We are an independent publisher. Our reporters create honest, accurate, and objective content to help you make decisions. To support our work, we are paid for providing advertising services. Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Next” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, our site does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We strive to keep our information accurate and up-to-date, but some information may not be current. So, your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms on this site. And the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

This page may include: credit card ads that we may be paid for (“advertiser listing”); and general information about credit card products (“editorial content”). Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Apply Now” button or “Learn More” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. When you click on that hyperlink or button, you may be directed to the credit card issuer’s website where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Each advertiser is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its ad offer details, but we attempt to verify those offer details. We have partnerships with advertisers such as Brex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo and Discover. We also include editorial content to educate consumers about financial products and services. Some of that content may also contain ads, including links to advertisers’ sites, and we may be paid on those ads or links.

For more information, please see How we make money.

How to find Amex Platinum airport lounges

  • Meghan Hunter

    • Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.

    Update:   One or more card offers in this post are no longer available.  Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.

    Airport lounges are easy to access for free these days, because lots of credit cards come with lounge memberships or day passes.

    But the American Express Platinum cards (both of which make our list of the top Amex cards) offer admission to the widest range of lounges through their Global Lounge Collection. If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ve got a ton of options for spots to unwind, enjoy free food and drink, and escape from the busy terminal. Enrollment required for select benefits.

    I’ll show you which lounges you can access with the Amex Platinum cards, and how to find eligible lounges along your way.

    Only Amex Platinum cards give you free access to the Amex Centurion Lounges, like the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge. (Photo by American Express)

    Amex Platinum cards offer access to more lounges than any other card

    The Platinum Card from American Express and American Express Business Platinum Card are both terrific cards for frequent flyers, and come with great travel perks, like comprehensive lounge memberships. Here’s our full review of the Amex Platinum card and its benefits and perks, and our review of the Amex Business Platinum card.

    (Also, don’t forget the American Express® Green Card. With it, you’ll get up to $100 per year in LoungeBuddy statement credits (Annual fee $150, see rates and fees), perfect for those who need occasional lounge access. Without a membership that grants access to a particular lounge, visits can cost anywhere from $20-$50. LoungeBuddy is available in a mobile app version that shows you the closest airport lounges and lets you pay for access to those lounges through the app.)

    The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.          

    Now let’s look at how to find nearby lounges you can access with the Amex Platinum cards so you can take full advantage of this benefit.

    How to easily locate lounges accessible with the Amex Platinum cards

    American Express makes it simple to find a lounge on its website. Just follow these easy steps:

    Step 1: Visit the Amex Global Lounge Collection web page

    Navigate to the Amex Global Lounge Collection web page.  You’ll see a search box where you can enter your airport/city, as well as a list of lounge networks you can enter with the Amex Platinum cards.

    The Amex Platinum cards give you access to a number of different lounge brands, including the high-quality Amex Centurion Lounges. So the Amex Platinum cards give you more lounge choices than any other card in certain airports.

    You’ll have access to 10 lounges at London’s Heathrow Airport.

    Step 2: Choose the lounge you want to visit

    Click the “Find Out More” button associated with an individual lounge to learn more.

    Step 3: View lounge details

    Once you’ve clicked through to a specific lounge, you’ll get detailed information to help you plan a visit. Under the “Overview” tab, you’ll see the lounge’s description, location in the airport, hours, and amenities.

    For example, you can see what types of food and drink are on offer, or if there are showers available.

     

    Under the “Access & Guests” tab, you’ll find out what’s required to enter the lounge, like a same-day boarding pass or Priority Pass Select card. You’ll also see if guests are allowed and whether you can pay for additional guests over any limit. (enrollment required)

    Keep in mind, the requirements to enter each type of lounge are different.

    For example:

    Note: Certain lounges have time restrictions or limit access to folks with outbound travel only.

    Step 4: Read the terms and conditions

    Be sure to click “Terms & Conditions” to learn about any restrictions and limits specific to that lounge.

    For example, most lounges have policies about the minimum age for entry, drinking age and space availability.

    Step 5: Enjoy your visit

    One of the best things about the Amex Platinum lounge program is that you’re not limited to just visiting one lounge at a particular airport. Some airports have 10+ lounges to choose from.

    It’s worth checking out the airport map to see where each lounge is located and if they’re convenient to access from the terminal you’re departing from. Some lounges are worth walking to, even if it’s in a different concourse. Many folks will get to the airport early or go out of their way to enjoy time in the lounge, particularly Centurion Lounges.

    Travelers will often arrive at the airport extra early to enjoy a meal and drinks at Centurion Lounges. (Photo by Zach Griff)

    Some airports let you enter any terminal as long as you have a boarding pass departing that day. This lets you access any lounge you want, no matter where your departure gate is. Other airports may restrict access to certain terminals or concourses depending on your airline or whether you’re traveling on an international or domestic flight. You can often find details on these restrictions on the “Overview” page for a lounge.

    Don’t forget to enroll in Priority Pass

    You won’t be able to enter any Priority Pass lounges until you’ve used your Amex Platinum card to activate your membership. You can’t enter their lounges with just your Amex Platinum Card. To activate your Priority Pass Select membership, you can either call the number on the back of your card or do it online through your account.  (enrollment required). Here’s how to do it online in just a few easy steps:

    Step 1: Sign into your Amex account

    Log into your American Express account then find the “Membership Benefits” link.

    Step 2: Find the enrollment button

    You’ll want to find the box for “The American Express Global Lounge Collection,” then click the “Enroll” button as pictured below:

    Step 3: Complete your registration

    The last step is to double-check you are enrolling the correct card, click the box to indicate you agree to the terms and then hit “Enroll.”

    Authorized users on Amex Platinum cards also get lounge access, including a Priority Pass Select membership, but will have to call the number for the appropriate card and talk to an Amex representative to activate the benefit. (enrollment required).

    Bottom line

    Finding lounges to visit for free with your Amex Platinum cards is easy when you use the Amex Global Lounge Collection website. Just type in your location to pinpoint a lounge near you.

    Folks who have Amex cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card from American Express can access Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select lounges, Delta lounges (when flying Delta the same day), and many more. It’s an amazing perk that can save you from spending money on food and drink in a pricey airport terminal, and it’s a great way to relax in a more private spot before your flight. Enrollment required

    Do you have a favorite lounge in the Amex Global Lounge Collection network? Share in the comments!

    For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, click here.

    For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card , click here.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)