Quick Look: Amex Platinum Vs Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Access
The table below gives you a quick overview of the lounge access benefits granted to you by both the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve. This will help you see the breakdown of the potential lounge networks available, as well as how many lounges total and the type of perks you can expect.
Keep in mind that not every lounge will have every special perk, so be sure to check the specific lounge website to see which amenities each lounge offers.
| Network and # of lounges |
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How Do I Get An Amex Platinum Priority Pass
If you have an Amex Platinum Card, you will automatically receive free membership to Priority Pass Select. You can find your membership card in the Benefits section of your online account. If you need help, please call American Express customer service at 1-800-528-4800. You can sign-up on its website here.
Earn Rewards For The Journey And The Destination
Streaming and Wireless Credit Offer Terms
- Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions Credit: From May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 you can earn up to $20 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® to pay for U.S. streaming subscriptions from select providers. The current list of select providers is available at americanexpress.com/rewards-info, and is subject to change at any time. If your subscription is bundled with another product or service or billed by a third party , your purchase may not be eligible.
- U.S. Wireless Telephone Service Credit: From May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 you can earn up to $20 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® to pay for monthly wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers. The following purchases are excluded: purchases of hardware or repair services purchases from authorized retailers, resellers or third-party sellers purchases of bundled services offered by wireless companies for TV, Internet and VoIP and purchases of VoIP services. For additional details, visit americanexpress.com/rewards-info.
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The Amex Platinum Card
- Interest rate on purchase:n/a
- Interest rate on cash advances:n/a
Offer:Rewards & Perks:
- 10X points on purchases at restaurants, bars and bistros *
- 3X points on qualifying dining and delivery purchases
- 2X points on eligible travel purchases
- 1X points on other purchases
It is no secret that the Amex Platinum is a fabulous thing. Annual fees are in the range of $499 when considering the Platinum Cards annual travel credit of $200. If you have a frequent flier lifestyle, this can offer a good value for money.
Another benefit of using either the American Express Platinum Card is that the supplementary cards also come with the Priority Pass Select membership. Every card allows for the cardholder to have a guest, so this benefit comes in great when larger groups or family members are traveling together. Supplementary cards have a lower annual fee, $175 for the same service, which is also quite a benefit, and makes the Priority Pass an even better deal.
Read our review of the Amex Platinum Card
The Platinum Card From American Express
While it has a $695 annual fee, the Amex Platinum is often recommended as a top airport lounge card because its one of the best travel credit cards available. It comes with loads of travel perks and benefits that offset the cost of its annual fee, including possibly the most airport lounge options of any card on the market.
Thats a hefty claim, but the benefits seem to add up. The Amex Platinum offers access to over 1,386 airport lounges, most of which are included in the Priority Pass network. However, you also get access to the Amex Centurion Lounge and other Amex lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Airspace Lounges, and U.S. Escape Lounges. Enrollment or activation may be required to access certain lounge benefits.
No other non-Amex card offers quite the same selection of airport lounges and their associated benefits, whether its free food and drinks or simply an escape from the hustle and bustle of an airport terminal.
You can learn more about all of this cards benefits including how it can help you rack up Amex Membership Rewards and use them to book trips in the Amex Travel portal in our Platinum Card from American Express review. But lets go into the lounge benefits in more detail here.
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How Do I Get An Amex Centurion Card
How much do you have to make to get Amex’s black card? There aren’t any income requirements per se, but you most likely need to be a high spender on your Amex cards. If you’re in the ballpark of $250,000 to $500,000 in annual spending across all your open Amex cards, you may qualify for the Centurion card.
American Express Centurion Lounges Inc Heathrow
American Express is rolling out its own network of airport lounges. Despite being called Centurion Lounges, they are accessible by anyone with a Platinum or Centurion American Express card. You are allowed two free guests.
The first Centurion Lounge in Europe opened at Heathrow Terminal 3 last Autumn. It is impressive . A photo is above.
American Express also operates some other lounges globally. Full details are here.
They are, confusingly, also branded as Centurion but are not done to the same quality. You can find these in Stockholm, Mumbai, Delhi, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Melbourne, Mexico City, Monterrey and Sydney. There are plans to upgrade some of these and merge them into the main Centurion brand.
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Is Priority Pass Free With The Amex Platinum
Yes, you will receive free membership to Priority Pass Select with the Amex Platinum Card. However, please note that not all Priority Pass lounges are part of the Select program, which means your card wont get you in the door of every Priority Pass lounge. Additionally, youre limited to two free guests any additional guests will cost $27 each.
