After an initial reopening back in March of this year, the American Express International lounges in both Sydney and Melbourne have officially been reflagged under the company’s Centurion Lounges brand. With Sydney and Melbourne AMEX lounges now operating as Centurion, these spaces fall in line with the 40 other Centurion international lounges that can be found in major hubs like Heathrow Terminal 3, Los Angeles International Airport and New York JFK.
And with that comes a few changes to how these lounges will work moving forward, including a new partnership across both lounges with Melbourne-based chef and MasterChef regular Khanh Ong who has worked up a pan-Asian menu for AMEX Card Members, to be released from 2023, as well as a few signature cocktails including a fresh Quandong G&T.
Other branding elements can be seen throughout the two new AMEX International lounges to bring them both further in line with the Centurion concept, which as it stands is the company’s most premium offering as part of the larger American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes just over 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
A few aesthetic changes have changed the way the AMEX lounges look. In Sydney, guests entering The Centurion Lounge will be greeted by an 8-meter tall commissioned artwork dubbed The Sky’s the Spirit by 2022 Archibald Prize winner Blak Douglas. The piece, combining Aboriginal and Western art techniques, was digitally printed as wall wrap and is now plastered adjacent to the recognisable live green wall which marks the entrance near gates Gates 50-63 in Sydney International T1.
Changes to the Melbourne AMEX Centurion Lounge aren’t detailed in a presser sent out to media upon the rebrand but we’ll be updating with our thoughts on the new lounge when we have a chance to visit in the coming months.
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Who Has Access To The AMEX Centurion Lounges?
Eligible AMEX Card Members are now able to gain access to the lounges, here’s who is able to gain access the next time they find themselves flying overseas from either Melbourne Airport or Sydney International Airport.
- American Express Centurion
- American Express Platinum (check out our review here)
- American Express Business Platinum
- American Express Corporate Platinum
If you have any of the above cards, you have unlimited complimentary access to The Centurion Lounges for each American Express Card Account. You’re also able to bring children under 17 years of age or younger, as well as up to 2 adult guests into the lounge.
Other AMEX Card Members have access but it’s capped at two complimentary visits per calendar year. Although the entries may be used by the Primary Card Member, Additional Card Member or a guest travelling with a Card Member. All are allowed to bring children under 17 years or younger with them for free. They include the following cards:
- The American Express Explorer Card
- The American Express Platinum Reserve Card
- The David Jones American Express Platinum Card
- The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
- The American Express Velocity Platinum Card
- The American Express Elevate Platinum Credit Card
- The American Express Airports Platinum Card
- The American Express Business Explorer Credit Card
- The American Express Qantas Corporate Platinum Card
American Express Centurion Lounge Opening Times
The Centurion Lounge Sydney
Address: Sydney International Airport Terminal T1, Departures
Location: Located near Gates 50-63, take the lift/escalator down to Level 1
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (6 AM to 10 PM)
The Centurion Lounge Melbourne
Address: Melbourne International Airport Terminal 2,
Location: Departure Satellite Level
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (6 AM – 11 PM)