Philadelphia (PHL) American Express Centurion Lounge Review – Hours, Location, Amenities, & Photos

Philadelphia’s American Express Centurion Lounge is a great spot to spend time before your flight or between a connection. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is my home airport, so I visit this lounge often. Here is my full review.

Amex Centurion Lounge Philadelphia Location, Hours, & Access

Here is everything you need to know about accessing the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge.

Location & Hours

• It is located post security in Terminal A, West Near Gate 14
• You can walk to every other terminal without having to clear security again (huge benefit!)
• It is open seven days per week from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Breakfast from 5:30 a.m. – 11 a.m (hot starts at 6:30 a.m.) and Lunch & Dinner from 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. There are limited alcohol offerings from 5:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Access & Eligibility

Those holding the following credit cards may access the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge.

• The Platinum Card^® from American Express – $695 annual fee (this is the card I use to get in)
• The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express – $695 annual fee
• The Centurion^® Card from American Express – Invite Only
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card – $650 annual fee (must have a Delta flight booked the same day with your Reserve Card).
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card – $650 annual fee (must have a Delta flight booked the same day with your Reserve Business Card).

Additionally, you must meet the following requirements.

• Philadelphia Centurion Lounge is a “day of departure lounge”. Those who just landed may not enter.
• Those with a confirmed connection may enter the lounge after landing.
• Cardmembers may not enter more than three hours before their departure time (does not apply to those who just landed and have a connection). So if your flight is at 2 p.m., you may not enter earlier than 11 a.m.
• Have your eligible credit card or eligibility code, a government-issued I.D., and boarding pass ready to show the front desk when entering.

Rules for Guests

Children under the age of 2 may enter the Philadelphia Centurion lounge for free. You must be able to provide proof of age or a lap infant boarding pass. Access for guests older than the age of two varies by card. Please note, the Card Member must always be present.

• Platinum: Each adult guest is $50. It is $30 per child between 2 and 17. This fee is waived if the cardholder spends at least $75,000 in a calendar year. In other words, spending $75,000 from January 1 through December 31 in 2024 will get you free guest access.
• Centurion: First two guests or immediate family at no charge. Immediate family is defined as spouse, domestic partner, or kids under 18. Each additional guest is $50.
• Delta SkyMiles: Two guests at $50 per person.

Entering the Lounge

After clearing security, head to Terminal A West. As previously mentioned, you do not have to clear security again after leaving the lounge if your flight is in a different terminal. Here are estimated walk times to the other terminals from the lounge.

• Terminal A East – 1 minute
• Terminal B – 3 to 4 minutes
• Terminal C – 8 to 10 minutes
• Terminal D – 13 to 15 minutes
• Terminal F – 17 to 20 minutes

You’ll see the lounge near Gate A14. It is directly across from Seating Area & Book Exchange and next to the British Airways Galleries Lounge. The outside has massive blue artwork with the American Express Roman soldier logo and the phrase “The Centurion.”

Enter and take the elevator (I usually opt for the stairs) up one level to the lounge. Present the lounge employees with your eligible credit card, boarding pass, and ID. Assuming there is space, bypass the waiting area and chairs and head down the hall to the dining and bar area.

Food & Drink Options

Being from the Philadelphia area, maybe I am biased, but I think the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge easily has the best food. It is absolutely delicious, and the Israeli cuisine comes from local chef Mike Solomonov, who runs my favorite restaurant, Zahav. The food is good, in fact, I often arrive much earlier than I need to solely to have lunch or dinner at the lounge.

Before American Express stopped allowing two complimentary guests (without spending $75,000 per year), The Vacationer’s Eric Jones and myself would bring a total of four people, and we would really get our money’s worth! Even with the $50 per guest fee, I still think it is worth paying to bring in a hungry (or thirsty) friend or two.

All meals are served buffet style, so serve yourself and take as much as you’d like.

Breakfast

While the real star of the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge is the lunch/dinner menu, the hot breakfast is still incredibly delicious. Here are the hours.

