Outside of flying up the front for less, lounge access is one of travelling’s greatest pleasures. It mutes the airport chaos to a palatable level, allowing passengers to drown out the noise beyond the glass.
If you don’t have elite airline status or the ability to travel at the pointy end of the plane on personal or company dollar, The American Express® Platinum Card is the golden ticket worth packing alongside your passport.
In our opinion, it’s the most useful (and likely to be most frequently used) American Express Platinum Card perk with respect to travel. Unlock 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries1 and start your holiday a little sooner (or continue working in peace).
If you’re in a hurry and want to browse the best lounge options for American Express Platinum Card holders, head to this website.
American Express Platinum Card lounge access overview
The American Express Platinum Card offers a host of benefits, but travel is where the product really excels. Among them is access to the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection1, which can be expanded on below.
The Centurion® Lounges:
- Get complimentary access to The Centurion Lounges. The flagship lounge offering exclusively for Card Members. American Express Platinum Card Members and their Additional Card Members are entitled to bring children 17 years of age or younger and up to two guests into the lounge.
Priority PassTM lounges:
- Get access for you and a complimentary guest to over 1,200 Priority Pass™ lounges across over 140 countries. American Express Platinum Card Members receive a Priority Pass™ for the Primary Card Member and one Additional Platinum Card Member on their account (as nominated by the Primary Card Member) may enrol in the Priority Pass™ program.
Virgin Australia Domestic Lounges in Australia:
- When flying Virgin Australia domestically, this is an exceptional perk for Card Members without the need to chase elite airline status. Access is complimentary for the Primary Platinum Card Member and one complimentary guest only. The Platinum Card Member and guest must be travelling with Virgin Australia domestically on the same Virgin Australia flight.
Plaza Premium lounges:
- Plaza Premium offers a network of airport lounges across all corners of the globe for Platinum Card Members. Access is complimentary for Primary Platinum Card Member and Additional Platinum Card Members. Card Members may bring up to two (2) guests into Plaza Premium Lounges as complimentary guests.
Delta Sky Club:
- Similar to Virgin’s domestic offering, the same can be unlocked across the United States when flying Delta for American Express Platinum Card Members.
The Centurion Lounge
The Centurion Lounge network is exclusively for American Express Card Members and not for any other flyers. There’s no ifs or buts about it. Depending on where you fly from, you could enjoy spa services, signature cocktails, chef-curated menus and premium wines all because of your membership.
The Centurion Lounge is the flagship offering in the portfolio and Australians can experience it when flying internationally from our two most popular airports – Sydney and Melbourne.
Centurion Lounge Locations
Key international locations include:
- Buenos Aires (EZE)
- Delhi (DEL)
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- London (LHR)
- Melbourne (MEL)
- Mexico City (MEX)
- Monterrey (MTY)
- Mumbai (BOM)
- São Paulo (GRU)
- Stockholm (ARN)
- Sydney (SYD)
There’s also a more extensive Centurion Lounge network within the United States, which includes:
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Charlotte (CLT)
- Dallas (DFW)
- Denver (DEN)
- Houston (IAH)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA)
- New York (LGA)
- New York (JFK)
- Philadelphia (PHL)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Seattle (SEA)
American Express is planning to open Centurion Lounges at Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport (DCA), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the near future.
Centurion Lounge Access Policy
Centurion Lounge access is possible three hours prior to your scheduled departure.
Present your valid physical Platinum Card (Business Platinum Card Members are also eligible) and a boarding pass for that day. You may also be asked for your government-issued ID.
Australian American Express Primary and Additional Platinum Card Members may bring two guests into the lounge for no additional fee, but it’s worth noting that some international lounges, especially outside of Sydney and Melbourne, may have unique access policies that you should check prior to arrival.
You won’t be admitted into the lounge on arrival at your destination and can only access the lounge post-flight if you have an onward connecting flight on the same day.
Priority Pass™ Lounge
Priority Pass™ lounges make up the bulk of the lounges toted by American Express as accessible to Platinum Card members around the globe. They operate as an independent lounge network that then contracts to various international lounge destinations.
