One of our readers sent us this review of the American Express Centurion Lounge in Atlanta. Alex writes about Disney World and Disney Cruises over at seconddadtotheright. He discovered an episode of our podcast talking about using points to go to Disney. That sent him down a rabbit hole, and now he has racked up 1.2 million points just on welcome offers in 11 months, not to mention referrals and multiplied spending. “We’ve hit Companion Pass on Southwest and almost hit Globalist with Hyatt for 2024. It’s completely changed our vacation life.” Here is his review:

 

American Express Centurion Lounge in Atlanta

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is known as one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. However, as the Delta headquarters, the amenities and flight choices for non-Delta customers have typically been limited. While they have a Delta Sky Lounge in every concourse, these are only available to certain Delta customers (and even fewer recently). 

If you were flying Southwest or any other airline, you had only one choice: the Club ATL located in the international terminal (which we can access through Priority Pass with our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card). The Club ATL has decent food and drinks, but it’s tiny, outdated, and tough to get into when the airport is busy, often with a long line at the door.

All of that changed on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2024.  American Express opened the largest Amex Centurion Lounge to date. At 26,000 square feet, it features multiple large and small rooms, private rooms, business areas, an outdoor garden atrium, an outdoor patio that views the runway, and a bourbon bar (not to mention a regular bar).

 

 

Based on tips from the Travel Mom Squad, I recently opened  The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn 150,000 membership reward points. Because of our frequent trips to Disney, we’ve been able to utilize the lounge multiple times in the last few months.

I do have to pay for my wife and kids to enter ($50/adult, $30/kid), but given the value in free drinks, food, and relaxation, I feel the cost is worth it. We’ll probably open a Platinum Card of some sort for my wife in the future as well.

 

Food at the Amex Atlanta Centurion Lounge

The food at the Amex Centurion Lounge in Atlanta is amazing but a little adventurous, at least for my elementary-age daughters. They managed to find some deli slices and fruit, but they mostly stuck to the chocolate chip cookies.

 

 

I was there in the early afternoon and had a delicious chicken dish, vegetables, hummus spread, and chocolate chip cookies. A few things on the buffet remind you you’re in the south, like pecan pie bites and pimento cheese. The buffet’s highlight for me was the sweet cornbread, which makes Atlanta soul food proud. There are also a few cold offerings in coolers around the lounge. The breakfast offerings are much better than lunch, with homemade biscuits, eggs, and other pastries.

 

 

That said, the buffet’s size compared to the lounge’s size was one of the lounge’s downsides. Luckily, not many people were hungry at 4 p.m. Two short buffet tables for probably 200 guests seem unsustainable.

 

Drinks at the Amex Atlanta Centurion Lounge

The Atlanta Centurion Lounge has a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. They have multiple coffee machines that make lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffee drinks. They have a sparkling and flat water tap with flavorings to make your own La Croix seltzers. There are adventurous mixed juice choices like beet/apple juice and more approachable pineapple/orange juice, and you can get lemonade and soft drinks from the bar. It’s Atlanta, so if you want a soft drink, it’s called a Coke. If you ask for soda, you’ll get club soda. I don’t know what happens if you order pop.

The alcoholic drink options are much more robust. The lounge has two bars: one in the middle of everything near the buffet and a special American whiskey bar called The Reserve (don’t worry; you don’t have to have an AMEX Delta Reserve Card to get in—I asked). 

 

 

At the main bar, you can order a variety of domestic and craft beers (if you like IPAs, get the Creature Comforts Tropicalia. We Atlantans and UGA fans are pretty proud of it), a large selection of wine, as well as just about any cocktail you can think of.

In the whiskey bar, it’s mostly bourbon and dark whiskey cocktails, but they also have gin and wine. Since it’s all complimentary, I tried some of the more unheard-of bourbons. 

Overall, I felt that the drink selection was incredible, but the lines could be long, especially for the main bar. If you’re traveling with multiple adults, send one to stand in line, but ensure you’re in view, or else they won’t serve that person more than one drink. I saw the bartender making wives wave to their husbands to get them a drink.

 

Sitting Areas at Atlanta Amex Lounge

The Amex Centurion Lounge in Atlanta has an enormous array of seating areas. Upon entering, you immediately see three small, separately themed rooms. One has a classic aviation setup, and another has interesting single booths recessed into the walls.

To the left is an outdoor atrium with lots of greenery. Then you get to two large rooms, one with a bar and buffet and one with a giant live tree. Behind that room is a patio that overlooks the runways. Finally, there is the whiskey bar, quiet workspace areas, and a kids’ room with cartoons playing. 

 

 

 

Is the Atlanta Amex Centurion Lounge Good for Kids?

The food selection and overabundance of alcohol seem to indicate that the target audience is frequent business travelers without kids. That said, they have a children’s room, clean restrooms (and showers), and enough food/drink options to keep my kids happy. It may not be designed for children, but they loved it, and it was better than sitting at the gate. It was certainly better than paying for anything.

 

 

Bottom Line

The new Atlanta American Express Centurion Lounge is a gamechanger for people in the points and miles hobby. As a Delta hub, it’s not usually on anyone’s radars unless they use Sky Alliance partner points. But I live here, so I’m stuck with it, and thanks to Travel Mom Squad’s awesome advice, I have access to it. If you’re coming through Atlanta, make sure you check it out.

Related Posts

• Our Favorite Airport Lounges (So Far)
• Podcast 68. Unlocking Airport Lounges: How to Travel in Comfort and Style 
• How to Get Airport Lounge Access