Inside the new Amex Centurion Lounge at DC’s Reagan National Airport

The airport credit card lounge wars have a new battleground: the nation’s capital.

On Tuesday, American Express closed its long-awaited Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, DC

The post office, which was first announced in 2021 and opens Wednesday, becomes the first credit card brand lounge at DCA, which will be welcome news for Amex’s most premium card members who pass through airport. (Until now, DCA has only been home to airline-branded lounges.)

The Amex movement is strong. The DCA Centurion Lounge spans nearly 12,000 square feet and features a variety of amenities and relaxation spaces, along with a first-of-its-kind culinary concept for the Amex Club chain.

Of course, Amex has also long been a leader in the airport credit card brand lounge wars. It opened the first Centurion Lounge in 2013 and has since expanded the network across the country and in major cities around the world.

That said, Capital One and Chase are playing hardball; the former even plans to open a new dining-focused Outpost concept in DCA in the coming months.

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So what’s it like inside Amex’s new Centurion Lounge? Read on for all the details.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Location

Amex’s new Centurion Lounge at DCA is located in a newly constructed extension in Terminal 2 of the airport.

You’ll find the lounge in the Airport’s National Lounge next to the pier entrance for Gates B. The lounge is located just past the security checkpoint to the south, so I’d recommend clearing security here if you plan to use the lounge after check-in and check-in. of security.

It’s hard to miss the entrance once you’re in the National Hall. It’s located right across from Lucky Buns and the glass-clad entrance couldn’t be more prominent.

DCA access to the Amex Centurion Lounge

The new lounge opens daily at 5am and closes daily at 9pm, except on Saturdays when it closes at 7pm.

American Express card members with a Centurion or Platinum branded card such as Platinum® Card from American Express OR Business Platinum Card® from American Express have access to Amex Centurion Lounges.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card AND Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Business Card members also receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges when flying on a Delta marketed or operated flight.

You cannot purchase access to the Centurion Lounge even if you hold another American Express card.

Note that Centurion Lounge guest policies changed last year to curb overcrowding.

Platinum card members cannot bring complimentary guests to the lounge unless they meet a new annual spending requirement of $75,000 on their cards. Otherwise, you will pay $50 per adult guest and $30 per child (ages 2-17). Children under two can enter for free. Centurion and Corporate Platinum card members can continue to bring up to two guests for free in the lounge.

For more on accessing the Centurion Lounge network, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide.

DCA presentation of the Amex Centurion Lounge

The new Amex lounge is located on a newly constructed upper level in the departures hall.

Once inside the space, you’ll either have to take the elevator or climb about 50 stairs to get to the front desk.

From the moment you enter the space, it is unmistakably a Centurion Lounge. Between the wood tones, the vibrant green wall and the signature Amex scent, the launch brought all of its Centurion Lounge staples to the space.

After being admitted to the lounge, you will turn left and enter the various relaxation areas. The first, located just past the welcome desk, is a pseudo art gallery featuring pieces by local Washington, DC artists. I especially liked Maggie O’Neill’s colorful canvas depicting the capitol building.

The gallery is bookended by a beautiful rendition of the signature Amex watcher found in every Centurion Lounge. However, this piece is an updated take on the historic Amex logo and blends in nicely with the space.

In the halls of the gallery, several armchairs and individual chairs have been placed.

As you pass by the gallery, you can continue right into most of the traditional saloon seating. Here, you’ll find a mix of couches and reclining chairs—all in the same dark blue and deep gray tones you’ll find throughout Amex’s newest Centurion lounges.

There are also several chairs that line the perimeter of this rectangular relaxation area.

As you reach the end of the lounge you will find two open style living rooms. The first is more of an entertainment area with a TV built into the wall of the Amex signature library.

Behind this library wall is the second living room area; this is likely to be popular with business travelers.

There’s a long work desk here, along with tall bar-style seating that lines the perimeter of the space, perfect for those looking to get work done. Here you will also find the shared hall printer.

One thing I particularly appreciate about the whole lounge is all the natural light – the lounge has windows on all sides, providing ample amounts of light throughout the day.

Finally, there is a small dedicated lounge area reserved for those with the Centurion card, Amex’s invitation-only payment card popular with the rich and famous. This area seats no more than 15, but is enclosed and looks set to be the most relaxing in the entire lounge.

Overall, this new Centurion Lounge looks like most other Amex Centurion Lounges. This isn’t a niche space like the newly opened post office in Atlanta, but it covers all the bases (and more) in a relaxing and inviting environment.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA dining

Although the lounge itself may resemble other Centurion lounges, Amex is debuting a unique dining concept in this lounge.

The menu has been created in partnership with three award-winning chefs who have collaborated with other Centurion Lounges around the country. These include Chef Michelle Bernstein, Chef Ravi Kapur, and Chef Michael Solomonov, who all have wildly successful restaurants in Miami, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, respectively.

With this trio, travelers will be able to enjoy a wide range of cuisines at the hall’s all-day buffet. As with all Centurion Lounges (and unlike the Capital One Lounge and Chase Sapphire Lounge), there is no a la carte dining here.

That said, the dishes I tried at the media preview were all delicious, especially the Shabazi Spiced Salmon.

I’m personally a huge fan of Chef Solomonov’s restaurant Zahav in Philly, so getting to try some of his creations at another Amex lounge is a huge win in my book (especially considering how hard it is to snag a reservation at his flagship restaurant) .

At the bar, you can order from the cocktail menu curated by Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan or from the wine list created by Anthony Giglio, the broadcaster’s wine director. Amex always invests in offering a fairly extensive and high-end beverage list, and this lounge is no exception.

In addition to the popular buffet and bar, there are two beverage stations located throughout the hall. Here you’ll find Eversys coffee machines, Vivreau water taps and even some delicious chocolate chip cookies.

While the culinary experience is highlighted by delicious food and drinks, you definitely don’t want to miss taking a look at the dining room, which has a beautiful light fixture hanging from the ceiling. This fixture is a collection of 260 lighthouses that have been designed to resemble the topography of the Potomac River.

However, there are not many tables in the dining room, so during peak periods, I think guests will have to take their plates to other areas of the lounge.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Amenities

Although this space doesn’t offer a bathroom or an outdoor terrace, it has all the bases covered (and then some).

There is a phone booth and a meeting room in the lobby. They are soundproof and have floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I love the design of the walls in these rooms.

Instead of a family room, the lounge features a multi-purpose room that can be used by families and those traveling together as a group. This space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

There is a set of bathrooms in the center of the hall. The men’s room contains three stalls and several urinals.

There is also a shower in the lounge, located next to the reception. Be sure to book a time with the front desk when you check in.

The shower suite is beautiful and looks like it might be the single nicest airport shower. Ultimately, it wins by default because it’s the first shower available to travelers at DCA.

Most seats are within arm’s reach of power outlets and USB-A ports. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any USB-C charging ports here, despite this quickly becoming the new charging standard.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the space and download and upload speeds reached 300 Mbps.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA Completion

The long-awaited Centurion Hall in Washington, DC is finally here.

This is DCA’s first credit card branded lounge and it sets a very high bar. With ample space to relax, delicious food and drink, and thoughtful amenities, expect the location to be a hit with travelers. (So ​​much so that I would imagine overcrowding will unfortunately be a reality during peak launch windows.)

While this space may not have special amenities like a spa or outdoor terrace, it fits what the top Amex card members who pass through DCA likely need most.

As long as you can find a place to relax, this lounge is certainly worth a visit. I, for one, will definitely be back for Chef Solomonov’s salmon.

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