• Continental Breakfast – 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
• Hot Breakfast – 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Here are typical hot breakfast menu options:

• Challah French Toast | Tehinis | Dates
• Shakshuka | Merguez
• Borekas | Kale | Potato
• Crispy Potatoes | Zaatar | Kashkaval
• Fall Fruit Salad | Rosewater
• Eggs
• Fresh Fruit and Granola
• Yogurt
• Cereal
• Bread

If Mimosas are not your thing, grab a coffee (with or without Baileys Irish Cream) or a Bloody Mary.

Lunch & Dinner

Here are the lunch and dinner hours.

• 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• The lounge closes at 9 p.m., but there are limited food options from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Here are typical lunch and dinner options.

• Harira | Moroccan Vegetable Soup
• Israeli Salad | Feta (this is my favorite dish)
• Kale Tabbouleh | Apples | Pomegranate
• Bulgarian Kebabs | Red Pepper | White Bean Salad
• Rice Pilaf | Carrots
• Stuffed Peppers | Pomegranate
• Malabi | Coconut | Passionfruit (this is a milk pudding dish)

In addition to those advertised options, there are usually chicken thighs, which I highly recommend.

This is not typical airport lounge food. Chef Mike Solomonov is one of Philadelphia’s best, and there is a very high level of care in the offerings.

Bar Cocktails and Other Drinks (coffee)

The Philadelphia Centurion Lounge has a variety of Philadelphia-inspired cocktails. Being a Philadelphia sports fan, I am partial to the Philadelphia Flyer, but they are all delicious. Please note, there are limited drink offerings until 10:30 a.m. every morning. These were the cocktail offerings during my latest visit.

The drink menu does occasionally change, however. If nothing on that list interests you, the lounge does offer a variety of different liquors, mixers, wines, and beers, so it should be easy to find something to your liking.

Speaking of beer, the lounge features a variety of beers from local breweries. For those visiting from outside the Philadelphia area, this is a great way to try local flavors.

Please note, the bartenders will only serve one alcoholic drink per person. That means everyone in your party must go up to the bar to order and retrieve their drink. Remember, drinks are complementary, but do not forget to tip your bartender.

Additionally, there is a non-alcoholic beverage self service area. This includes fresh water, coffee, espresso, and juice. During morning visits, I’ll fill up a cup of coffee and grab a shot of Baileys Irish Cream at the bar to get the day started!

Lounge Amenities

While the food and bar are the real stars, the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge offers a variety of other amenities. The gorgeous lounge provides a variety of comfortable seats to relax or work before your flight. Here are the featured amenities.

• Bathrooms
• Business Services (printer, fax machine, copy machine)
• High-Speed Wi-Fi (ask the front counter for credentials)
• Member Desk Services
• Phone Room
• Shower Suite
• Workspaces

Those amenities are typical for most Centurion lounges. Since Philadelphia is my home airport, I have never used the shower suites, but I know they offer everything you need, including soap, shampoo, and towels. Check with the front desk about reserving a spot.

Here are assorted lounge pictures showing the workspace area and bathroom.

The comfortable chairs tend to fill up quickly during busy times.

More Philadelphia Centurion Lounge Thoughts

• When traveling alone, I’ll continue to arrive to the airport well before I need to solely to eat at the PHL Centurion Lounge. It is my favorite American Express Platinum Card benefit.
• When traveling with others who do not have access of their own, we’ll sometimes arrive early to hit the lounge (more likely when lunch or dinner is being served). In my opinion, $50 to get someone in is not a bad deal.
• It’s the best lounge at the Philadelphia International Airport. While the various Admiral’s Clubs are not bad, the Centurion Lounge is in a class of its own.
• Friends have told me they’ve had to wait because of heavy crowds. Fortunately for me, I’ve never had to wait. Compared to other Centurion Lounges, like the one at Miami International Airport, Philadelphia’s lounge is usually much less crowded.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

The Philadelphia International Airport Centurion Lounge is one of the best in the country. With little to no wait times and food from local chef Mike Solomonov, it really helps to justify your credit card’s annual fee. Being able to exit the lounge and walk to every other terminal without having to go through security again is another huge benefit that not even airport offers.

Featured Image – Phil Dengler of The Vacationer – The photo shows Phil Dengler and Eric Jones at the Philadelphia Centurion Lounge

Further Reading: American Express Centurion Lounges: Locations, Amenities, Credit Cards, & Hours