List Of Participating Airports And Required Ticket
- Priority Pass membership***Admission fee for principal cardholders and accompanying guests: USD 32
* Lufthansa , Swiss International Airlines , Austrian Airlines
** This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Card Members receive complimentary access to any global location of Plaza Premium Lounges. Card Member must present his or her valid Card, a confirmed boarding pass for same-day travel on any carrier and government-issued I.D. In some cases, Card Member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. This benefit includes Platinum Card members only and no complimentary guests are included. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Plaza Premium Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non-complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. One example are guest visits when travelling with companions. Plaza Premium Lounge locations are subject to change.
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Shop With More Confidence
Extended Warranty
When you use your Eligible Card to make a Covered Purchase, you can get up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturers Warranty. Applies to warranties of 5 years or less on Covered Purchases in the United States or its territories or possessions. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.
Purchase Protection
Your Covered Purchases can be covered when theyre accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date with your Eligible Card.
Dispute Resolution
If there is a fraudulent or incorrect charge on your statement, American Express will work with you to help resolve the issue.
Centurion Card From American Express
Centurion®members can bring two additional guests or immediate family members intoAmex lounges with them free of charge, and can also buy day passes foradditional guests for $50 each.
This card is available by invitation only, sodont expect to see an application link anywhere online. While American Expressdoesnt publicly disclose the invitation criteria, its various fees can runthousands of dollars.
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Canadian Platinum Lounge Benefit
On top of the 80,000 Membership Rewards points you can earn with your Amex Platinum Card, you also get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which unlocks 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide. Access to airport lounges is definitely the American Express Platinum benefit I use the most, and these days I really cant imagine flying without stopping into an airport lounge first.
FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACES FASTER
Earn up to 85,000 Welcome Bonus Aeroplan® points.*Conditions apply
All of the lounges your Platinum Card gets you access to offer free food , free drinks , and many also offer additional complimentary amenities like nap rooms, showers, libraries, printers, games rooms, and more.
Here are just a few of the lounges you get access to with your Platinum Card in Canada.
The 24-hour SkyTeam Lounge in Vancouver
The National Bank Lounge in Montreal
Toronto Pearson International Airport has plenty of lounges you can experienceplus the American Express Centurion Lounge at Pearsonand youll be able to access all of them for free.
With the Platinum Card, youre stepping up your travel game in a big way.
Lounge Access: Get Into 1500+ Airport Lounges
No credit card will get you into more airport lounges than the Platinum Card. American Express calls it the Amex Global Lounge Collection.
For starters, you can get into American Express Centurion Lounges, some of the best lounges you’ll find in the country . From Seattle to Denver to Las Vegas and New York City , these are excellent spaces to unwind before your flight. You’ll find them in 13 U.S. airports and two abroad currently, with even more on the way.
So long as you’re flying Delta that day, you can also access the Delta Sky Club. Your Platinum card will get you into smaller lounge networks like Plaza Premium, Airspace, and Escape Lounges including our go-to lounge at Minneapolis-St. Paul .
Last but not least, you get access to more than 1,200 Priority Pass lounges worldwide. But while you only need to flash your Platinum card to get into many of these lounges, you’ll actually need to activate your complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership to get into Priority Pass lounges.
Get signed up for Priority Pass through your American Express Platinum account ASAP!
You should get your card within a week or so, and be sure to save the materials to register your account online. Once youre logged into the Priority Pass app, you can simply pull up your digital card on the app at lounge entrances rather than carry it in your wallet.
Thrifty Tip: Add your Platinum card to your Delta wallet, and you can get into Sky Clubs just by scanning your mobile boarding pass.
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Can You Get Lounge Access With The American Express Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card doesnt come with complimentary lounge access.
If the steep annual fee for the Platinum Card® from American Express isnt worth it to you, but you still want occasional lounge access, the American Express® Green Card comes with $100 in yearly statement fee credits for LoungeBuddy, a program that lets you book lounge passes starting at $25.
What’s The Final Verdict Of Your Amex Platinum Canada Review
As you’ve seen throughout this American Express Platinum Canada review, I’m a big fan of the card: it offers more perks and rewards than any other card on the Canadian market right now, and the value you get is second to none. This card will take your travels to new heights, and if you follow the advice above, you’ll make at least $500 by having this card in your wallet.
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How Many Guests Can You Bring Into The Centurion Lounge
two guestsThe Centurion® Lounges: Centurion Members may enter with up to two guests or immediate family at no additional charge. Soliciting other Card Members to bring your guests into our lounge is not permissible.
