Update for 2022, including the OSL lounge.
The American Express Platinum card comes with a massive $695 annual fee. The card comes with a lot of published benefits that make that annual fee worth paying (at least for the first year) for some, but there are also a host of other hidden benefits that many people don’t know about. Let’s take a look at them. Reposting this to add the Arlanda lounge.
Contents
- 1 Increased Lounge Access
- 1.1 OSL Lounge
- 1.2 American Express Lounge by Pontus at Arlanda
- 1.3 Centurion Lounge Access In Foreign Countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico)
- 1.4 Entry To All Virgin Australia Lounges, But Must Be Flying Virgin
- 1.5 Centurion Suite At Staples Center
- 1.6 Barclays Center, Dedicated Entrance
- 1.7 “Access” VIP Lounge at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA
- 1.8 Centurion Suite in Louis Armstrong Stadium at the US Open
- 1.9 American Express Business Lounges (Javits Convention Center & Las Vegas Convention Center)
- 2 Miscellaneous
- 3 Final Thoughts
Increased Lounge Access
OSL Lounge
Doesn’t require a European American Express according to this reddit thread.
American Express Lounge by Pontus at Arlanda
This is a new one to me, but apparently it opened in May 2017. Food is free for Platinum cardholders, but you do have to pay 50SEK (~$7) for drinks unless you hold a Centurion card. Reddit user sfryder08 has a nice picture gallery of some the menu and one of the food items. The lounge is airside at Terminal 5, between the A-Pier and the F-pier. It’s open from 05:00 to 22:00 Monday-Friday and Sunday. On Saturdays, opening hours are from 05:00 to 19:00
Centurion Lounge Access In Foreign Countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico)
Everybody knows that you get access to the centurion lounges in the US, but you also get access to their centurion lounges internationally as well. They currently have lounges in the following countries:
- Argentina (EZE, Buenos Aires)
- Australia (SYD, Sydney) & (MEL, Melbourne)
- Brazil (GRU, São Paulo)
- Colombia (BOG, Bogota)
- India (DEL, Delhi)
- Mexico (MEX, Mexico City & TLC, Toluca)
The Mexico Centurion lounge isn’t even mentioned on the Centurion Lounge website. You’ll get the same sort of amenities as those found in the US, although from the reviews I’ve seen the food options don’t look quite as good (update 2022: looks like it’s only light drinks and food).
Entry To All Virgin Australia Lounges, But Must Be Flying Virgin
You can access all of the Virgin Australia lounges with your Platinum card, unfortunately you must also be flying Virgin to be able to access these lounges. They have lounges in the following locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Mackay, Cairns, Gold Coast, Darwin and Alice Springs. You should also be able to bring one guest with you.
Centurion Suite At Staples Center
Update: The Centurion lounge is no longer available at Staples Center, but there is still a dedicated entrance.
The suite is on a first come first served basis and it’s closed for access once it reaches capacity (capacity of 150), so better to get there earlier for popular events. You’re also allowed to bring up to three guests with you into the suite. The suite opens 90 minutes before a game starts and closes immediately after the end of an event. Entry is located across from aisle M22 (next to the Team LA Store).
They have a charging station for your mobile devices and also a photo booth. The Centurion suite is only opened for sporting events (Lakers, Clippers and Kings) as the stages for concerts often block the view from the suite. All food and beverage items are on a purchase basis, so no freebies unfortunately.
Pretty good option if you purchase extremely cheap tickets and then upgrade to this suite.
Barclays Center, Dedicated Entrance
Update: The Centurion lounge is no longer available at Staples Center, but there is still a dedicated entrance.
Similar to the Centurion suite at the Staples Center. It’s located on Suite Level A across from the Cocoran Lounge, to check in you need to go to Barclays Center’s main concourse next to the Emblem Health Atlantic Entrance and across from Sections 9 – 10. You’re allowed a maximum of one guest.
Unlike the suite at the Staples Center, this suite is open for other events including concerts as well as Brooklyn Nets and New York Islanders games. There is also a dedicated entrance to the Barclays Center for Platinum cardholders that will allow you to skip the line, it’s on the northern side of the center.
As with the other suite, there is free WiFi and access to charging ports.
“Access” VIP Lounge at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA
Looks to no longer be accepting Platinum cardholders, but the lounge might just be closed due to COVID.
This lounge gives you access to free drinks (juices and other stuff) as well as free snacks. They also have private rooms which are ideal for families, with TVs that can play cartoons and the like. There is also a business meeting room and business lounge with computers. The lounge is located on Level 2, near Saks Avenue. You can bring up to four guests inside the lounge with you.
This review on Yelp provides a lot more information regarding this lounge (including drinks and snack offerings). Seems to be a nice lounge to take a break in during a big day of shopping.
Centurion Suite in Louis Armstrong Stadium at the US Open
Complimentary snacks and one complimentary drink.
American Express Business Lounges (Javits Convention Center & Las Vegas Convention Center)
These include:
- Complimentary Coffee, Tea, and Snacks
- Charging Tables
- TVs
- Wireless Printers
- High-Speed Wi-Fi
- Laptops
Miscellaneous
Cloud 10 Benefits At Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Gives you a bunch of different benefits at YYZ, including discounts on parking, free WiFi, priority security lane, priority taxi lane, lounge access and more.
4 Hour Grace Period With Hertz
More information on the Miles to Memories post
Very useful if you need a car slightly longer than 24 hours.
Final Thoughts
I’m sure there are benefits I’m missing in the post (or details about benefits are incomplete) or please share your knowledge in the comments so we can improve this resource.
