Washington's Reagan National Airport now has an American Express Centurion Lounge.

Washington's Reagan National Airport now has an American Express Centurion Lounge.
Washington's Reagan National Airport now has an American Express Centurion Lounge.

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The Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) will open on July 17, 2024, celebrating Washington, D.C.'s rich history and architecture. The lounge will offer premium service and amenities, similar to those enjoyed at other Amex lounge locations.

The DCA Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was initially announced in 2021 with an anticipated opening date in late 2022. However, construction delays have caused the lounge to be long-awaited. CNBC Select provides information on the new lounge and how to access it.

How to access Amex Centurion Lounges

The Amex Centurion Lounge is the first credit card-branded lounge at DCA, allowing travelers who previously couldn't access the airport's airline-branded lounges, such as the American Airlines Admirals Club, United Club, and Delta Sky Club, to experience the lounge. However, you must have the right credit card to enter.

Centurion Lounge access is a featured benefit of select American Express cards including:

Access to the Centurion Lounge is determined by the type of American Express card you possess. If you have the Platinum or Business Platinum card, you can enter the lounge up to three hours before your flight departure, provided you have your card, a same-day boarding pass, and a government-issued I.D.

The cost for an adult to bring a guest is $50, while children aged 2 to 17 years old pay $30. Children under two years old can enter for free with a qualifying parent who presents a "lap infant" boarding pass or proof of their child's age. Platinum cardholders can receive complimentary guest access for up to two guests per visit after spending $75,000 or more on their card in a calendar year.

The complimentary guest visits are available for the rest of the current year and the entire following calendar year, ending on Jan. 31 of the year after that. Terms apply.

Centurion Lounges are accessible to Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cardholders, but with some additional restrictions. To access the lounges, travelers must be flying on a Delta Air Lines flight and have booked the flight with a U.S.-issued American Express card. Guests can enter the lounges for a fee of $50 each ($30 for children ages 2 to 17 years old). Terms apply.

What to expect at the DCA Centurion Lounge

The DCA Centurion Lounge, accessible to Delta Air Lines travelers with premium American Express cards, is located in Terminal 2, past the South Security Checkpoint, and can help alleviate crowding in the nearby Delta Sky Club.

The airfield and Potomac River views can be seen through the nearly 12,000 square feet of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Locally inspired artwork

The lounge boasts a Washington, D.C.-themed art gallery featuring commissioned artwork from local artists. One of the lounge's artistic standouts is a ceiling sculpture comprised of 260 lanterns, which resembles the original boundary markers that defined the city when it was established in 1791.

Food menu curated by award-winning chefs

The DCA lounge food menu is a first for any Centurion Lounge, as it is curated by three award-winning chefs: Michelle Bernstein, Ravi Kapur, and Michael Solomonov. These chefs have also created menus for the Centurion Lounges in Miami, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.

Latin, Hawaiian, and Israeli dishes are among the selections, including creamy polenta, shabazi-spiced salmon with pomegranate BBQ sauce, tamari-honey glazed tofu and pineapple.

Specialty cocktails

The DCA lounge features unique cocktails crafted by a mixologist specifically for the location, such as the Haku Hanami, inspired by the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., and the Ambrosia Spritz, which showcases local bitters and liqueurs from Don Ciccio & Figli.

Premium amenities

DCA Centurion Lounge offers many of the same amenities as other locations, including complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, a conference room, a shower suite, quiet relaxation nooks, and dedicated workstations.

Bottom line

The Centurion Lounge at DCA will open on July 17, offering a chef-driven buffet, cocktails, and other premium amenities.

The Amex Centurion Lounge is the first credit card-branded lounge to open at DCA, while Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) has a Capital One Lounge and a Chase Sapphire Lounge in partnership with Etihad. Additionally, Capital One is expected to open an airport dining experience called Capital One Landings at DCA later in 2024.

Amex plans to launch two new Centurion Lounges in 2025 and 2026, one at Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) and the other at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

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To learn about the rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

To learn about the rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

To learn about the rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.

To learn about the rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.

by Senitra Horbrook

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