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The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express are among the best travel credit cards for airport lounge access. Both give cardholders access to various airport lounge networks through the Global Lounge Collection, which comprises more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide.
These lounges are divided among a handful of lounge networks, including American Express’s own Centurion Lounges, as well as third-party lounges such as Plaza Premium, Escape, and Priority Pass lounges. Delta Sky Clubs and select Lufthansa lounges are also accessible when flying specific airlines.
Let’s look at the lounges you can enter with your Amex Platinum Card or Amex Business Platinum card and all applicable entry requirements.
As mentioned, Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardholders can access over 1,550 airport lounges worldwide. These range from high-end lounges in the Centurion Lounge portfolio to airline-run lounges like Delta Sky Clubs and Lufthansa lounges.
You can access the following lounge networks with your card:
That said, access requirements vary based on the type of lounge you visit. For example, you can access Centurion Lounges as many times as you’d like every year, regardless of which airline you fly. In contrast, you can only access select Lufthansa lounges when you fly with Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian Airlines.
American Express Centurion Lounges are the issuer’s in-house airport lounge network, comprising 15 lounges in the U.S. and 11 abroad. These lounges offer upgraded amenities like chef-designed meals, extensive bars, and comfortable seating. At some locations, you’ll even find outdoor spaces, speakeasies, and relaxation rooms.
Some notable Centurion Lounges include the location in Atlanta (ATL), the largest airport lounge in the Centurion Lounge network at nearly 26,000 square feet. In addition to the usual amenities, there’s a large outdoor space and a whiskey bar on-site.
Meanwhile, the two-level New York (JFK) Centurion Lounge has a speakeasy (dubbed “1850”) in the basement with specialty cocktails and a full-service coffee bar with espresso, cold brew, and other specialty coffee drinks.
Most Centurion Lounges adhere to these entry rules for Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders:
Delta Sky Clubs are Delta Air Lines’ own airport lounge network, with 55 locations in the U.S. and a lounge in Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). The airline also has Delta One Lounges for Delta One passengers, but these cannot be accessed with a credit card.
You can access Delta Sky Clubs with your Amex Platinum card, but there are more restrictions on entering these lounges than in other lounge networks. You must be flying Delta Air Lines or a Delta-marketed flight operated by WestJet to enter. Basic economy tickets are not eligible.
Further, Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cards come with 10 Delta Sky Club passes per year. These passes last for 24 hours and allow you to access as many Sky Clubs as you’d like. For example, suppose you fly from San Francisco (SFO) to New York (LGA) via Boston (BOS) on Delta. You can access lounges in San Francisco before your flight, Boston during your connection, and New York on arrival while only using a single lounge pass.
You can unlock unlimited access by spending $75,000 per year on your Amex Platinum or Business Platinum card. Doing this gives you unlimited access for the remainder of the year and the entirety of the following year.
Escape Lounges is a third-party airport lounge network accessible to both Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers. There are 31 Escape Lounges spread across Australia, the U.S., and the U.K. You’ll often find them in smaller airports, like Providence (PVD) in Rhode Island, East Midlands (EMA) in England, and Cairns (CNS) in Australia.
These lounges feature modern designs and amenities, including full buffets, bars, and power outlets. Exact amenities vary by lounge, but you can expect a comfortable place to work or relax before your next flight.
American Express and Lufthansa have a partnership that provides Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders with lounge access — albeit with numerous restrictions. Access is only offered at select lounges and when flying some, but not all, Lufthansa Group airlines.
Cardmembers can access Lufthansa lounges at these airports:
At participating Lufthansa lounges, you can visit the Business Class lounge with an economy ticket or the Senator Lounge if you’re flying on a business class ticket.
Plaza Premium is an independent airport and railway lounge network with over 100 locations worldwide. Most lounges are located outside the U.S., with a significant presence in Greater China and Canada, but they have a presence in Dallas (DFW).
These airport lounges offer premium amenities like shower suites, buffets, and fully stocked bars. Note that some Plaza Premium lounges are owned by an airline and operated by Plaza Premium, like the Air France lounge in Montreal (YUL). Double-check entry requirements for these lounges in the Amex app, as they may differ from those of Plaza Premium-branded lounges.
Both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Business Platinum card include Priority Pass Select memberships. Once you enroll in the benefit, you’ll receive a dedicated Priority Pass Select membership in the mail, which you can use to access over 1,800 airport lounges worldwide.
Priority Pass is a collection of independent airport lounges. This includes everything from airline-sponsored lounges to fully independent lounges. As a result, amenities and the quality of the lounge vary significantly depending on the location. However, you can expect food, drink, and power outlets at most Priority Pass lounges.
The Amex Platinum card offers the most airport lounge access of any premium travel credit card. Between American Express’s own Centurion Lounges and third-party options from Plaza Premium, Priority Pass, and Escape, chances are there’s a lounge waiting for you the next time you fly.
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