How many Amex Platinum card holders are there?
Heres the stats on what is known. Circulation figures for 2017 suggest that outside the U.S., there are about 400,000 Platinum Cards, and 84,000 Centurion Cards. In the United States, TimeInc reports that American Express Platinum Card and Centurion membership has increased 23% since 2010.
Can a Platinum Card get you into the Centurion lounge?
An Amex Platinum authorized-user card looks and functions just like an Amex Platinum card for the purposes of getting access to Centurion Lounges. Those with an authorized-user card can get into Amex Centurion Lounges on their travel day at no additional charge and also bring in two guests at no extra charge. Amex Centurion Lounge buffet.
What Airports Have Amex Centurion Lounges
Currently, you can find Amex Centurion Lounges at the following locations below. As you can see, they typically open around 5am to 7am and stay open until late but none of them in the US are open 24 hours.
Almost all lounges are located after security, but keep in mind that if youre coming from another terminal like at MIA, you might have to re-enter security to get back to your terminal after accessing the lounge.
Here are all of the current locations for Amex Centurion Lounges:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Reagan National Airport
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Plaza Premium Lounges Are Also A Benefit Great At Heathrow Terminal 5
American Express Platinum also has a deal with the Hong-Kong based Plaza Premium chain of lounges. You can see the Plaza Premium lounge network here.
Plaza Premium has some EXCELLENT lounges at London Heathrow, including in normal times departure lounges in Terminals 2, 4 and 5 and arrival lounges in Terminals 2, 3 and 4. As of today, the Terminal 2, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 departure lounges are open.
Plaza Premium has also opened a lounge in London Gatwicks North Terminal recently, taking over the old Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. An Edinburgh lounge opens on 1st September.
Plaza Premium lounges are no longer in Priority Pass, which means that this benefit is now more important than it used to be.
You cannot get into Plaza Premium Terminal 5 by showing your Priority Pass card. You CAN get in, with a guest, by flashing your American Express Platinum card at the door.
$300 Equinox Credit And Soulcycle At
Take your workout to the next level when you use your Platinum Card. Get up to $300 back each year on Equinox+ or any Equinox club membership.* Plus, get $300 back when you purchase in full a SoulCycle at-home Bike. *Through 2022, statement credits through this benefit will be provided on a monthly basis of up to $25 back per month. Starting in 2023, statement credits through this benefit will be provided on an annual basis of up to $300 per year. On up to 15 bikes per calendar year. An Equinox+ membership is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only.
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Which American Express Card Gets You Into Airport Lounges
One of the best perks of those holding an American Express Platinum, American Express Business Platinum or Centurion card is unlimited access to American Express’ lounge network both here in Australia and overseas. Card Members can enter these lounges before a flight, no matter which airline or cabin they’re flying.
Alternatives To The Amex Platinum
Whether you’re a current Amex Platinum cardholder, or are considering applying for it, it is advantageous to consider all options available. It could be another American Express credit card, a business credit card if you are a business owner or a comparable travel credit card that may be a better option for you.
If you want similar travel perks to the Amex Platinum and you run a business, consider The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. It comes with airport lounge access, hotel elite status and travel credits like the personal Platinum card, with the same annual fee of $695 .
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another premium travel card loaded with benefits, including a $300 travel credit, Priority Pass airport lounge membership, plus it earns 3X points on all travel and dining purchases. However, it does have a $550 annual fee.
For those who don’t want to fork over north of $500 for an annual fee, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and American Express® Gold Card. The Sapphire Preferred currently has a 60,000-point welcome bonus which you’ll earn after spending $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. Those points are worth up to $750 for travel when booking through Chase and the card carries an annual fee of only $95
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Does The Amex Platinum Have The Best Lounge Access Benefit
There are several premium credit cards nowadays that offer airport lounge access, though Id say no other card can compete with the Amex Platinum when it comes to this. Obviously theres no one size fits all card for lounge access, but at a minimum no other card is as well rounded as the Amex Platinum.
Like many cards, the Amex Platinum offers a Priority Pass membership, but what sets this card apart is everything beyond that. Unlike other cards, the Amex Platinum offers:
- Access to Amex Centurion Lounge access
- Access to Plaza Premium Lounges
- Access to Escape Lounges
There are no Chase or Citi cards that get you access to those lounges. Theres only one downside when it comes to Amex Platinums lounge benefits compared to those of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card , for example. The Chase Sapphire Preferreds Priority Pass membership gets you access to Priority Pass restaurants, while the Amex Platinums Priority Pass membership doesnt.