Amex Centurion Lounge Atlanta: What to anticipate now that it’s open

I’ve visited a few of the most spectacular lounges everywhere in the world. Lots of the greatest will solely grant entry to these with a premium first or enterprise class boarding move. However after visiting the new Amex Centurion Lounge in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), I can say that it’s unequivocally the very best lounge I’ve ever entered that may be accessed solely from carrying a travel credit card. It’s not with out its foibles, but it surely brings some distinctive and hyper-premium facilities that you simply received’t discover at most different airport lounges, particularly throughout the U.S.

I visited this lounge on opening day. I’ll take you on a fast tour to display how airport lounges can revolutionize your journey—and present you how one can simply entry them your self.

Amex Centurion Lounge Atlanta hours and site

Attending to the Centurion Lounge from any of Atlanta’s seven concourses is a cinch. All terminals are related by a speedy Airplane Practice that operates under the walkway. In different phrases, you may go to the lounge even when your flight departs from a unique concourse.

This lounge is positioned in Concourse E close to gate 11. A number of indicators assist to make sure you’re on the right track. Of all of the Centurion Lounges I’ve visited, this lounge reveals maybe the least thought-out entry level. It’s positioned behind the gate’s ready space.

Stroll by way of the heavy glass doorways, and also you’re instantly on one other planet. The large signature “living wall” discovered in any respect Centurion Lounges ambushes you from the best, with three check-in lanes shepherding of us towards the entrance desk. Let’s hope three lanes proves to be overkill.

First strolling into the lounge, the dimensions is instantly spectacular. Its open-concept 26,000 sq. toes makes it a Manhattan three-bedroom residence greater than the earlier king-of-Atlanta-lounges, the Delta Sky Membership in Concourse F.

As you’d count on, there have been numerous seats. However a shocking quantity have been occupied. The Centurion Lounge is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. My go to was round 9 p.m. It wasn’t overwhelmingly crowded—but it surely was busier than I had anticipated for a newly-minted location about which many vacationers presumably have but to be taught.

Lounge structure and options

The lounge accomplishes the botanical environment American Specific crowed about in its preliminary press launch. Its 50-year previous olive tree provides oxygen to the atmosphere of the room. Equally, the hanging lights all through the lounge are supposed to evoke a way of sitting beneath a forest cover.

A number of home airport lounges these days try and convey a way of tranquility by sprinkling beds of greenery across the house. Whereas it’s actually a pleasant effort, the vegetation on this new Centurion Lounge brazenly mocks its opponents.

A spotlight of this lounge is the ubiquity {of electrical} retailers. Some Centurion lounges, even comparatively new ones, supply inexplicably few retailers. You’ll be able to’t swing a useless cat on this lounge with out hitting an outlet. They’re constructed into the middle of tables; they’re within the seat backs of (almost) each bench; they’re on the base boards of couches; each six toes of wall options an outlet.

Maybe probably the most thrilling characteristic of the brand new Atlanta Centurion Lounge is its two massive outside terraces. Every terrace is surprisingly prolonged and provides an entry level at every finish.

The primary terrace is close to the eating room. It’s brightly lit with a big number of backyard beds in each course. Lots of the greenery seems to be newly planted, exposing the less-than-photogenic irrigation system partially buried within the soil. The fantastic thing about this terrace will solely improve because the backyard beds fill out.

You’ll discover stellar 180-degree views of the tarmac from this terrace. If plane-watching is your form of exercise, that is the place you’ll dwell throughout your go to.

On the opposite aspect of the lounge is one other terrace with a completely totally different character. It’s quieter and extra dimly lit, and it provides no airside views. It feels extra like a again alley—in a great way. This terrace is hooked up to The Reserve, the lounge’s whiskey bar (we’ll get to that in a minute).

These terraces are open all 12 months. To fight the weather are a number of followers and radiant heaters. The temperature was within the excessive 30s throughout my nighttime go to, and the warmers ran at numerous settings. The choose items that have been working at full blast may brulee a cheesecake. The winter months can be completely hospitable with these ceiling fixtures.

Extremely, this lounge doesn’t have a kids’s space. A number of (a lot smaller) Centurion Lounges possess a small sound-proof room with toys and a TV to present youngsters a spot to decompress throughout a connection. This one doesn’t.

Nonetheless, it’s received just a few areas that folks could possibly use. There’s a reasonably quiet multi-purpose room beside the primary eating space. And farther alongside are a sequence of “phone rooms” which will assist to suppress the sound of horseplay.

The lounge options three bathe suites. They’re free to make use of for quarter-hour—simply make a reservation on the entrance desk, present your telephone quantity, and also you’ll get a textual content when it’s prepared for you. Bathe suites are significantly extra spacious than a daily restroom stall and may very well be a way more nice expertise for these with a incapacity. It’s properly value a reservation on an extended layover.

It’s nice that the lounge provides free bathe privileges; many lounges require cost for inferior amenities.

Joseph Hosteler

Foods and drinks

The Reserve is the Amex Centurion Lounge community’s first devoted whiskey bar. It’s a darker, extra intimate house than the remainder of the lounge. The inside resembles a contemporary speakeasy; a manila envelope discreetly exchanging fingers wouldn’t look misplaced.

At The Reserve, you’ll have a selection of six complimentary whiskey-centric cocktails. The bartender divulged that the “Drink A Peach” choice was working circles across the different menu objects. Actually, it was scrumptious—and robust. On its correct whiskey menu, The Reserve provides 10 bourbon choices, seven rye whiskey choices, three Tennessee whiskey choices, and 4 others.

If whiskey isn’t your jam, the primary eating space homes a totally stocked bar, in addition to an not noticeable smoothie bar for the flyer who enjoys touring sober. It additionally provides fruits, yogurt, juices, and extra. The smoothies have been unimaginable, however the choices had dwindled fairly a bit by the late night. The employees didn’t appear pressing to replenish this bar, and it remained principally empty at some stage in my keep.

The Centurion Lounge has two massive buffets and a number of other standalone circumstances with quite a lot of desserts and fruits. Just like the smoothie bar, the buffets have been restocked with excessive leisure. Throughout my hour-long lurk, I witnessed little food-related upkeep. Even so, the objects I attempted have been completely tasty. The identical meal bought within the concourse would’ve simply value $50.

The lounge additionally provides a number of espresso machines that may do absolutely anything you ask of them.

Methods to entry the Amex Centurion Lounge Atlanta

To enter an Amex Centurion Lounge, you should have one of many following journey rewards playing cards:

Moreover, you should have a same-day boarding move that departs inside three hours (until you’re connecting, by which case you may enter earlier).

You’ll be able to convey as much as two company into the lounge with you, although you’ll should pay $50 per grownup and $30 per youngster (age 2 by way of 17). The exception is in case you’ve spent $75,000 in your Amex Platinum or Enterprise Platinum Card inside a calendar 12 months, by which case you may convey as much as two company without spending a dime.

Backside line

As different bank card issuers start rolling out fancier and fancier lounges, American Specific is doing its bit to maintain tempo. The recent Amex Centurion Lounge in Atlanta is the brand new flagship location for the premium lounge community. It’s a welcome addition for many who fly by way of the world’s busiest airport.

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