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Review: American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

by James Dozer
Last updated April 9, 2024

I’m going to be very honest with you. Of all the Centurion Lounges in the American Express network, this lounge is my least favorite. I feel like this lounge has been mismanaged from the beginning and they have done a terrible job of reopening since the pandemic. For context, the lounge initially opened its doors in March 2020. Terribly timing and not their fault, I know. But when travel finally picked back up, and all the other lounges opened up again, this lounge re-opened with a B.S. “grab and go” box. You couldn’t even eat inside the lounge and it made zero sense. And then two years later, it turns out their construction had some flaw in it where it was letting jet fumes into the lounge and they had to close down again (insert facepalm emoji). And now that it’s open again, the space is always crowded and I feel like the catering has gone down in quality.

a blue wall with a picture of a man in a helmet
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

American Express Centurion Lounge LAX Access and Hours

The AmEx Centurion Lounge LAX is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Access is granted to American Express Platinum Cardholders (Business and Personal) and Centurion Cardholders. Centurion Cardholders are allowed to bring in guests for free but Platinum Cardholders are only allowed to bring in guests for free if you meet the 75K spend waiver. Otherwise, Platinum Cardholder guests will cost $50/person. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Cardholders (Business and Personal) are also granted access but they must be flying on a same-day Delta ticket. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Cardholders may also bring up to two guests for $50/person.

For Platinum and Centurion Cardholders, you do not need to be departing on a flight from Terminal B to qualify for access. In fact, all you need is a same-day ticket from any airline departing from any terminal at LAX. If you are departing from another terminal, you can check out my guide on how to get to Terminal B from any other terminal without having to clear security twice by clicking here. If your original departure flight is from LAX, then you can only visit the Centurion Lounge three hours before your flight. However, if you are connecting at LAX, then you can visit the Centurion Lounge for the entire duration of your layover. You cannot access the Centurion Lounge on arrival or on a standby ticket.

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American Express Centurion Lounge LAX Location and Layout

The AmEx Centurion Lounge LAX is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT or Terminal B). As you exit the security check, make an immediate left for the entrance. Just look for this wall and walk down the small set of steps.

a blue wall with a sign on it
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

You will then need to take the elevator down two levels to the entrance and check-in counter.

a entrance to a building
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

At 14,000 square feet, this is one of the larger lounges in the American Express network but its awkward design makes the lounge feel very crowded and narrow. The whole space just wraps around along a narrow hallway with several small rooms for dining, relaxing and resting. As you enter the lounge, the bar and dining room will be located to your right. Here, you’ll find a self-serve buffet area with a selection of hot and cold dishes to fill your belly.

a buffet with food on the counter
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
food buffet with plates of food and utensils
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

Here’s the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

a list of food items
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

Next to the buffet area are the bar and dining room. There are tables for groups of 2 – 4 and individual seats along the window.

a woman and a girl wearing face masks at a restaurant
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
a group of people sitting at tables in a room with windows
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
a room with a counter and people in it
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

The hosted bar is the highlight of the American Express Lounges and this lounge is no different. Here, you can order one of their signature drinks or anything else you want from the bar. All drinks are included, even the top-shelf alcohol.

a group of people sitting at a bar
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
a woman behind a counter with a face mask
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

Here’s the signature drink menu.

a white text on a white background
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

Moving further into the lounge, there are several small areas for resting and socializing with your fellow travelers and another hosted bar in the middle of the lounge.

a group of people sitting at a table in a room with chairs and a large ceiling
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
a group of people sitting in a room with a television
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
a group of people sitting in a room with blue chairs and tables
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX
a man wearing a face mask at a bar
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

There are also several espresso machines located throughout the lounge for your caffeine needs.

a man standing in a room with a coffee machine
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

Along the center hallway, there is a bank of private workstations, which are great for firing off those last-minute emails before boarding a long-haul flight.

a room with a table and chairs
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

In the back of the lounge, there’s a slightly bigger, “Sunrise” room with tables and chairs grouped together and individual loungers built into the wall. This room is brightly lit to simulate daytime to help reduce jetlag. UPDATE: This area is now reserved for Centurion Cardholders only.

a room with chairs and tables
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

Adjacent to the Sunrise room, there’s a small “Moonrise” room with some day beds and loungers. This room is intended to simulate nighttime to help travelers adjust to different time zones.

a room with chairs and tables
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX, photo courtesy of American Express

There’s also a spa room with professional therapists providing quick 15-minute services. Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis at the front desk.

a glass door with a sign on it
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

And if you need to freshen up, shower suites are also available on a first-come, first-served basis.

a sign on a door
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX

Décor-wise, I think the American Express Centurion Lounges are fairly classy with a clean, modern aesthetic and this lounge is fairly consistent with that theming. There are several American Express-inspired art pieces on the walls and the clever use of lighting and color makes the space feel upscale and unique. That being said, this is an interior lounge so there are no windows for natural lighting or views of the ramp or runway.

American Express Centurion Lounge LAX Bottom Line

Overall, the American Express Centurion Lounge at LAX is a decent place to rest and relax before your flight but this is definitely not a lounge I would show up early for, nor is it a lounge I would go out of my way to visit. The lounge is large but the layout is awkward and the space is always crowded. The food is just okay, definitely not the same quality as when the Centurion Lounges were first introduced, but the drinks are top-notch. If you have access and are departing from either Terminal 4 or B, I’d say it’s worth a visit. However, if you have to get here from any other terminal, I would say save your time.

The other posts in this series include:

  1. Japan is open for visa-free tourism! Here’s what you need to know before going.
  2. American Express Centurion Lounge at LAX
  3. Review: ANA Economy Class, Los Angeles to Tokyo Haneda
  4. Review: Hilton Tokyo Bay, an official Tokyo Disney Resort hotel
  5. Review: Disney Ambassador Hotel, an official Tokyo Disney Hotel
  6. Beginner’s guide to visiting Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea
  7. Review: ANA Lounge Tokyo Haneda
  8. Review: ANA Economy Class, Tokyo Haneda to Los Angeles
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About James Dozer

Aviation geek, fitness dork and overall nerd. Giving you the best information on miles and points so you can take better trips and live better stories.

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