New York LaGuardia Airport’s American Express Centurion Lounge: Location, Hours, Amenities, and More

Key Takeaways

• The American Express Centurion Lounge at LGA offers exclusive access to Platinum, Centurion, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served buffet style with options to suit everyone’s tastes.
• The lounge provides amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, workspaces, flat-screen televisions, and a computer bar.

The LaGuardia Centurion Lounge is part of the Centurion Lounge network from American Express, and it’s one of the best airport lounges in the country.

Featuring a plentiful buffet, full bar, clean bathroom facilities, and other business-like amenities, it’s a great place to stop before your flight to catch up on emails or grab a bite to eat.

In this post, we’ll be talking about the lounge amenities, how to access the lounge, and what you can expect once inside.

LGA Lounge Location and Hours

The Centurion Lounge is in Terminal B of LaGuardia Airport, 1 level above security, right before the Eastern Concourse pedestrian bridge.

The lounge is fairly easy to get to, and there are plenty of signs to guide you in the right direction — just keep an eye out for ongoing construction projects.

Operating hours are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Friday, and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Airlines that fly out of Terminal B at LaGuardia include Air Canada, Air Canada Express, American, American Eagle, United Airlines, United Express, and Southwest. However, you don’t need to be flying on one of these airlines to use the lounge — it’s accessible to certain American Express cardholders flying any airline any day of the week.

Hot Tip: If your flight is leaving from another terminal, you can use the blue, red, or purple airport shuttles on the departures level of the airport to get there. For more information on finding your way, see our piece: How To Get Between Terminals at LaGuardia Airport [LGA].

We recommend allowing at least a half hour prior to your flight’s scheduled boarding if you depart from Terminal B and at least an hour before boarding for all other terminals.

Keep in mind security lines can be long during peak rush hour times on weekdays, so leave more time than you think you’ll need.

As a reminder, here are the locations of all the American Express Centurion Lounges around the U.S.:

Entering the LGA Lounge

After security, take the escalator upstairs and walk through the duty-free shop. Once you reach the food court, continue straight past the water fountain. Head down the hallway and the lounge will be on your right.

You’ll see large signs with the American Express and Centurion logos right outside the entrance, and a staff member at the front desk will greet you and ask for your identification.

All you need to use the lounge are your American Express card, ID, and boarding pass. Eligible cards for access include:

• Platinum Card^® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Centurion Card^® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (when you book your Delta flight with your Delta Reserve card)
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card (when you book your Delta flight with your Delta Reserve Business card)

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Children 2 and under are admitted to the lounge free of charge, as long as an accompanying parent can provide their proof of age or a lap infant boarding pass. No pets are allowed.

Lounge Guest Policy

• Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers may enter with up to 2 complimentary guests if they have spent $75,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. Otherwise, a guest day pass can be purchased for $50 per adult or $30 per child between the ages of 2 and 17.
• Centurion cardmembers may enter with up to 2 guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge.
• Delta Reserve cardholders may bring up to 2 guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
• Amex Platinum card, Amex Business Platinum card, and Centurion cardmembers may purchase a day pass for any additional guests for $50.

Centurion Lounge Restrictions

Members are allowed into the lounge more than 3 hours before the departure time on their same-day boarding pass. So if you have a flight leaving at 2 p.m., the earliest you can arrive at the lounge is 11 a.m.

If you’re connecting, you have full use of the lounge if your connection is shorter than 3 hours. That said, if you have a connection, you need to leave security, use the lounge, and then reclear security to proceed to your connection. This can be a bit of a hassle, especially at peak hours.

Keep in mind that this lounge is intended only for departures, not arriving flights. You won’t be admitted if you’re arriving at LaGuardia as your final destination, so make plans for your shower or a meal elsewhere.

Lounge Amenities

The lounge includes many amenities:

• Computer bar
• Fresh seasonal buffet food (restaurant quality)
• High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the lounge
• Large flat-screen televisions
• Magazines, newspapers, and other reading material
• Member services desk to assist with inquiries
• Premium bar with top-shelf wine, spirits, and liquor
• Printing, faxing, and copying services
• Semiprivate workspaces

The lounge offers complimentary Wi-Fi to its guests. Just ask for the Wi-Fi code when you check in. You’re free to check on your travel arrangements, check emails, or just kill some time by playing your favorite game.

If you need other ways to stay occupied before your flight, the lounge offers a fine selection of books, magazines, and newspapers to read.

Seating

The LaGuardia Centurion Lounge also offers several amenities for business travelers. You can find a quiet area to get some work done or relax just beyond the front desk. There are plenty of seats and chairs with a nice view of the tarmac, and you’ll also find space to put your feet up or take a little catnap if you’d like.

