Stopping by the American Express Centurion Lounge in SFO
Stopping by the American Express Centurion Lounge in SFO
On our most recent trip to Gilroy, California, my wife and I stopped by the American Express Centurion Lounge in SFO before our departing flight to Honolulu, HI.
Having an American Express Platinum card grants myself and 2 other guests complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge. This is a mid-tier lounge with a beautiful design, high-quality food, and great amenities. This was not my first Centurion Lounge experience, but I wanted to visit and dine at this one specifically at SFO. Here is our review.
THE CREDIT HACKER LOUNGE REVIEW:
AMBIANCE: (5/5) Centurion Lounges have to be one of my most favorite designed lounges. The modern architecture, chic furniture, and bold colors make this lounge stand out amongst the rest here at SFO. At the entrance stands a two-story glass wall with blue glass doors which then lead you with the option of a glass staircase or elevator to get to the 2nd floor, where the lounge is at.
There are different areas of the lounge created for different uses. A dining area for those just wanted a meal, a lounging area for traveling that wants to eat and rest, and a business area for travelers that are growing their hustle while drinking a glass of wine.
FOOD: (5/5) The food at the Centurion Lounge is always excellent. This one, in particular, had an open kitchen, a lunch buffet, and an open bar.
Open kitchen concept at the Centurion Lounge, SFO
Lunch and dinner are served from 11 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. and include items like tomato bisque, salads, grilled chicken, and herb-roasted potatoes. The menu is from the brilliant mind of Chef Daniel Patterson, a James Beard Award winner.
What’s so special about Daniel Patterson you might ask? He is the Oakland-based restaurateur/chef who started Alta Group, which includes the wildly popular San Francisco hotspot, Besharam, located in the Minnesota Street Project of Dogpatch. Besharam offers the global flavors of India just as nicely as his other restaurant, Kaya, does Jamaican. - Upgraded Points
At the bar, I got one of their dignature drinks called the Gin Basil Fizz which was made with St. George Botanivore gin, lime juice, Aqua Perfecta Basil Eau de Vie, sparkling wine. It was delicious and refreshing to say the least!
SERVICE: (4/5) The American Express staff is normally very professional and accommodating. The standards are high at these lounges, so you expect all staff to be friendly as well. Everyone was for the most part except the bartender who was a bit rude. Not sure if she was having a bad day.
I read that this lounge has complaints of being always busy with no open seats. That was surely the case when we arrived. I was hoping some of the servers would help us find seats, but instead, we waited around 10 minutes aside until a table was open.
Complimentary Wine Tasting at the centurion Lounge, SFO
EXTRA AMENITIES: (5/5)
A special amenity at the SFO lounge is its complimentary wine tasting. To get started, go up to the bartender and ask for a tasting card, a receipt that gives you five free pours from the automatic wine machine. Talk about a great deal! We sadly didn’t get to try this but I definitely wanted to include in this review. This lounge also comes standard with showers, so if you are a bit sweaty from traveling to the airport, you have the option of a nice warm shower!
OVERALL SCORE: 4.75/5
The Centurion lounge is one of the main reasons why I still have my American Express Platinum card. We often visit relatives and travel to San Francisco & Las Vegas, both airports have Centurion Lounges. American Express has an excellent product in their lounges, and I’m hoping they expand and have more around the World. Maybe one in HNL??? lol probably not…
How do I access The Centurion Lounge?
Access to The Centurion Lounge is complimentary for global Platinum Card®, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card and Centurion® Members.
Platinum® Card members who receive complimentary access may enter with up to two guests at no additional charge.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card Members may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
Centurion members may enter with up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge.
To access The Centurion Lounge, the Card Member must present The Centurion Lounge agent with the following upon each visit: his or her valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel on any carrier and a government-issued I.D- name on card must match government-issued I.D. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card Members are only eligible to visit The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.
Important Centurion Lounge Access Rules
There are 2 very important rules to remember regarding access to the Centurion Lounge and these rules apply to cardholders and guests:
Rule #1 – The Three Hour Rule:
According to American Express, “depending on capacity, we may limit lounge access to within 3 hours of boarding pass departure time to ensure that all guests have an exceptional experience”.
This means that you can be denied access to the lounge until it’s within 3 hours of your departure time. While the policy seems to indicate that it’s based on capacity, it appears to be enforced more times than not especially given how busy SFO is all times of the day. For this reason, don’t plan on getting to the lounge more than 3 hours prior to your flight.
Rule #2 – Departure & Connecting Flights Only Rule:
You must have a departing flight or connecting flight out of SFO to access the lounge. Unfortunately, this means that if you are arriving into SFO without an outbound flight that day, you will not be granted access.
