The lounge is on the mezzanine level (up 1 floor) and only accessible by elevator; there is no way to get there using stairs. naSmiles Lounge. It is designed with many similar touches to the other Centurion Lounge locations. It is situated on a . But because SNA (even with three busy terminals) sits on a very small piece of land, it has a laughably high rating. How to Find the Best Credit Card for Your International Travel. Below, we break down the top 10 airport lounge operators based on factors like consumer ratings and available amenities. If you have questions, I would suggest you contact Amex directly. Near the telephone room and business center, you can find a partitioned-off area with additional seating. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) came in second to last with a score of 42.16 out of 100 and features only 1.16 lounges per mile. There are five key factors to consider when sorting through credit cards with lounge access: Airport lounges can transform a journey and provide you with the comfort you need as you jet across the country or around the world. Delta Sky Clubs. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. offer a selection of hot and cold food, a complimentary bar with the ability to purchase premium drinks with cash or SkyMiles, ample workspace, and in some locations, showers. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. American Express. Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. Learn more: AmEx Membership Rewards: How to earn and use them. To access the Centurion Lounge, you need to have one of the following cards: You will need to present your card to the guest agent, as well as a boarding pass and a government-issued I.D. Airport Dimensions is known for its inclusive lounge brand The Club which caters to flyers with Priority Pass lounge benefits, as well as those who have LoungeKey and Lounge Club access, irrespective of their airline, class ticket, or frequent flyer status. But airport lounge access isnt reserved to higher class ticket holders credit cards with airport lounge perks can help card members avoid entrance fees altogether or, at the very least, enter at a discount. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. Airport Dimensions had the lowest average customer rating at 3.00 out of 5. Its always healthier and a lot more varied than what youll find in the rest of the airport (eating fast food does get old ). Note: In the name of environmental responsibility, American Express says all Centurion Lounge locations have eliminated single-use plastics. Lunch and dinner are served between 11:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. This lounge is open every day between 6 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. You can access the Centurion Lounge by taking the marked elevator located just outside of the duty-free shop located near gate D6 in Terminal D,the main international terminal. The American Express Global Lounge Collection includes several lounge products like the Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges but also airline-operated lounges, like Delta Sky Clubs and some Lufthansa lounges, too. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. This means that you cant use the lounge if youve just arrived at the airport and dont have another flight leaving on the same day. Having to go into the duty-free shop and then into an elevator from outside the store is unexpected, but as mentioned, theres a fair amount of signage to help you to find the right place. Basic Cardmembers are auto-enrolled. To curate our results, we focused solely on airports with at least 5 lounges, which gave us a list of 22 airports. Elina Geller is a Lead Travel Writer at NerdWallet specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs. The average lounge at MIA is open for 16 hrs and 54 minutes per day (beating out all other airports). For lounges in India, you can bring up to 2 guests plus 2 children under 12 at no additional charge. You may purchase guest access for up to two other traveling companions for $39 per person. In addition, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We hope this study helped sway you to a particular airport lounge or lounge operator so you can have all of the amenities you need to make your trip to the airport a success! Although you can sometimes pay for lounge access on a per-visit basis or purchase an annual membership, getting free airport lounge access is easier than you might think - with the right travel credit card. Are those perks worth bothering to find this lounge for? So, if you lost something in the lounge, you may try contacting the lounge directly first, and then check with IAH Lost and Found. There is also a long, high-top seating table that could accommodate larger groups or people looking for more space. They will ask for a few different pieces of information before you can gain complimentary access to the lounge. Depending on the card and the lounge, you can usually save anywhere from about $25 to $50 per person per visit. The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced, provided, or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned. Yes, the lounge can be difficult to find. 4. I typically take major international trips a few times a year, and lounges make all the difference in the world. Plaza Premium Group ranked second with a score of 69.5 out of 100. Frequent travelers appreciate the value of airport lounges. To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American . Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive compensation. This is where youll find a computer and printer for your use. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Youre headed into what looks like a basement and then down a long hallway. For example, some cards might offer statement credits of up to $100 or provide vouchers for a set number of visits to lounges each year. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. United also had a relatively low customer rating (3.27 out of 5). Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for: Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, No annual fee: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Luxury perks: The Platinum Card from American Express, Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, About the authors: Ramsey Qubein is a freelance writer and editor who travels more than 450,000 miles a year. Access 1,400+ worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment, and more! If you would like to take a shower during your stay in the lounge, its a good idea to put your name on the reservation list at the front desk at check-in. The poor average customer rating (3.32 out of 5), comparatively short amount of time the Lufthansa Lounges are open (8 hrs and 52 minutes), and lack of alcohol offerings contributed to its overall low score. Don't have access? Once that check-in process is done, the front desk staff will give you a summary of the amenities inside the lounge available to you, give you an update on the available food and beverages during your stay, and information on accessing the lounge Wi-Fi. Its Centurion Lounges have an average score of 91.89 out of 100, which is the best of those we analyzed. How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? When you enter the Centurion Lounge in Houston, you will see the familiar wall of greenery thatis at most of the Centurion Lounge locations. Terms apply. This room is often available and has 1 seat in it, so its meant to be as private as possible. For example, if youre loyal to a particular airline, a co-branded airline credit cardmay be the way to go. But what you may not know is that you also have access to more than 1,200 lounges around the world via the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Destinations to 11, The Best Credit Cards with CLEAR Membership for Expedited Airport Security [2023]. To get access to the lounge, please present your American Express Platinum Corporate Card. When flying Delta and presenting a same-day boarding pass, cardholders can access Deltas lounges up to three hours before their departing flight (or longer if they have a layover). Note, since we gathered data from third-party lounge review websites instead of individual airport websites, minor discrepancies may occur. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. Our partners compensate us. Very few lounges at DEN offer premium food and beer and wine options, so youre less likely to take the edge off before a long flight. The IAH location is an impressive 8,500 square feet, making it one of the largest locations, though it feels much smaller inside due to the partitioned-off areas. You can access lounges up to three hours prior to scheduled departure, or on arrival. The Platinum Card from American Express, The Business Platinum Card from American Express and Centurion Card from American Express offer more than just access to the Centurion Lounge. Airports Have the Best Lounges? Depending on the card and the lounge, you can usually save anywhere from about $25 to $50 per person per visit. Cardholders can bring two guests into the lounge free of charge, and they can buy a day pass for $45 (or $40 in advance on the Escape Lounges website) for any additional guests. All of its lounges feature both shower areas and premium food options as well. What are the annual fees that I need to pay? Privacy Policy and Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Forbes.com, CNBC.com, AFAR, Robb Report, Reader's Digest, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, Frommers.com, Fodors.com, Islands, Business Traveler, Fortune, Airways, Yahoo, Travel Age West, MSN.com, Bustle.com, AAA magazines. The American Express Platinum Card, for example, gives Card Members unlimited complimentary access to The Global Lounge Collection.2 In most cases, Card Members can bring up to two companions into the club as complimentary guests per visit. Lead Writer | Airline miles, hotel points, travel insurance. the Centurion Lounge has a food and beverage bar stocked and ready. 12:00am - 12:00am . Click here for detailed terms and conditions. Only 3 out of 5 of its lounges have a business center and only 1 in 4 offer spirits/liquor to guests. The elevator isnt exclusive to the lounge and can sometimes be busy. Bottom Line: You cant enter the lounge more than 3 hours prior to your flight unless you are a connecting passenger. With 166 countries under his belt and counting, he has a wealth of knowledge about loyalty programs and credit card perks to help people travel more efficiently and in style without breaking the bank. But the cards can pay for themselves if you use a lounge a few times per year, as well as other common features like complimentary checked bags (depending on the cards offerings). The expanded bar at the new Centurion Lounge in Seattle Tacoma. To determine the airports with the most lounges, we pulled data on the number of lounges from the 50 largest U.S. airports using websites such as LoungeReview.com and LoungeBuddy. