Credit Card News
American Express Opens Largest Centurion Lounge at ATL
This Valentine’s Day, there’s something new for travelers to love as a brand new American Express Centurion Lounge is now open.
About the lounge:
Today, a new Centurion Lounge has debuted at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Occupying nearly 26,000 square feet, the location is now the largest Centurion to date. The lounge can be found in Concourse E near gate E11 (on the secured airside).
According to Amex, the art and design of the lounge were inspired by Atlanta’s reputation as “the city in the forest.” This includes artwork inspired by Georgian landscapes and a 60-foot mural featuring leaf-like shapes, painted by artist Evan Blackwell Helgeson. Additionally, the lounge is home to a 50-year-old olive tree as well as a 3,850-square-foot custom light sculpture meant to represent a forest canopy.
As for amenities, the ATL location houses the Centurion Network’s first dedicated whiskey bar. The Reserve by American Express serves a specialty cocktail menu as well as more than 20 American whiskeys. Elsewhere, the location will also feature a menu curated by Atlanta restaurateur Chef Deborah VanTrec.
Entering the Centurion Lounge:
Entry to American Express’s Centurion Lounge is included as a feature of the Amex Platinum Card (as well as the invite-only Centurion Card). Those with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card also enjoy access when flying Delta.
While primary Platinum Card cardholders as well as Platinum Card Authorized Users continue to enjoy complimentary access, the Centrurion Lounge Network changed its guests policy in 2023. Now, only those who spend at least $75,000 per year on their eligible card can bring up to two guests for free. For cardholders below that spending threshold, guest passes are available for purchase.
What they’re saying:
Announcing the new location, American Express Travel president Audrey Hendley said, “The new Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will serve travelers in one of the airports our Card Members visit most. It features amenities we know travelers enjoy, like outdoor terraces, and plenty of space to relax, along with local touches infused throughout the menus and design, that guests will remember long after their trip.”
My thoughts:
When this lounge location was first announced, I was a bit surprised — simply because ATL is already lousy with Delta SkyClubs, which Amex Platinum customers can also access (when flying Delta). However, in hindsight, I suppose it makes plenty of sense to have the largest Centurion Lounge yet at the world’s busiest airport. Furthermore, with Delta set to cut back SkyClub access to credit cardholders next year, it makes this move even more logical.
As someone who knows the Atlanta airport quite well at this point, my only wish is that this lounge was placed in a different concourse. Specifically, it would have been nice if it were placed closer to the few non-Delta gates at ATL. Of course, Amex can’t control where space is available at the airport — and the E concourse’s proximity to the international departures also makes it more attractive in many ways.
While I could talk all day about lounge dynamics at ATL, the bottom line is this: I’m thrilled to have yet another option at the airport and can’t wait to check it out for myself.
Author
Other Articles by Kyle Burbank
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