The Chase Sapphire Lounge and the Capital One Lounge have made the competition a lot tougher, but I still think Amex Centurion Lounges are the best airport lounges in the US. The Salt Lake City location, which opened in late 2025, is a good example of why. The barista coffee bar makes a latte as good as the one at the Seattle Centurion Lounge, and the windows give you a proper view of the tarmac, which plane spotters will appreciate.
The catch is the location. The lounge sits at the far northeast end of the airport in Concourse B near gate B31, about 20 minutes on foot from gate A1. With the walk there and back, I’d only make the trip if you have two hours or more.
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Access and Entry
Access to the Centurion Lounge is restricted to the following card members:
- Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum and Centurion cardholders.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders, provided they are flying Delta that day.
There are also some time restrictions for getting in:
- You can enter up to 3 hours before departure.
- On a layover, you can enter up to 5 hours before your connecting flight.
- There is no access after landing.
When you arrive, you’ll need to show your eligible card, a same day boarding pass and a government issued ID. You can also use the Amex app to get an entry QR code, which lets you skip the physical card and check whether there’s a line before you walk over.
Guests cost $50 per adult or $30 for children aged 2 through 17. If you spend $75,000 or more in eligible purchases on your Platinum card in a calendar year, you can bring up to two guests for free. Since July 8, 2026, every guest, paid or free, has to be on the same flight as the cardholder. That rules out meeting a friend at the airport just to go in together.
The lounge is open daily from 4:45 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., though hours can shift, so double check before an early flight.
Location and logistics
As I mentioned, the location is the biggest drawback of this lounge, and whether the trek is worth it depends on where you land. If your arrival and departure gates are both in Concourse B, this lounge is a no brainer. Just allow 5 to 10 minutes to reach it.
Concourse A is a different story. I landed at gate A2, and it took roughly 15 to 20 minutes to reach the lounge check in, then another 15 minutes to get back to Concourse A for my departure. Unless you have a layover longer than 2 hours, I don’t think the journey pays off. Concourse B is also still being finished, so walking times may change as new gates open.
Space and seating
The lounge has several half level areas, so there is plenty of room to find a quiet spot to rest or work. There is also an outdoor terrace with a bar and a view of the tarmac, which plane spotters will love. Personally, I always like the booths for the comfort.
Food and Beverage
The food is buffet style. I was there for breakfast and had the honey ham, pancakes and shredded potatoes. There was also oatmeal and an assortment of muffins if you want something lighter. Everything was fresh and delicious. It isn’t a sit down restaurant meal, but it’s plenty for a layover.
The non-alcoholic drinks are the real highlight at this lounge. The barista coffee bar made an excellent foamy, creamy latte. The mango lassi, kombucha and matcha latte were great options if you don’t want coffee. I’d definitely take advantage of them while you’re here.
Amenities and Facilities
The lounge has shower suites and a recovery room. I didn’t have time to try either one during my visit. The recovery room has plush loungers, compression boots and massage guns. Access runs through a waitlist at the front desk, and each guest gets up to 30 minutes. There are also plenty of outlets throughout the lounge, and the Wi-Fi is very solid. Because the lounge is split into several areas, even a busy day leaves a quiet corner somewhere.
Overall Impression
The Centurion Lounge at SLC is a great lounge in an awkward spot. The coffee, the food, the drinks and the tarmac views all match the quality I expect from Amex. The problem is the walk. If you’re flying from Concourse B, go without hesitation. If you’re in Concourse A, only make the trip with a layover of two hours or more, since the round trip can eat 30 minutes or more.
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