In the hallway between the lounge and dining area, there are several plush couches facing big-screen TVs. There are also plenty of electrical outlets for you to charge up your phone or plug in your laptop. If you need to get work done, you’ll find computer terminals and a printer you can use free of charge.

Food and Beverages

Food

For a good meal or refreshing beverage before your departure, the LaGuardia Centurion Lounge has plenty of options. Wait staff greets you at the front desk and directs you to a seat at the bar or a comfortable chair at one of their many tables.

There are plenty of delicious breakfast foods to choose from. Some sample items include pancakes, french toast, eggs frittata, citrus salad, and yogurt parfait (menu items may change daily).

Breakfast is served from 5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every day, and standard items such as cereal, bread, and fresh fruit are also be available.

LaGuardia Centurion Lounge has something for just about every palate. Fried chicken, ginger rice, roasted baby Brussels sprouts, and Italian burrata are just some of the many items you may find on the menu.

All main courses are served buffet style, so feel free to help yourself to as much as you want. Menu items are chosen by Cedric Vongerichten, who was named one of the Zagat Guide’s Top 30 Chefs Under 30.

Lunch and dinner are available from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Snacks such as popcorn, brownies, and cookies are also available in the lounge.

Beverages

In the LaGuardia Centurion Lounge, all beverages are free of charge. Patrons must be at least 21 years of age to consume any alcoholic beverages and are reminded to drink responsibly. In addition, there are water, coffee, tea, and cappuccino self-serve stations available.

Limited alcohol is offered in the mornings from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

All mixed drinks have been personally selected by expert mixologist Jim Meehan. Choose from a Tomcat Collins, Big Apple, Spanish Harlem, Blue Door, Manhattan Beach, or other popular options from the diverse menu.

Cocktails are available from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays. Here are details of a few sample drink offerings:

• Big Apple: Zubrówka bison grass vodka, Doc’s Draft gard apple cider, yellow chartreuse, Miracle Mile celery bitters
• Manhattan Beach: Tuthilltown Manhattan tye whiskey, Greenhook Ginsmiths beach plum gin liqueur, grapefruit juice.
• Tomcat Collins: Barr Hill Reserve Tomcat gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, Champagne

If mixed drinks aren’t your thing, the lounge also has a wide variety of wines to choose from. Each offering has been personally selected by well-known wine expert Anthony Giglio.

You’ll find a nice selection of red, white, rose, and sparkling wines from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Fridays, and from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Hot Tip: Not sure what to try? Ask for the wine list at the bar, or ask your server for a recommendation.

Restrooms

The restrooms here are comfortable and clean. They’re stocked with L’Occitane hand wash and moisturizer, and have a changing station and shoe shine machine.

There are no showers in this lounge, which is a big downside. That said, since LaGuardia is mostly a domestic airport with only a handful of flights to Canada, taking a shower probably won’t be on the top of the list for desired amenities.

While the bathrooms aren’t as spacious as you find in other Centurion Lounges, you can still spend a few moments freshening up.

Timing Your Lounge Visit

In the dining area, you can find a screen that shows how long security lines are outside. Another screen has a list of flight departure times, which is updated to the minute. Use this as you plan your visit so you know when to leave and head through security.

The busiest time for this lounge is usually during the early morning hours on weekdays. Be prepared to wait for a seat or a table if you’re visiting the lounge then — at any other time, you should be able to find plenty of room to sit and set your bags down.

The wait staff is very friendly and attentive at all hours. If a drink or food item is spilled, they’re right there to clean it up immediately, and dirty plates and glasses are also cleared promptly. The lounge hosts are very customer-focused at all times. Even if the place gets a bit crowded, you should have no problem getting the service you want.

Final Thoughts

LaGuardia is one the busiest airports in the U.S., serving over 15 million passengers annually just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether running to catch a flight for an important business meeting or heading on a much-needed vacation, weary travelers sometimes just need a space to relax.

Luckily, LaGuardia’s Centurion Lounge is a perfect place to do just that. You can sit back, have a tasty meal, enjoy a fine beverage, read the newspaper, or just watch the planes come and go. It’s a great way to de-stress after a busy travel day.

Even though it’s not as fancy or roomy as other similar airport lounges, the LaGuardia Centurion Lounge is one of the best-reviewed airport lounges in the country. Passengers have frequently complimented the friendly staff, the wide array of exquisite food, top-shelf beverage choices, and the casual atmosphere.

A perfect place to get some work done or just sit back while you wait for your departure time, you’ll find this lounge well worth the visit — and it’s a wonderful perk for eligible Amex cardholders.