Date of Visit: August and November 2022
Access: American Express Platinum Card
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Rating: 7.9
Seating Area: 9
Ambience: 8
Staff Friendliness/Service: 8
Washroom Facilities: 8
Shower Facilities: 7
Food: 8
Bar: 8
Business Facilities: 8
Decompress Zone: 5
Dedicated Wi-Fi: 10
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This is a review of the American Express Centurion Lounge located at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS). I had an opportunity to visit the Centurion Lounge on two recent trips to Las Vegas, once in July and more recently in November. This review reflects my experience based on both of those visits.
American Express Centurion Lounges are located in many US and international airports and provide an exclusive space for holders of certain American Express credit cards to relax, refresh and recharge before they catch their flight. So, how does the Las Vegas American Express Centurion Lounge stack up? Read on to find out.
Location
LAS has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 (strangely, there is no Terminal 2). Terminal 1 houses Gates A, B and C. Terminal 3 houses E Gates. The Centurion Lounge is located at D gates which are located at Concourse D, a satellite terminal located between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Concourse D is accessible by tram on the air side of the terminal from both Terminal 1 and 3 making it easy to move between terminals without needing to leave the secure area and go through security again.
In my case, I was travelling on Air Canada which was departing from Terminal 3. To reach the D Concourse, I simply had to take a Tram on the Red Line to get to the D Concourse which was very quick and efficient. Once at D Concourse, the Centurion Lounge is located near gate D1.
Access
Centurion Lounges are accessible if you hold the American Express Platinum Card or a Centurion Card. Unlike lounges that are connected to particular airlines, it does not matter what airline or class of service you are flying in. I consider lounge access to be one of the great perks of the Amex Platinum Card.
Amex Platinum card holders have complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge. The Canadian Amex Platinum card allows cardholders to bring in up to two (2) guests with them free of charge. Children under 2 years of age are not considered guests and will be admitted free of charge, provided an accompanying parent or guardian is able to produce a “lap infant” boarding pass or proof of age. It should be noted that access will only be granted to the lounge within 3 hours of your boarding pass departure time, but this rule does not apply to cardholders with a same-day connecting flight who may access the lounge any time prior to departure of their connecting flight with proof of boarding pass.
With respect to bringing in guests, it should be noted that effective February 1, 2023, US Platinum cardholders will be charged a $50 USD fee for each guest and $30 USD for children aged 2 - 17. To date there has been no word from American Express that similar limitations will be placed on holders of Canadian Amex Platinum cards, so, for now at least, Canadian cardholders can still bring in two guests without additional charge.
I've noticed that Centurion Lounges have become increasingly busy and certainly on both of my visits to the Centurion Lounge at LAS, the lounge was pretty packed. The additional fees now being charged to US Amex Platinum cardholders would seem to be one way that American Express is attempting to deal with its crowded lounges.
On my first visit in July, I arrived at the lounge at around 11am and there was a wait to get in. A short line had formed outside the entrance and there was an attendant taking names. Our party of 4 was advised that the wait would be approximately 10 minutes and that we would receive a text when we could enter. Sure enough, we received a text after 10 minutes and headed inside to the counter to access the lounge.
On my visit in November, I arrived at the lounge at around 8am and there was no wait, though the lounge was very busy once inside.
Once at the counter, check-in is swift. You simply present your Platinum card, your boarding pass and identification. The entrance to the lounge is to the left of the counter.
The Lounge
On both of my visits, the lounge was very busy, though each time I was able to find seating relatively quickly.
The lounge is spacious and has a pleasant décor with a modern minimalist design using a neutral colour palette consisting of shades of gray, beige and white, along with plenty of wood grain wall accents. There is an abundance of natural light from the banks of windows which also offer views of the tarmac. Overall, the design made for a calming atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the airport concourse.
Immediately upon entering the lounge there is a large room with a variety of seating options. This room also features a large flat screen TV at one end. One entire wall features private seating in nooks with a table. The rest of the lounge has a tasteful mix of seating, with comfortable chairs, plush couches and tables. There are power outlets at each seating area so guests can stay connected and charged during their visit.
At the rear of the lounge is a bar and a buffet service. In this area there are also tables and chairs for dining.
In exploring the lounge, one thing I didn't see was any area of the lounge that was quiet and hidden away for those who truly want to relax. While the lounge certainly beats the constant activity and noise of the airport concourse, given how busy it was I wouldn't describe it as an oasis of relaxation. It is very comfortable and wasn't overly noisy, but there was plenty of people and activity. Hopefully when Covid revenge travel slows down, along with changes American Express is undertaking to reduce access to the lounges, the Centurion Lounges will become a little more comfortable and relaxing like they used to be.
Dining and Drinks
Centurion Lounges tend to do a far better job with food and beverages than does your average airport lounge, with seasonal menus designed by a award winning chefs using local and regional ingredients. In this case, the menu was designed by James Beard Award nominated Chef Kim Canteenwalla (fun fact, Kim Canteenwalla is Canadian and is also a managing partner of the six restaurants located at the Parq Vancouver, home to the JW Marriott Parq and Douglas Hotels in Vancouver, BC, where you can find a Canadian location of his Summerlin, Nevada restaurant, "Honey Salt" - a personal favourite of mine).
One of my visits to the lounge was during breakfast service. Breakfast included scrambled eggs, a selection of fresh fruit, yogurt, a frittata, breakfast potatoes and french toast with maple syrup. There is also a selection of fresh juices, smoothies, coffee and tea. Of course, you could also hit up the full service bar for a mimosa. The lounge has a travel themed full service bar with premium liquor, beer and wine.
Overall the breakfast was good. I did find the scrambled eggs a tad salty, but the frittata was perfect. While often french toast at a buffet can be barely lukewarm and chewy, I was pleasantly surprised that the french toast was fresh, hot and tasted very good, particularly when topped with fresh maple syrup.
My other visit to the lounge took place during lunch service. Lunch included various salads, fresh vegetables, fried chicken, pasta in tomato sauce, and roasted potatoes, all of which was delicious.
The one negative when it comes to meal service was that on one of my visits the lounge was so busy that they ran out of clean forks for a period of time. Not the end of the world, but a little hiccup in their service.
Overall, the quality and variety of food was very good on both my visits.
Service
All my interactions with staff were pleasant. Service at the bar was friendly and efficient. One thing I have noticed at almost every Centurion Lounge I have visited is that staff are typically very quick in coming around and picking up any dishes almost as soon as you are finished your drink or meal.
WiFi
Complimentary WiFi is available in the lounge. Upon request, staff will provide you with a card that contains the password for the WiFi. Incidentally, every Centurion Lounge I have been to in recent memory has used the same password, so you may not need a card. In my three speed tests, the WiFi speeds averaged a very good 88 Mbps download and 134 Mbps upload.
Other Amenities
Other available amenities at the Centurion Lounge at LAS include a shower (only one is available and must be reserved on a first come basis), computer stations, a meeting room, private workspaces and a family room for the little ones.
Conclusion
Centurion Lounges are typically far superior to your average domestic airport lounge and the LAS location is no exception. The lounge offers a premium atmosphere, comfortable seating, good service and a variety of quality food and drink. Since travelling returned in full force, all airport lounges seem to have gotten extremely busy and that was also my experience with the Centurion Lounge at LAS. That being said, if you are a frequent traveller to airports with Centurion Lounges, the annual fee on the Amex Platinum Card is well worth the price of admission.
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