Background:
Recently, I visited the American Express Centurion Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) before my JetBlue flight. This particular lounge opened last June of 2022 after it had a long closure to fix a problem that led to jet fumes entering the lounge.
I visited the lounge in August of 2022 and didn’t like the dungeon feel. I was curious to see if my sentiment would change on my latest visit. In short, this visit was more enjoyable, as the lounge was emptier and the food selection was solid. But, in terms of lounging comfort, it still didn’t score high marks from me.
Location:
The American Express Centurion Lounge LAX is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal B (TBIT). As of my March 2023 visit, the current hours are from 6am to 10pm.
TBIT is accessible airside from all LAX terminals except for Terminal 1. There’s a terminal connector walkway from Terminals 4-8, and an airside bus from Terminals 2 and 3. LAX is currently building a post-security connector from Terminal 2/3 to Terminal B (TBIT) which should be completed later this year.
I was flying on JetBlue, and didn’t have any bags to check so I cleared security at TBIT to save on walking. Then when I left the lounge to get to the gate, I walked from TBIT to Terminal 5, passing Terminal 4 along the way. It took me about 11 minutes to walk to the lounge, but I do walk rather quickly. If you walk at a slower pace give yourself 15-20 minutes to Terminal 5.
Access:
Complimentary access is available for
- Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card and Corporate Platinum Card® Members
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Reserve Business Card Members
- Centurion® Members
As of February 2023, U.S. Platinum Card and U.S. Business Platinum Card Members will be charged a $50 fee for each guest (or $30 for children 2-17). Or, if you spend $75,000 in a calendar year on the cards, you’ll get 2 guests for free. You can see the full rules on access here if you’re interested.
Finding the Lounge:
The lounge entrance is easy to find right after you clear security, especially from the TSA PreCheck lanes. Also, it is perfectly located right where the escalator from the airside bridge which connects to Terminals 4-8.
Entrance
Normally with airport lounges, you take elevators up to get views. But here, you actually take the elevators down 2 floors to access the lounge. I really am not a fan as it gives underground vibes. And, there are no views for plane spotting which is a bummer.
Arrival:
There wasn’t anyone waiting at the desk and I was quickly checked in.
As I walked through the lounge to find a seat, I noticed the lounge wasn’t as crowded as my last visit, which surprised me. I entered a little bit before 11am on a Tuesday, and perhaps that’s a low-traffic time.
Near the front of the lounge, you’ll see the famous painting with AMEX’s original logo of a watchdog dating back to 1890. At this lounge, the area is reserved for Centurion Card holders.
Second Bar:
If you continue walking down, you’ll find a secondary bar with seating along with a refreshment center with tea and coffee. Sadly, you can really sense the low ceilings in this area. Thankfully with the lounge being quite empty, it helped the lounge feel less claustrophobic.
Second Bar
On the right, there’s a section with little private desk spaces with high walls. I sat here on my last visit and it was nice, but they were all taken on this visit.
Private Desks
Continuing down the lounge, there is a multipurpose family room and Exhale spa. The spa provides some complimentary treatments on a first-come, first-served basis, such as massages. You’ll want to check with the front desk agent for availability if you’re interested.
Multipurpose Room
Themed Rooms:
Additionally, at the end of the hall, there are two areas called the Sunrise and Moonrise rooms. The sunrise room is bright, and features individual and group seating. On my visit, this room was reserved for Centurion cardholders only which was a bummer as I would have liked to hang out there.
Sunrise Room
Right next to the Sunrise Room is the Moonrise room. It is dark and has stars on the ceiling which makes it look like you’re in space. It seems pretty cool to take a nap there.
Moonrise Room
Food:
After you check in, the main buffet area is on the right. I arrived right before breakfast was about to end at 11, and so the breakfast offerings were still neatly plated. I was impressed by the breakfast offering as there was avocado toast, scrambled eggs, chicken apple sausage, bacon, breakfast potatoes, bread pudding, fresh fruit, yogurt parfait, and muffins.
Breakfast Buffet
I really enjoyed the bacon, and that was my favorite dish from the breakfast.
Additionally, they had a decent amount of options for lunch service. There was grilled chicken, potatoes, eggplant, some cheeses, salads, and breads. Across from that was a tea/coffee station.
Lunch Buffet
Bar:
Next to the buffet is the main bar and dining tables for eating. This is the only part of the lounge where you get any “outside light” which comes from inside the TBIT terminal.
I ended up eating in this area and unfortunately kept encountering a couple of flies/gnats. Not sure how they got into the lounge.
Main Bar Area
Dining Area
There are also two refreshment centers on both sides of the bar for coffee, tea, and water (still and sparkling). Iced tea and cranberry juice were also laid out. However, if you want soda you’ll have to ask a bartender.
Restrooms and Showers:
The athrooms are located next to the dining area, and they were pretty clean and roomy. L’Occitane soaps were provided which was nice. There are also two shower suites, and you can ask an attendant if you want to use one.
The Verdict:
Overall, the AMEX Centurion Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) offers a solid place to grab a meal before a flight. The food selection during my breakfast and lunch visit was pretty solid. But, the lounge itself is kind of depressing with low ceilings and no views. Additionally, the gnats around my seating area did not particularly add to a relaxing experience.
Have you been to the AMEX Centurion Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) before? How was your visit? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for this! I have been hesitant to visit the new Centurion lounge at LAX because it seems like a real hassle to get to it from the domestic terminals at the airport. It honestly sounds like Amex has missed a golden opportunity to shine at such an important airport, especially compared to the amazing new lounge that Delta has debuted in Terminal 3. For that reason, I try to fly Delta out of LAX if it is at all price competitive for my trip.
Thanks for reading and sharing! Totally agree, the new Sky Club is very nice.
I was able to use the Sunrise Room on my last visit. It was okay simply because there was one of those alcove seats available. Otherwise, just okay as it was a cumbersome long-ish walk through most of the other rooms to get food and drinks.
That is true! Thanks for sharing and reading.