This means the quality can swing significantly, but for major hubs like Vancouver or Bangkok, for example, you can unlock an elite airline-quality lounge as if you were flying in a premium cabin. In fact, some actually are airline lounges from the likes of Fiji Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Star Alliance.
Priority Pass™ Lounge Locations
Across 1,200 lounges in 500 airports and 140 countries, there are too many to list here. The good thing about that is there are so many it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself in an airport without one.
Priority Pass™ Lounge Access Policy
Boarding pass, government-issued ID and the Priority Pass™ membership card and you’re welcome to bring a guest. The key difference here is that you must enroll in the program and obtain the Priority Pass™ membership card and bring it with you on the day of travel.
Pro Tip: You can nominate one of your Additional Platinum Card Members to have their own Priority Pass™, in addition to the Primary Card Member.
Virgin Australia Domestic Lounges
American Express Platinum Card Members can access Virgin Australian lounges across the country when flying Virgin Australia. It’s an exceptional perk for domestic travellers who aren’t fussed on chasing elite airline status, who want to supplement their Qantas or Rex status with a card that unlocks infrequent lounge access with Virgin when needed, or simply don’t fly frequently enough.
Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge Locations
They’re open seven days a week in most major Australian cities, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge Access Policy
Primary Card Members can bring a guest (also flying Virgin Australia) and need to present their boarding pass, physical American Express Platinum Card, and government-issued ID if requested.
Plaza Premium Lounge
This lounge network, albeit smaller than the Priority Pass™ network, has won the world’s best independent airport lounge for seven years in a row.
Plaza Premium Lounge Locations
There are over 100 lounges around the world as part of the Plaza Premium collection. Head to their website for opening hours and location details.
Plaza Premium Lounge Access Policy
- Primary and Additional Platinum Card Members can bring two additional travellers into the lounge. Present your boarding pass(es) showing same-day travel on any carrier, physical American Express Platinum Card and eligible government-issued ID.
Delta Sky Club Lounges
If you’re a frequenter of the United States, particularly for business and when flying Delta Airlines, this lounge option effectively gives you the same access as Delta status holders. A handy perk if Centurion or Priority Pass™ networks don’t service your airport in question.
Delta Sky Club Lounge Locations
Interestingly, the only Delta Sky Club that can be found outside of the continental United States is in Tokyo, Japan. When flying Delta, simply ask the check-in desk if a lounge is available.
Delta Sky Club Lounge Access Policy
Gain access to the lounge by presenting your physical Platinum Card, boarding pass (showing same-day travel) and eligible ID. Basic Economy (E) fare tickets will not have access to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go so Boss Hunting recommends you check your fare tickets prior to departure.
You can see inside the American Express Centurion Lounge at Sydney Kingsford Smith in our recent Platinum Card Challenge with American Express. John and Jack go head to head redeeming Membership Rewards® points and flaunt the Platinum card to unlock otherworldly experiences from Scotland to Mexico. Watch Scotland here and Mexico here.
Fast Facts – The American Express Platinum Card
- Card type: Charge Card
- Annual Fee: $1,450 p.a.
- Cash Flow Period: Up to 44 cash flow days and no pre-set spending limit
Terms & Conditions
Subject to Terms and Conditions. Fees and charges apply. All information is correct as of 25/10/2024 and is subject to change. Cards are offered, issued, and administered by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085). American Express income and credit approval criteria applies. ®Registered Trademark of American Express Company
- Terms and conditions apply. Includes the American Express Global Lounge Collection and Centurion Lounge Network. Also includes access to the Priority Pass™ program, which is subject to enrolment and the Priority Pass™ Conditions of Use available at prioritypass.com/en/conditions-of-use. Priority Pass™ membership is available to the Primary Platinum Card Member and one Additional Platinum Card Member only, as nominated by the Primary Platinum Card Member. For full Terms and Conditions and a list of available lounges, visit americanexpress.com.au/platinum lounges.