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. Whats more, credit cards that include lounge access vary in terms of annual fees and benefits. Because not all cards or lounges are created equal, taking time to understand the right free airport lounge access credit card for your travel needs can help you save money and arrive at your destination more rested and in better spirits. At 16,000 square feet the lounge is now nearly double in size and features more . The American Express Global Lounge Collection is a network of more than 1,200 lounges in airports across 130 countries. 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Looking for Corporate Cards? The most convenient way to do this is purchasing access through the LoungeBuddy App. There are plenty of outlets to plug into, which are great for business travelers. Heres how to save and earn almost-free flights and hotel stays using your points.. Better options for normalizing the data would be number of gates, or number of daily flights, or number of daily (or yearly) passengers. Her passion for travel rewards began in 2011 when she flew first class to London and Amsterdam on British Airways and used hotel points to stay in both cities. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Airport Dimensions placed third with a score of 68.59 out of 100. Yes, you can bring a guest, at a charge of $32 per person. American Express is the operator with the best lounges. Surprisingly, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) placed 43rd due to having 0.13 lounges per mile and only 2 lounges total proving airports in large cities arent always the best places to fly out of. It almost feels like youre headed into a staff-only area. Terminal 2. This bonus value is an estimated valuation. The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. You can usually find a family room in the Centurion Lounges, and the Houston airport location is no exception. Branded as American Express lounges or Centurion Clubs, among others, these AmEx lounges are also part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection. There is only 1 shower suite. Do I need to be a Cardmember to purchase insurance? Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. Use our lounge access wizard and find out, or log in or create an account and we'll keep track of your lounge memberships and premium credit cards. Stretch out and refresh yourself with complimentary food and beverages before you embark on your journey at American Express Lounges internationally. Centurion Lounges aren't the only airport lounges available to certain AmEx cardholders. mi., which means youre bound to bump into some of the best airport lounges on the way to your terminal. Miami International Airport (MIA) placed first with a score of 81.09 out of 100 and features 1.85 lounges per mile. On the other hand, if you find yourself flying on several airlines and passing through different airports, you may want to consider a travel card that offers access to an independently run network of lounges or a combination of airline-operated and independent lounges. The American Express Global Lounge Collection includes several lounge products like the Centurion Lounges and, but also airline-operated lounges, like Delta Sky Clubs and some Lufthansa lounges, too. So if you are flying standby, the lounge will be off-limits for you. Between crowded terminals, expensive shops, and limited seating, a private jet looks much more desirable. American Express Platinum Corporate Card, Complimentary access3 to 1200+ lounges under American Express Global Lounge Collection, Enjoy access to the below lounges with your Platinum Corporate Card. Some of the largest hubs where Southwest passengers can purchase lounge access through LoungeBuddy include OAK (Escape Lounge), LAS (The Club at LAS - Concourse D), MCO (The Club at MCO), PHX (The Club at PHX), and ATL (The Club at ATL). Understanding how and where you travel can help you determine which card will get you free airport lounge access. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. There are also outlets on the tables in some of the work areas for extra convenience. When flying Delta and presenting a same-day boarding pass, cardholders can access Deltas lounges up to three hours before their departing flight (or longer if they have a layover). Enjoy access to the below lounges with your Platinum Travel Credit Card. ml. To discover the airports with the best lounges across the country, we analyzed over 225 lounges from 50 of the biggest U.S. airports and ranked them on factors like the number of amenities they offer, customer ratings, and more. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. United placed ninth with a score of 54.04 out of 100. Air Dolomiti and Edelweiss flights are also included in the partnership. Size: 13,900+ square feet Cuisine Designed By: James Beard Outstanding Chef award winner Nancy Silverton Specialty Amenities: Custom visual wall installations With 50 locations around the world, these lounges offer complimentary hot and cold food, an open bar, plentiful workspace and, in some locations, showers. AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM CARD Get complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges plus an impressive range of hotel privileges, hotel benefits and travel cover for the whole family. Delta Sky Club is a popular lounge across the country and for good reason. