How to get into an American Express Centurion Lounge quickly

You pay hundreds of dollars annually for a card that offers you lounge access — and then you get to the airport only to face a long line at the lounge entrance.

Many TPG readers and staffers have experienced this as the number of those receiving access to issuer-branded lounges has swelled over the past few years.

Luckily, American Express has some good news: As View From the Wing first reported, Amex has rolled out its online waitlist feature to most Centurion Lounges in the U.S.

This wider reach comes after Amex trialed it at select locations over the past few years. (Amex’s competitor Capital One rolled this app feature out for its lounges in February.)

While the feature doesn’t guarantee access without a wait, it’s a useful tool to have in your travel toolbox. Here’s how it works.

How to get into an Amex Centurion Lounge quickly

Open the American Express app when arriving at the airport or getting off a connecting flight. You should do this when you’re 10 minutes or less from the lounge.

Log in and select the card that gives you lounge access — most likely The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Then, click on the “Membership” tab at the bottom of the screen.

Scroll down to “Airport Lounge Access,” and the airport you’re at should automatically appear (if not, search for it in the top-right corner). Select “The Centurion Lounge.”

If the lounge isn’t full, you’ll click “Get Eligibility Code”; if it is full, you’ll click “Join Waitlist.”

Next, you’ll confirm entry requirements and additional guest information.

If the lounge isn’t full, you’ll get a QR code then and there to show at the entrance. It’s valid for 10 minutes and means you won’t have to show your physical Amex card.

If there is a waitlist, you can elect to receive a text message or email notification when it’s your turn to enter. Unfortunately, this notification won’t give you an estimate of the wait time.

When it’s your turn, you have 10 minutes to enter with the QR code provided.

However, it remains to be seen whether each lounge will have separate lines for those who have and don’t have a QR code for entry.

TPG senior travel editor Lyndsey Matthews did the right thing by getting a QR code when flying out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) this week, but there was no way for her to get to the front of the line to actually enter the lounge.

Hopefully, Amex will rectify this issue promptly, as it negates the value of this option if there is no “express” lane.

Bottom line

Lounge overcrowding has become a major issue and a common complaint among travelers who have premium credit cards. Issuers need to do a better job of managing capacity by providing live wait times, reservation systems and express lanes.

Luckily, this is a step in the right direction by Amex. However, the issuer needs to ensure that those who join the waitlist and are granted entry get priority access over those who simply join the line.

Related: 5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight