There’s a new battleground in the credit card airport lounge wars: the nation’s capital.
On Tuesday, American Express took a break from its highly anticipated Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, DC.
The outpost, first announced in 2021 and opening Wednesday, becomes the first credit card-branded lounge at DCA, which will be welcome news for Amex’s most premium cardmembers passing through the airport. (Until now, DCA was home to only airline-branded lounges.)
Amex’s move is strong. The DCA Centurion Lounge measures approximately 12,000 square feet and features numerous amenities and lounges, including a first-of-its-kind culinary concept for the Amex Club network.
Of course, Amex has long been the leader in the credit card-branded airport lounge wars. It opened the first Centurion Lounge in 2013 and has since expanded the network to major cities across the country and around the world.
That said, Capital One and Chase are playing very frantic catch-up; The former is also planning to open a new dining-focused “outpost” concept at DCA in the coming months.
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So, what’s it like inside Amex’s new Centurion Lounge? Read on for all the details.
Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Location
Amex’s new Centurion Lounge at DCA is located in the newly constructed extension of the airport’s Terminal 2.
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You will find the lounge in the Airside National Hall near the pier entrance to B Gates. This place is located near the south security checkpoint, so I would recommend clearing security here if you are planning to use the lounge after completing check-in and security checks.
Once you’re in the National Hall, it’s hard to miss the entrance. It’s located right across from Lucky Buns, and the glass-lined entrance couldn’t be more prominent.
Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Access
The new lounge opens daily at 5 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. daily, except Saturdays when it closes at 7 p.m.
American Express Cardmembers with Centurion or Platinum-branded cards eg Platinum Card® from American Express Or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Access to the Amex Centurion Lounge.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card And Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Members also receive complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge when flying on a Delta-marketed or operated flight.
You cannot purchase Centurion Lounge access even if you have another American Express card.
Note that Centurion Lounge’s guest policies were changed last year to prevent overcrowding.
Platinum Card Members cannot bring complimentary guests to the lounge unless they meet the new $75,000 annual spend requirement on their card. Otherwise, you’ll pay $50 per adult guest and $30 per child (ages 2-17). Children below two years of age can enter for free. Centurion and Corporate Platinum Card members can continue to bring two complimentary guests to the lounge.
For more on accessing the Centurion Lounge network, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide.
Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Layout
The new Amex lounge is located on the newly constructed upper level of the departure hall.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
After entering the premises, you will need to either take the elevator or climb about 50 stairs to reach the reception desk.
From the moment you enter the space, it is definitely Centurion Lounge. Between wood tones, green living walls and signature Amex scents, the issuer brought all of its Flagship Centurion Lounge elements for space.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
After you enter the lounge, you will turn left and enter various relaxation areas. First, located next to the reception desk, is a pseudo art gallery featuring pieces by local Washington, D.C., artists. I especially liked Maggie O’Neill’s colorful canvas depicting the Capitol Building.
The gallery is bookended by a beautiful presentation of the Amex signature watchdog found in every Centurion lounge. This piece, however, is an updated take on the historic Amex logo and blends in beautifully with the space.
Lining the gallery hall are several couches and individual chairs.
As you walk through the gallery, you can step right into traditional lounge seating. Here, you’ll find a mix of couches and lounge chairs – all in the dark blue and deep gray tones you’ll find in Amex’s new Centurion Lounge.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
There are also some chairs around the perimeter of this rectangular relaxation area.
As you reach the end of the lounge, you will find two open-style living rooms. The first is more of an entertainment area with TVs built into Amex’s signature library wall.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
Behind this library wall is another living room area; This will likely be popular with business travelers.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
There’s a long coworking table, with bar-style high-top seating lining the perimeter of the space, perfect for those looking to work. This is where you’ll find the lounge’s shared printer.
One thing I especially appreciate throughout the lounge is all the natural light — the lounge has windows all around, providing plenty of light throughout the day.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
Finally, a small dedicated lounge area is reserved for those with the Centurion Card, Amex’s invitation-only charge card popular with the rich and famous. This area seats no more than 15, but is cordoned off and looks like it would be the most comfortable in the entire lounge.
Overall, this new Centurion Lounge looks similar to other Amex Centurion Lounges. It’s not a one-of-a-kind place like the newly opened outpost in Atlanta, but it covers all the basics (and more) in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Dining
Although the lounge itself looks like any other Centurion lounge, Amex is introducing a unique dining concept in this lounge.
The menu has been designed in partnership with three award-winning chefs who have partnered with other Centurion Lounges across the country. These include Chef Michelle Bernstein, Chef Ravi Kapoor, and Chef Michael Solomonov, all of whom have incredibly successful restaurants in Miami, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, respectively.
With all three, travelers can enjoy a variety of cuisines at the lounge’s all-day buffet. As with all Centurion lounges (and unlike Capital One Lounge and Chase Sapphire Lounge), there is no à la carte dining.
That said, all the dishes I tried at the media preview were delicious, especially the Shabazi-spiced salmon.
I’m personally a big fan of Chef Solomonov’s Zahav restaurant in Philly, so getting to sample some of his creations at another Amex lounge is a big win in my book (especially given how hard it is to get a reservation at his flagship restaurant).
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
At the bar, you can order from a cocktail menu curated by Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan or from a wine list designed by the issuer’s wine director Anthony Giglio. Amex has always invested in offering a pretty extensive and elevated drink list, and this lounge is no exception.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
In addition to the buffet and signature bar, there are two drink stations throughout the lounge. Here, you’ll also find Eversys coffee machines, Vivreau water faucets, and some delicious chocolate chip cookies.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
While the culinary experience is highlighted by delicious food and drinks, you definitely don’t want to miss taking a look at the dining room, which has beautiful light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. The fixture is a collection of 260 lanterns that resemble the topography of the Potomac River.
There aren’t many tables in the dining room, though, so during peak periods, I imagine guests will need to take their plates to other areas of the lounge.
Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Facilities
Although this place doesn’t offer a spa or outdoor terrace, it has all the basics covered (and then some).
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
The lounge has a phone booth and a meeting room. It is soundproof and has floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I love the design of the walls in this room.
Instead of family rooms, the lounge has multi-purpose rooms, which can be used by families and people traveling together as a group. This space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
There is a set of toilets in the center of the lounge. The men’s room has three stalls and a few urinals.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
There is also a shower in the lounge, located next to the reception desk. Be sure to reserve a time with the front desk when you enter.
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Zach Griff/The Points Guy
The shower suite is beautiful and looks like it might be the most beautiful shower in the airport. After all, it wins by default because it’s the first shower available to travelers at DCA.
Power outlets and USB-A ports are within arm’s reach of most seats. Unfortunately, I don’t see any USB-C charging ports here, even though this has quickly become the new charging standard.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the premises, and download and upload speeds top 300 Mbps.
Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Bottom Line
The long-awaited Centurion Lounge in Washington, DC is finally here.
This is DCA’s first credit card-branded lounge, and it sets the bar very high. With plenty of space to relax, delicious food and drinks, and thoughtful amenities, expect this place to be popular with tourists. (So much so that I imagine congestion will unfortunately be a reality during the peak departure window.)
While this space may not have special amenities like a spa or outdoor terrace, it fits the bill for what Amex’s top cardmembers need most when passing through DCA.
As long as you can find a place to relax, this lounge is definitely worth a visit. I, for one, will definitely be back for Chef Solomonov’s salmon.
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