Nearly two years after announcing it was expanding to Atlanta, Amex's long-awaited Centurion Lounge is finally ready to open its doors.
The new Amex Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) officially opens to the public this Wednesday, Feb. 14. And it's well suited to an airport that sees more daily passengers than anywhere else on the globe: At approximately 26,000 square feet, it's biggest Centurion Lounge … by far. It's located near gate E11 in the airport's E Concourse and open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Amex appears to have delivered on its promise that the Atlanta Centurion Lounge would feature “an array of new amenities.” The new lounge sports multiple outdoor terraces and a dedicated whiskey bar – both a first for Amex lounges, according to a news release.
Amex says it embraced Atlanta's tree-filled skylines with the nature-inspired design of the lounge. In addition to the landscaped outdoor seating areas, the main indoor space is anchored by a real 50-year-old olive tree and a massive custom light sculpture mimicking a forest canopy.
The Atlanta lounge will also feature many of the same local touches you'll find at other Amex lounges including work by local artists and a menu featuring “modern global soul food” curated by local chef Chef Deborah VanTrece.
Travelers will also find many of the same amenities that make Amex Centurion Lounges among the best in the country like comfortable seating, fast Wi-Fi, plenty of workstations, shower suites, an open bar with free wine and cocktails, and meals a step above what you'll get in most other airport lounges.
In addition to the main bar the whiskey bar, dubbed The Reserve by American Express. With dark finishes, caramel leather seating, and a list of over 20 classic and new American whiskeys to choose from, it's Amex's take on a classic whiskey bar. There's also a cocktail menu featuring five specialty whiskey cocktails, including “Drink a Peach” with peach-flavored whiskey and bitters and “Mayme, Tailored,” highlighting an American whiskey with ginger beer.
The new Centurion Lounge is a welcome addition in Atlanta, the world's largest airport by passenger volume.
Though the Delta hub is teeming with Sky Clubs, there are few lounge options for travelers flying with other carriers. Along with a lounge each for American and United frequent flyers, the only Priority Pass Lounge is The Club in Concourse F.
It's a change in strategy for American Express as the lounge in Atlanta marks the bank's first outpost at a major Delta hub. They've steered clear of Delta strongholds until now, as travelers with cards like the *amex platinum* can already get into Delta Sky Clubs so long as they're flying Delta that day.
But all that's changing come 2025 when Delta begins imposing limits on how many times cardholders can access its lounges. Combined with just how many frequent flyers with premium credit cards that fly in and out of Atlanta, this new Centurion Lounge is bound to be extremely busy
Getting into the Atlanta Centurion Lounge
Getting into the Centurion Lounge Atlanta is the same as any other Amex lounge. Simply show your *amex platinum* or *biz platinum*, a boarding pass, and an ID.
You can also get into Amex Centurion Lounges with the top-tier *delta reserve card*, but there's a hitch: You have to be flying Delta that day – and you must have paid for your ticket with your Reserve Card, too.
Finally, you can get in with the American Express Centurion Card, which is an invite-only credit card reserved for Amex’s top spenders.
Travelers can bring in guests for $50 apiece (or $30 for minors) unless you charged a whopping $75,000 to your Amex Platinum Card in the last year. Children under two are free.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Amex Centurion Lounges
Bottom Line
It's high time the world's busiest airport gets its own Amex Centurion Lounge – and at 26,000 square feet, the Atlanta lounge is easily the biggest in Amex's network so far.
The Atlanta Centurion Lounge opens Wednesday, Feb. 14. It features many of the same amenities that have made Amex lounges some of the best, as well as a few unique ones like outdoor terraces and a dedicated whiskey bar.
All images courtesy of American Express
