At the end of my recent trip to Los Angeles, I visited the American Express Centurion Lounge in LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal. Overall, I liked it: the food and drinks were pretty good, and the lounge is pretty new, so it’s in good shape. Less good is the fact that this is an interior lounge, which means there’s no natural light or views.
This post was co-authored by David Woldenburg, a friend, fellow points junkie, and head of engineering at my favorite travel rewards card startup, Taekus!
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX location
The Centurion Lounge is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The entrance to the lounge is on the fourth floor, between the international arrivals and the international baggage claim area. Terminal 4 is the closest terminal to the lounge–about a 5 minutes walk–Terminal 5 is a bit further, Terminal 6 is further still, and so on until you get to Terminal 8, which is a trek.
Just after security, you’ll see a blue wall covered in American Express logos and an entryway, through which you can take elevators to the lounge entrance.
Once you take the elevator down two levels you’ll see a check-in desk and the trademark Centurion Lounge leafy wall.
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX hours
The lounge is currently open from 6 AM to 10 PM, an awesome improvement compared to just two months ago when it closed at 7:30 PM. You check the lounge’s hours, which change periodically, here. If you want the lounge at its quietest, go in the early afternoon, around 12-3 PM, after flights to Asia depart and before Europe-bound flights depart.
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX entry requirements
Like all Centurion lounges, to get in you’ll need to have one of the following American Express cards, each with its own terms and conditions:
- Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card: you must be within three hours of your flight’s departure time and can bring in two guests for free if you meet the $75,000/year waiver. If you haven’t met the waiver, you can purchase day passes for $50/person (or $30 per person aged 2 through 17).
- Centurion Card: you must be within three hours of your flight’s departure time and can bring in two guests free of charge or your spouse and children below the age of 18. To bring in additional guests, you can purchase day passes for $50/person (or $30 per person aged 2 through 17).
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card: you must be on a Delta flight and within three hours of your flight’s departure time. You can bring up to two guests for $50/person (or $30 per person aged 2 through 17).
These rules apply to most Centurion Lounges, but access rules can occasionally differ between lounges, especially those in airports outside the US. Check here for the most up-to-date and detailed rules.
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX seating & layout
The Centurion Lounge at LAX is spread out across 14,000 square feet. Though that’s pretty big for a Centurion Lounge, the space feels somewhat cramped, owing to a weird design to lay out various parts of the lounge–dining room, work stations, relaxation areas–along a either side of a long corridor.
When you first enter the lounge, you’ll see a relatively small seating area, with a few couches and loungers, as well as tables for eating and drinking.
Slightly further down, you’ll see another area with the smaller of two bars in the lounge.
There’s more seating here, and a TV flanked by American Express-themed artsy decor.
Down the corridor, there’s a couple relaxation room, including a darkened “moonrise” room.
In a separate area, there are also desks with partitions, as well as a long communal table with swivel chairs, lamps, and outlets. Other features include a spa offering complimentary massages and manicures on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a kids room.
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX food & drink
The highlight of the American Express Centurion Lounge at LAX is the main bar and dining area. Unlike the rest of the lounge, it has fairly high ceilings, and feels open and airy.
The old fashioned I ordered was the best drink I’ve gotten from a Centurion Lounge bar.
Food options include a buffett that is change thrice daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as grab-and-go fruit.
The food was fine, but obviously nothing special, so don’t expect anything particularly memorable.
American Express Centurion Lounge LAX bathroom & showers
The lounge has two shower suites, but they tend to book up quickly, so if you’re interested you should reserve one with a member of staff as soon as you enter the lounge. The showers come equipped with toiletries and towels.
Conclusion
Aside from the strange layout and lack of natural light, I like LAX’s Centurion Lounge. There are a lot of lounges at LAX and I’d say that this one is slightly below average, but it’s still a perfectly comfortable place to do work and grab a snack before a flight.