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. < American Express Global Lounge Collection Programs & Partners. From luxury airport lounges to ones with very few amenities not all lounges are created equal. The Platinum Card from American Express or The Business Platinum Card from American Express may be a worthwhile investment to access over 1,400 lounges, including Centurion Lounges. This is a small and private space if you need to make phone calls without background noise or others listening in. Theres a dedicated quiet room at the Houston Centurion Lounge featuring the Calm app. It is the nearest we can get to size comparisons from one source without measuring individual airports ourselves. The food and beverage selection varies from visit to visit because of the seasonal menu but has consistently been pretty great according to many online reviews. Keep an eye on the big picture because airport lounge access is merely one piece of the travel credit card puzzle. Why did yall raise the fees for extra guests from $30 to $50?? The shower stall is fairly large. For more information on our advertisers, see here. While many amenities make airport lounges convenient, its the food and drink that can motivate you to travel across the airport to visit one of these lounges. As a reminder, below are the locations of all the Amex Centurion Lounges in the U.S.: When you arrive at the lounge, you will have to check in with the staff at the guest services desk. Access to any Escape Lounge in the U.S. is another nice benefit of these cards. Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers may enter with up to 2 complimentary guests if they have spent $75,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Disclaimer:Upgraded Points, LLC and its website, UpgradedPoints.com, provides information on credit cards, reward programs, travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards. On top of that, only 57% of their lounges have restrooms, which means you will most likely have to use the public airport bathrooms instead. Enjoy access to these lounges with your Platinum Card. The information regarding the Centurion Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. Alex has been traveling for over 25 years and from a young age was lucky enough to set out on numerous family trips all over the world, which gave him the travel bug. Relax in the comfort of American Express Lounges across select locations in India, with complimentary food and beverages and Wi-Fi. A few of the other airports we looked at floated toward the bottom of our list. Breakfast is officially served between 6 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. There is food available at all times the lounge is open. The menu was designed by Chef Justin Yu, a James Beard Award winner and the chef and owner of the popular Houston restaurant Theodore Rex. Your local airport, SNA, isnt included in that ranking because it doesnt meet our criteria for it (given that it only has 2 lounges, as youve said). 28% of locations have family rooms and only the Flagship Lounges offer premium food options. See our Advertiser Disclosurefor more details. 2023 Upgraded Points, LLC. If you are an originating passenger and have a flight leaving Houston at 1 p.m., you wont be able to access the lounge until 10 a.m. Find the best international travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees to help you earn miles and travel points. In the midst of American Airlines' gigantic Miami hub, this lounge is frequented by business travelers heading to South America and beachgoers seeking some Florida sun. A nominal fee of US$ 32 will be charged per visit. While holders of other credit cards can access some of the lounges within the American Express Global Lounge Collection (many credit cards offer Priority Pass Select membership, for example), access to this full lounge collection is only available via the following cards: The Business Platinum Card from American Express. Your Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum card come with complimentary lounge access to over 1,400 different lounge properties worldwide, including the vast network of Priority Pass lounges. Plus, only 1 in 5 have premium food options, so you may want to pack your own snacks ahead of time. Any additional guests may purchase One-Day Passes. Lounges at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) Showing 5 Results. Upon exiting the elevator, walk down the long hallway. The Centurion Lounge. Find Out More. In the large open area space, there are many seating options to choose from. Find Out More . Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. How long can you stay in an American Express Global Lounge? Comparing this lounge to the other Centurion locations, this is one of the more minimal lounges for amenities, but that shouldnt take away from the primary point of visiting a relaxing environment to work in with complimentary refreshments. American Express members whove been to one of the Centurion Lounge locations before are usually excited to see there is one available at an airport location they are flying through. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves.