One of the benefits of many of the premium American Express credit cards have is lounge access at airports throughout the world. There are actually five different types of airport lounges that you can access with your The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

In this article, we'll review the lounge options available with these cards and how you can use the benefit to enhance your flying experience.

American Express cards with airport lounge access

American Express styles their airport lounge benefit as access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection. This airport lounge access is a benefit of the following American Express cards (terms apply):

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Separately, one of the benefits of the American Express® Green Card is $100 in statement credits per year on LoungeBuddy purchases, which is another option for airport lounge access. LoungeBuddy can get you airport lounge access as low as $25 (though generally it runs between $40-$60), so this is really only good for the occasional traveler with no guests. Terms apply.

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Best airport lounges for The Platinum Card® from American Express

1. American Express Centurion Lounges

American Express currently operates more than a dozen Centurion Lounges throughout the U.S., Hong Kong and the U.K. In March 2022, American Express announced that it will be opening its largest Centurion Lounge yet at Atlanta sometime in 2024. The new lounge will feature multiple outdoor spaces.

You can access Centurion Lounges up to three hours before your departing flight.

American Express also operates 10 similar American Express-branded lounges internationally:

Stockholm-Arlanda.

Mumbai.

Delhi.

Buenos Aires-Ezeiza.

Sao Paulo-Guarulhos.

Melbourne.

Mexico City (2 lounges).

Monterrey, Mexico.

Sydney.

Toluca, Mexico.

Cardholders can also access the Lufthansa Lounges when flying on Lufthansa and departing from Frankfurt or Munich.

2. Priority Pass lounges

Another benefit of both of these AmEx cards is a Priority Pass Select membership. Priority Pass operates a network of over 1,300 airport lounges throughout the world. Unlike access to the Centurion lounges, which simply require you to show your card, access to Priority Pass lounges does require a separate enrollment in the Priority Pass program.

One important difference between a Priority Pass Select membership from American Express as compared to memberships from other premium credit cards is that as of June 2019, American Express no longer gives Priority Pass benefits at airport restaurants.

If the Priority Pass airport lounge allows guests, you can bring in two guests along with you at no additional charge.

3. Delta Sky Clubs

Like at the Centurion Lounges, you’ll need to show your card and boarding pass to access these lounges, but the difference at Delta Sky Club lounges is that your boarding pass must be for a Delta flight. If you’re flying on any other airline, you won’t have access to the Delta Sky Club.

At these lounges, your card will only grant access to the cardholder — you can purchase guest access for a spouse, children under 21 or up to two guests for $50 per person. Keep in mind that you can enter Delta Sky Clubs up to three hours before your departing Delta flight (unless you have a layover).

Starting Feb. 1, 2025, cardholders will be limited to just six visits per program year. Members can earn unlimited access after spending $75,000 in a program year. Unlimited access remains through Jan. 31 of the following year. Spend tracking begins Jan. 1, 2024.

4. Escape Lounges

There are currently 12 Escape Lounges in 10 airports in the United States:

Cincinnati.

Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Hartford.

Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Oakland.

Ontario, California (two locations).

Phoenix.

Providence.

Reno.

Sacramento (two locations).

You can bring up to two additional guests with you at no additional charge.

5. Aspire Lounge, San Diego

Formerly Airspace Lounge, the Aspire Lounge at San Diego Airport gives free access to The Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders and up to two guests.

The lounge offers complimentary light refreshments, free Wi-Fi, a full bar and even free shower facilities.

While both the The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express come with hefty annual fees, the airport lounge access that comes with these cards is quite a valuable benefit for a frequent traveler.

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.