
• Delta Sky Club
• Airspace Lounges
• Priority Pass
• Executive Lounges by Swissport

Access to the Centurion Lounges is one of the biggest benefits of having an American Express Platinum Card, and with good reason. When you enter the Centurion Lounge, it’s easy to forget that you’re in a busy airport. Surrounded by good food, drinks and comfortable seating, it’s an excellent place to relax before a flight.

If you don’t have a qualifying credit card to get into the Centurion Lounge, don’t despair! You can escape the airport crowds by slipping into a Priority Pass lounge, a lounge network you can enter if you have a qualifying card or by paying annual and per-visit fees—at a substantially lower cost than Amex requires.

*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Centurion® Card from American Express. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.