While there aren’t any direct flights between Colorado and Australia (yet…), Denver International Airport is no small hub. For starters, it’s the second-largest airport in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Denver is also home to the longest public runway in North America – and, fittingly, an American Express Centurion Lounge.
It’s not merely the infrastructure size that’s drawn Amex to Denver. The airport is one of the world’s busiest by passenger numbers: outperforming Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA)… the list goes on.
Various airlines offer lounges here, as you’d expect. But those normally rely on booking a particular travel class or holding a certain level of frequent flyer status. When it comes to Denver’s Amex Centurion Lounge, passengers are welcome when flying to any destination, in any seat: no status required. All you need is an eligible American Express Card, and a few select cards from Australia are among those that grant gratis entry. Here’s what awaits.
Location, layout and seating
Denver International Airport is a maze of gates, and the trains run between concourses. But the good thing is that the entire airport is linked airside. This means that you can physically visit Denver’s American Express Centurion Lounge regardless of which gate your flight departs from. This applies whether travelling within the US or further afield, as domestic and international departures are all under one roof.
As for the lounge, you’ll find it along Concourse C. The entrance is just beyond gates C46 and C47 – take the escalator upstairs and have your American Express Card ready. The space frames itself in a rectangular shape atop the airport concourse, allowing the lounge to exist without obscuring the flow of light down to that very concourse. Cleverly, windows serve as walls against the skylight, bringing a light and fresh feel to the lounge.
Expect to find airport views and an array of seating broadly in line with Amex’s other Centurion Lounge locations.
You might find what looks like an activity room, with designs on the walls mimicking chess boards and Connect Four. When the lounge first opened, this space served as a games room. Amex’s website continues to promote its presence. But in reality, the area has become a collection of general seats with no sign of any games to help ease capacity constraints at this busy hub.
The Centurion Lounge in Denver currently opens at 5 am daily and closes at 10 pm. Eligible Platinum Card Members can visit the lounge up to three hours before their flight, or while in transit between same-day flights with no three-hour limit. Centurion Members can visit before or after any same-day flight, regardless of timing. We’ve got more details on the list of qualifying cards further below.
Food and beverage at the Amex Centurion Lounge, Denver
Even though Denver’s Centurion Lounge is a ‘credit card lounge’ (okay, technically a ‘charge card lounge’), all meals and drinks are complimentary. This includes cocktails, although the bartenders always appreciate tipping. It’s common to see US$1 left for something simple or US$2 for a more complicated drink (e.g., those cocktails).
I’ve got a busy day of travelling (and lounging) ahead of me, so I venture into mocktail territory. A salt-rimmed and slightly sour twist on a classic lemonade hits the spot. Food-wise, everything is self-serve from the buffet.
A chef is on hand preparing fresh plates of pasta that are ready to take, although they’re on the smaller side, so you might need a second. The main buffet serves up a broad collection of salads, hot mains, and vegetables. There’s also a section devoted to cheese, accompaniments, and sweet treats like cake.
A self-serve beverage bar is also handy for a quick fix. There’s an espresso machine, filtered coffee, fruit-infused water and iced latte on tap. The latter is particularly refreshing after a warm day exploring Red Rocks Ampitheatre, walking from the bottom right to the top to get my daily steps in.
Amenities in the Amex Centurion Lounge at Denver International Airport
Rounding out the offering, TVs are scattered throughout the lounge. They’re generally tuned to ESPN – live baseball, on this visit. I appreciate that there’s also a quiet ‘phone room’. Despite how busy the lounge is, nobody has claimed this space for general laptop work. It’s there to help keep the noise down within the main lounge space if you need to chat.
There’s also a family room, again considerately kept vacant for families: on this visit, at least. Shower suites can be used upon request, and the WiFi is super-swift (57Mbps down, 142Mbps up).
I happen to visit Denver’s Centurion Lounge around the 40th anniversary of the original American Express Platinum Card. Fittingly, there’s a cake to celebrate with a Platinum-coloured ribbon… but there’s a card on display asking guests not to eat it. Really, that’s just teasing…
Access
There’s no way to purchase entry to the Denver Centurion Lounge directly. Either you qualify by holding an eligible card, come in as a guest of the same, or you don’t come in at all. Eligible Australian cards are listed below.
- The American Express Platinum Card (+2 guests).
- The American Express Platinum Business Card (+2 guests).
- The American Express Corporate Platinum Card (+2 guests).
- The American Express Centurion Card (+2 guests or immediate family – issued by invitation only).
Be mindful that other Australian cards that simply have ‘Platinum’ in the name don’t qualify. For instance, the Amex Platinum Edge and Amex Velocity Platinum cards don’t make the cut. Nor does the Amex Explorer or Qantas Amex Ultimate cards. Some cards include passes to the Centurion Lounge locations in Australia. However, those passes aren’t valid in Denver.
On this visit, I’m not kept waiting to get into the lounge. However, at peak times, you may need to leave your phone number to join the virtual queue and await an SMS when it’s your turn. I’ve encountered this at some other locations and haven’t waited longer than 30-45 minutes.
The verdict
The American Express Centurion Lounge in Denver makes great use of space. Every little nook adopts a different feel because of its long and thin layout (resembling a hollow rectangle). It can be a bit of a hike to venture to the bar for a drink, especially if that means leaving your belongings to guard your seat. But it’s a great option to have everything the same.
My next stop after the Centurion Lounge would be the American Airlines Admirals Club. AA’s lounge really made me appreciate the extent of the food available here in the Centurion. But the Admirals Club was significantly quieter, given it’s only available to eligible American Airlines and oneworld flyers. If you’re arriving early and qualify for both lounges, my tip would be to visit Centurion first for a bite to eat and then wander to the Admirals Club to work or relax. Especially if you’re flying AA, as I was, the Admirals Club will also be much closer to your gate.
On another note, when travelling within the US, I appreciate the extensive (and growing) Centurion Lounge network. It’s a great option because it means you’ll always have a lounge, regardless of which airline you book. Airline status still clearly has its place—but not everybody has that. Also, most domestic ‘First Class’ tickets in the US don’t include lounge access at all. Even top-tier airline status may not cut it.
In a market where you could hold the highest tier of status, a boarding pass for the highest cabin and still not get into a lounge, the Centurion Lounge is a great option to keep up your sleeve. Granted, the annual fees aren’t cheap on the Amex cards that qualify, but Card Members who travel often may see strong value in the Card’s benefits, well beyond the upfront cost.
Also reviewed: Why US domestic First Class flights rarely include lounge access – and how to get in
All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who accessed the lounge as a regular guest.
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