Having an American Express Platinum Card comes with the benefit of accessing the Centurion Lounges. However, in 2023, access was limited to cardholders only unless they had spent $75,000 on the card in the current or previous calendar year. Otherwise, an additional fee of $50 per guest is now required.
I added Sharon as an authorized user to my Platinum Card to meet the requirement. This grants her access to the Centurion Club and Delta SkyClubs.
We flew back from Charlotte and returned our rental car early to avoid extra charges. I knew there was a Centurion Lounge at CLT so I wasn’t worried about arriving several hours before our flight. While Sharon and I have visited several AMEX clubs before, they’ve been in major airports like JFK, SFO, MIA and LGA. She’s not really into points and miles, so she was curious why there would be a club in Charlotte, which, in her eyes, wasn’t a major city.
I explained to her that Charlotte was a fortress hub for American Airlines, splitting the East Coast traffic between Miami and Philadelphia. Once she learned that CLT was the 6th busiest airport in the US in 2021, she understood why AMEX would put a club in the airport.
Her next question was why the club was so small.
The CLT Centurion Lounge is located one floor up just past the security checkpoint for the D and E gates. The elevator is hidden next to a hallway to the restrooms.
We arrived about 2 1/2 hours before our flight. There was a line for the elevator up to the club. As the people exited the elevator, they informed guests that the wait to enter the club was currently 45 minutes. We had plenty of time so we decided to see what the wait process was like. If I had thought ahead, I would have applied for a Mobile Pass when we arrived at the airport via the AMEX app.
When we got to the counter, a pleasant representative asked when our flight was. When we said it was over 2 hours away, she said that the club was at capacity, but they would take our phone numbers and text when our space opened up. At this time, we were not required to show any ID, AMEX card or boarding pass.
We provided our contact info and headed back down the elevator as there was no place to wait upstairs.
I want to mention that several guests who were asked to wait complained in the elevator on the way down that this wasn’t what they expected when paying the fee for the Platinum Card. I would have to agree with them but we had time. I would also be disappointed if I wanted to stop in the club for a quick drink and a snack.
A large food court near the club entrance provided a place for us to wait for our text.
Less than 30 minutes had passed when we received our text to return to the club. At this time, we were returning to the club with a group of travelers who had all received texts offering entry to the Centurion Club. Once in the club, it was busy but we were able to find seats near the window looking over the gates. I got Sharon something bubbly from the bar and a Knob Creek for myself to relax before our flight. 
The Charlotte Centurion Lounge isn’t large but several distinctive areas are spread across a lengthy space.
There are several seating areas, including a bar and dining section.
I’ve found the dining options at Centurion Lounges to vary greatly in food quality and selection. I’d put the CLT location in the upper half of the food options.
So while we had to wait a bit to enter the lounge, I liked the Charlotte Centurion Lounge more than other locations we’ve visited.
Before leaving, I talked with the staff and expressed my gratitude for how they handled the situation upon our arrival. I inquired about the frequency of the lounge reaching its capacity, to which they responded that it depends on whether there are delays at CLT. The lounge tends to be least busy on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as those days are unpopular among business travelers. Furthermore, the lounge generally gets busy in the afternoon. According to the staff, the wait time for guests is often less than the estimated 45-60 minutes. However, they still inform guests of the longer wait to prevent those with short connections from joining the list. They regret that this sometimes prevents their regular visitors from getting a space in the club.
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4 comments
You are more understanding than me. My last three visits I wasn’t allowed in because out overcrowding. So I left and went to the AA lounge and returned home and canceled my Platinum card from Amex.
I fly through CLT a lot and like the Centurion lounge a good bit. While it has been consistently popular – partially because American doesn’t have enough lounges in Charlotte – I haven’t run into an actual wait yet. Good food, good drinks, comfortable seating, and quick wi-fi make it a winner for me. The biggest problem is that they only have one (slow) elevator to reach the lounge.
CLT is my home airport. I only gotten in without a wait (but a line to get in) when they open first thing in the morning. But they don’t have hot food for the first hour or so. Every other time, there’s a wait. I don’t get to my home airport early enough to wait around 30-45 minutes to get into a lounge. I just go to the Admirals Club (where I have never once had to wait to get in). I have gotten to the point that 90% of the time (I depart CLT on average twice a week) I do not even think of the Centurion as an option. Maybe it doesn’t have a wait sometimes? I wouldn’t know because if I’m flying any airline but American or Contour, it isn’t worth making the walk out of my way. The Club at CLT (priority pass) on A is ALWAYS on a wait except first thing in the morning but commonly has 20-30 people in line at the door waiting for it to open. I walk by it without even bothering to go in. I’d rather get to the airport 55-60 minutes before departure time. If I don’t miss at least one flight a year, I’m spending way too much time in the airport.
I should add that I don’t bother with the Centurion much anywhere… in SEA last week there wasn’t a wait to get in, but there was nowhere at all to sit. There were about 25-30 tables “reserved” and sitting empty. I stood around with food and drink in hand waiting for somewhere to sit. I decided to go up to the bar and was told it was for people ordering stuff from the bar only (not an official policy, sounds like the bartenders wanted people there who were gonna tip). I placed my plate of food untouched and drink down on the edge of the bar and walked out, back to the Alaska Lounge.