Review: AMEX Centurion Lounge at San Francisco (SFO)

Background:

I got my AMEX Platinum Card late last year and hadn’t been able to access a Centurion Lounge yet with the LAX one closed. The perfect opportunity arose when I was flying earlier this week and I was able to visit the AMEX Centurion Lounge at San Francisco (SFO) in Terminal 3. Even though I was departing out of a different terminal that was not connected post-security, my friend and I decided to make the trek.

I was flying out of Terminal 1, and for those of you who are curious, I had to clear security to Terminal 3, leave the secured area of Terminal 3, and then I walked from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 (all connected indoors). A quick speedwalk took me and my friend a total of 12 minutes to the Terminal 1 security checkpoint. If you don’t speedwalk, maybe give yourself 20 minutes to walk over. You could also take the AirTrain which says they operate every 4 minutes.

Access:

The AMEX Centurion Lounge at San Francisco (SFO) is located at Terminal 3 next to gates F1/F2, which is relatively close to the Terminal 3 security checkpoint. The Lounge can be accessed post-security from Terminal 3 or from International Terminal G.

The current hours of operation are: 6 am – 7 pm. You can access the lounge within 3 hours of the departure time stated on your same-day, confirmed boarding pass; or if your outbound flight departs after the lounge closes for the day, as early as 3 hours prior to the lounge closing.

Currently as of March 2022, you can access the lounge if you are:

• Platinum Card® Members
• Business Platinum Card® Members
• Corporate Platinum Card® Members
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Reserve Business Card Members (when flying on a same-day Delta flight)
• Centurion® Members

Guests:

Currently, Platinum Card® Members may enter with up to two guests at no additional charge, and Centurion Members may enter with up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card Members may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person who are also traveling on a same-day Delta flight.

However, effective February 1, 2023, U.S. Platinum Card® and U.S. Business Platinum Card® Members will be charged a $50 USD fee for each guest (or $30 for children aged 2 through 17, with proof of age).

The Lounge:

I visited on a Tuesday at 5:30 pm, and it was quite crowded. I was able to find a seating area table for 2 away from the food/bar area. There were a lot of seats that were blocked off for Centurion cardholders.

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The lounge also had their own restrooms. Unfortunately, they weren’t that clean, and I was a bit disappointed on that part.

Food and Drinks:

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In terms of food, the buffet offered salads, roasted chicken, soup, potatoes and a few more options. A pretty decent spread of cold and hot foods. I tried the Priority Pass restaurants in Terminal 3, Yankee Pier and the San Francisco Giants Clubhouse, before my visit to the Centurion Lounge, so i didn’t opt to taste much of the food here at the Centurion Lounge. I did try the little Mango Panna Cotta Dessert and that was tasty!

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My friend and I got some drinks from the bar, and both our drinks were subpar. Perhaps we had too many over the weekend in the city lol, but was not a fan of either. I got the Gin Basil Fizz which I was told is the most popular drink, and my friend got the Pisco Punch. Maybe we got to try the other ones next time.

Takeoff Tip: I did try one of the flavored waters, and the Guava Agua Fresca was so good!

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The Verdict:

Overall, it was nice to stop by the AMEX Centurion Lounge at San Francisco (SFO) before my flight. Go try the Guava Agua Fresca and you’ll also have a large selection of cocktails and wine. It was a bit crowded when I visited on a Tuesday evening, but it could be a nice place to grab a drink and some hors d’oeuvres.

Have you visited the AMEX Centurion Lounge at San Francisco (SFO) before? What were your thoughts? Comment below!

Safe travels,

Ty

Have any questions? I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!