Whiskey and outdoor seating: Your first look at Amex’s biggest Centurion Lounge yet in Atlanta

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American Express is opening its largest Centurion Lounge yet at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) tomorrow, Feb. 14, 2024. The lounge is a whopping 26,000 square feet and a welcome addition to Delta’s largest hub, which is known for overcrowded Delta Sky Clubs.

The lounge is a step above the rest of the lounges in Amex’s network too. It has multiple outdoor spaces, a whiskey bar, locally inspired food and several other amenities that make for a luxurious pre-departure experience. The opening will mark the 28th lounge in the Centurion Lounge network.

“This lounge is a reflection of everything we have learned over the past ten years in the lounge business about our customers, the way they travel and the way they use the lounges,” says Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. “This is our largest and most innovative space to date, offering travelers the first-ever whiskey bar in a Centurion Lounge and our first-ever outdoor terraces.”

CNN Underscored just attended a media event at the Atlanta Centurion Lounge a day before the lounge opens to the public, and needless to say, we were impressed. Let’s take a look at Amex’s newest lounge and what to expect on your first visit.

How to access the Atlanta Amex Centurion Lounge

Entering the Atlanta Centurion Lounge has the same requirements as entering any other Centurion Lounge: You’ll need a boarding pass for a flight departing in the next three hours, and the right Amex card.

You can enter the lounge with the The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — both cards provide unlimited access for primary account holders and authorized users. You can earn guest privileges by spending $75,000 on your card in a single calendar year, or you can pay $50 per guest ($30 for children between 2 and 17).

You can also enter the lounge with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card if you’re flying with Delta. Access is provided to primary card members and authorized users.

Don’t have a qualifying card but want to enter the lounge? Consider applying for a new card:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. $650 annual fee (see rates and fees).

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 110,000 bonus miles after you spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. $650 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Inside the Atlanta Amex Centurion Lounge

As mentioned, the Atlanta Centurion Lounge clocks in at a massive 26,000 square feet, and since Atlanta is currently the world’s busiest airport, this lounge is an important addition to the bank’s growing airport lounge network. Let’s take a look inside.

Entering the Atlanta Amex Centurion Lounge

The lounge is located in Atlanta’s Concourse E near gate E11. Since all concourses are connected in Atlanta, you can use the lounge regardless of what airline you’re flying. Just use the airport’s Plane Train system to access the lounge from farther gates.

The lounge has a large facade that was covered during the media preview. That said, it’s hard to miss with a large American Express logo outside, so you shouldn’t have any issues finding the lounge.

After walking into the lounge, you’ll see American Express’ signature living wall next to the check-in counter. Make sure to have your boarding pass and eligible Amex card ready for check-in.

Seating at the Atlanta Amex Centurion Lounge

There’s no shortage of seating in this lounge — a huge perk given how busy Atlanta’s airport is. Seating is divided by section. There are three small seating areas immediately following the check-in area. Here, you’ll find a mixture of lounge chairs, couches and standard dining-style tables.

The main room — which has a real olive tree in the middle — has a variety of tables and booths. This is a great area to enjoy a meal or a drink away from the dining room and bar, which could get loud during peak travel hours.

The dining room has plenty of room to enjoy a meal. It’s surrounded by two buffets and a coffee station, and there’s a full-service bar that serves cocktails, beer and wine.

You’ll also find phone booths and workstations to the right of the dining room. Head here if you need to take a Zoom call or otherwise get work done during your time at the Atlanta Centurion Lounge.

There’s also a whiskey bar — dubbed The Reserve — near the front of the lounge. I’ll discuss its drink offerings in the next section, but it also has bar and table seating for you to enjoy a drink or two.

But perhaps the best part of the lounge is the outdoor seating. There’s a large terrace overlooking the tarmac and another attached to the whiskey bar. Both are heated in the winter and have plenty of seating, so you can enjoy some fresh air before your flight.

Food and drink at the Atlanta Amex Centurion Lounge

Atlanta-based chef Deborah VanTrece created the food menu for this lounge, and all the food we tried was solid. She’s also the chef behind Atlanta restaurants like Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Oreatha’s at the Point and La Panarda.

All food is served buffet-style. On the day of the media event, we were treated to za’atar grilled chicken thighs, black-eyed pea biryani and baked mac and cheese, among other Southern-inspired dishes. There are also desserts, fruit, cheese and other snacks available.

Of course, there’s no shortage of drinks. There are two self-service coffee and water stations on opposite ends of the lounge. Both drip coffee and espresso are available. Coffee is provided by Georgia-based Rev Coffee Roasters.

But the bars are the real star of the show. The main bar serves craft beer, cocktails and wines, and there’s a selection of nonalcoholic cocktails available too. Drinks are complimentary for patrons.

Things get more interesting when you visit The Reserve, the lounge’s whiskey bar. It’s in a separate room toward the front of the lounge, and it serves a variety of unique cocktails and special whiskeys. Some whiskeys on offer include Four Roses, Whistle Pig 6 Year and Rowan’s Creek, among many others.

The quality of the food and drink is on par with what you’ll find at other lounges, but the whiskey bar is a unique touch that sets the lounge apart from other Centurion Lounges.

Bottom line

The Atlanta Centurion Lounge is an excellent addition to American Express’ lounge network. Refreshed amenities and outdoor space make it a truly unique space in the Atlanta airport, and it shows the company’s commitment to providing card members with an upgraded travel experience.

I hope that American Express will update some of the older lounges in its network. Some of the older Centurion Lounges — namely, the lounges in Charlotte, Miami and Los Angeles — are starting to feel dated when compared to the competition. Bringing older Centurion Lounges up to the Atlanta lounge’s design standard would be a huge upgrade across the board.

Click here for rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Reserve card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Business Reserve card.

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