American Express Membership Rewards - Centurion Airline Benefits

Sorry if this has been brought up before; I don't usually visit this forum.

I work for a Star Alliance carrier in the Northeast USA, and am aware of the elite benefit that Centurion grants (US, DL, VS, NW elite status). However, I am curious if the carriers issue you a card, or if you need only show your amex for access. I only ask because half my staff thinks one way and half thinks the other when it comes to accessing our Star Alliance Gold lounge. Any takers?

You need to be a bit more specific on which lounge you are.

Centurion gives two seperate sets of benefits to its cardholders for lounge access.

One, as you mention, is the *G status. This comes through US Airways (minor point of clarification is that Cent doesn't give NW elite status, but gives CO, but that's irrelevant to your question).

So, to get into a *G lounge, the cardholder must present the US*G card, and if you're a US or UA lounge, an international itinerary for same day travel on any Star carrier (if a UA lounge, Can, Mex, Caribbean are okay, if US, no). If a lounge other than UA or US, the *G card and any boarding pass for same day travel on a * carrier (doesn't have to be international) will suffice.

The other way to get in (usually in the case of either a) not having the *G card with them, or, b) accessing a US or UA lounge when not travelling on an international itinerary, is by using a Priority Pass card. These only allow access to a limited number of UA and US lounges (not at their hubs). The presentation of this card is sufficient.

The Cent card itself is only good for getting into AA, CO, and DL lounges. Nothing else.

For any star lounge, either the US *G card, or else the Priority Pass card, depending on the circumstances, is required.

Edited to Add:

I see you work for LH. Forget what I said about Priority Pass. A Cent card is not good enough to get into your lounges. The cardholder MUST present to you their valid US Platinum card and a boarding pass for same day travel to any destination on any Star Alliance carrier.

Hey, thanks for the clarification. So I will brief my staff that the card itself must be presented and not the Centurion Card. Pretty much that was all I was concerned about was if Amex issued a US Platinum card, or if the Centurion Card was accepted in lieu of the Platinum card.

The Cent card itself is only good for getting into AA, CO, and DL lounges. Nothing else.

It does get you into NW Worldclubs. You are correct that it doesn't give you NW elite status, but it does get you into the clubs.

Does it? I never fly NW so I had no idea.

Does it? I never fly NW so I had no idea.

Probably a moot point, since I imagine they'll all be changing into DL clubs (or going away).

Hey, thanks for the clarification. So I will brief my staff that the card itself must be presented and not the Centurion Card. Pretty much that was all I was concerned about was if Amex issued a US Platinum card, or if the Centurion Card was accepted in lieu of the Platinum card.

Although this may be the technical answer to the question, it is safe to assume any Centurion card holder is in fact Star Gold as the USAir Platinum benefit is an included feature with the Centurion card. I never carry my USAir card and could see how it would be frustrating to not be admitted when I knew I could have been had I though to bring my USAir card (which still sits untouched in my desk)...

Although this may be the technical answer to the question, it is safe to assume any Centurion card holder is in fact Star Gold as the USAir Platinum benefit is an included feature with the Centurion card. I never carry my USAir card and could see how it would be frustrating to not be admitted when I knew I could have been had I though to bring my USAir card (which still sits untouched in my desk)...

This only makes sense if it is a US-issued Centurion card, which the lounge agents would have more difficultly verifying. There are lots of lounges that AmEx only admits local cardholders to, making this more of an issue than you might imagine.

If you wish to take advantage of *G status then it makes sense to bring the actual bit that shows the status on it, not something else that implies such status.

This only makes sense if it is a US-issued Centurion card, which the lounge agents would have more difficultly verifying.

You are right, I did not consider that. I only have a US Centurion and have never seen a foreign issued one, but when you read the back of the card wouldn't it be obvious if it was US issued or not?

Yes, to someone who a) knows to look, b) has any idea what to look for, and c) cares (c.2) is paid to care)).