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The American Express Centurion Lounge at Sydney Airport (SYD) – Location, Hours, Amenities, and More

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Daniel Ross
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Daniel Ross

Senior Content Contributor

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Countries Visited: 56U.S. States Visited: 17

Daniel has loved aviation and travel his entire life. He earned a Master of Science in Air Transport Management and has written about travel and aviation in publications like Simple Flying, The Points...
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
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Keri Stooksbury

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With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...

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Spending time in airport lounges before a flight is something I probably enjoy more than most.

Before every flight, I check the various options I might have access to at my departure airport, whether that be through a premium ticket, an airline alliance elite status, my Priority Pass, or, saving possibly the best ’til last, my U.K. version of The Platinum Card® from American Express and the access it affords me into Centurion Lounges around the world.

Sydney and Melbourne’s domestic and international terminals are completely separate with their respective Centurion Lounges located in the international terminals.

After several domestic flights around Australia without Centurion Lounge access, I finally got to visit the Sydney location before heading to New Zealand for a long weekend.

Will it live up to my experience in previous Centurion Lounges, like one of my favorites at London Heathrow Terminal 3? Read on to find out.

What Are Centurion Lounges?

Many travelers are familiar with the American Express Centurion Lounge concept in the U.S., however, Amex also operates several international Centurion Lounges.

There are currently Centurion Lounges in Argentina, Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Hong Kong, India, London, and Mexico. The standard offerings are fairly similar to provide a consistent experience across the board, similar to the U.S. counterparts.

Location

This lounge is located in Terminal 1 of Sydney International Airport. You’ll find it near gates 50 to 63.

It’s quite some distance from the security checkpoint and is down on the basement level near most of the terminal’s other airline and non-airline lounges.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney International directions
Directions to the Centurion lounge are clearly signposted when you arrive airside.

As soon as you get to the bottom of the escalators or elevator, you’ll see the recognizable facade of the lounge at the far end of the basement area.

Remember, the lounge can be a decent walk from some of the farther gates, so you will want to remember this when you visit. If you’ve got a departure at the other end of the terminal, leave early.

Gaining Entry

You must have either The 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), or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (when you book your Delta flight with your Delta Reserve Business card) to enter the lounge.

If you’re from Australia, you must hold one of these Australian cards to access the Centurion Lounge.

Unlike lounges in the U.S. where you can’t arrive at the lounge more than 3 hours before departure, there are no timed entry requirements in Sydney.

Likewise, you can also use the lounge upon arrival, though at Sydney Airport the lounge is located in the international terminal where this may not logistically be feasible. In addition, if you’re connecting, you’re free to use the lounge as well and you won’t have to prove a connecting itinerary like in the U.S.

Lounge Guest Policy

  • Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum card members 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 card members may purchase a day pass for any additional guests for $50.

Hours of Operation

The lounge is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. These operating hours should cover most flight departure times, save for the occasional departure past 10 p.m.

Checking In

As I entered the lounge, I was greeted with the signature American Express green wall filled with live plants. These green walls are a feature of all of American Express’ lounges worldwide, so you can easily identify them.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney green wall
The welcoming sight of the Centurion green wall.

A member of the front desk team asked me for my boarding pass, identification, and eligible American Express card prior to entry.

Seating

There was plenty of seating inside, though no day beds or other longer-stay areas. The lounge is essentially 1 long rectangle with several seating nooks throughout. At most seats, like at these booths in the dining area, there were power outlets nearby.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney booth seating
Diner-style seating booths.

As you walk farther into the lounge, you’ll find longer tables for communal eating or working, all adorned with power outlets, too. These long tables are great for groups and are positioned in front of several large television screens running American Express ads.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney main seating area
The central zone of the lounge.

There were also several nooks where you could sit with colleagues and have a quiet place to talk, but these were not entirely private as they were open to the rest of the lounge.

At the far end of the lounge, you’ll find the more relaxed seating area perfect for reading a book, having a glass of wine or 2, and spotting passing aircraft out the window.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney views
Relaxed seating by the lounge’s only window.

Amenities

Inside the lounge, I found several amenities:

  • Shower suites featuring L’Occitane en Provence products
  • Complimentary food and beverages featuring a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and wellness options, an exclusive dining area, and live cooking stations
  • Full-service bar including a selection of cocktails and a wide selection of craft and international tap beers
  • High-speed Wi-Fi, charging stations, and quiet resting areas
  • Flight information screens, and a selection of local and international magazines and newspapers

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney sign and TV
The classic American Express TV wall.

Restrooms

To the right of the bar were the large and spacious restrooms, and 3 shower suites equipped with L’Occitane en Provence amenities.

You are supposed to be able to reserve a shower suite at the front desk, but the showers were closed during my February 2023 visit.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney showers closed
Closed showers.

The restrooms were clean and bright.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney bathroom
Restrooms.

L’Occitane hand soap was featured in the restrooms.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney LOccitane en Provence amenities
L’Occitane hand soap.

Wi-Fi and Entertainment

The lounge featured complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the space. There were a number of charging ports and stations scattered throughout the lounge. To log onto the Wi-Fi, you simply need the password which was displayed in various locations around the lounge.

I didn’t connect to the Wi-Fi as I was just breezing through, but as per most reports we’ve seen, the lounge Wi-Fi is super fast.

This would be ideal if you’re catching up on emails before your flight or need to download 1 more episode of your favorite TV show to watch onboard.

On the large wall to the right in the lounge, there’s a large screen TV that cycles the various news networks.

Bottom Line: The Centurion Lounge at Sydney Airport has blazing-fast Wi-Fi so you can work or play without being slowed down.

Flight Information

Inside the lounge were several flight departure boards showing the departures of all flights within the terminal. These also display the estimated walk times to gates so you can be sure to leave plenty of time before your flight to get to your gate.

If you aren’t sure about where your flight is, the staff at the front desk can point you in the right direction, though they can’t assist with rebooking or any ticketing options, as those need to be done directly with the airlines.

The View

The Centurion Lounge at Sydney Airport featured below-average views of the tarmac and runways.

There’s only 1 small row of windows at the far end of the lounge. The windows are internal and are separated from the exterior windows by a departure gate seating area, meaning views are disrupted by other passengers.

Directly in front of the windows was a very active jetbridge which provided a great view of aircraft being readied to depart.

Because of the lounge’s location and the aircraft at the gate, views over the rest of the apron and runways were pretty nonexistent.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney views
A Fiji Airways aircraft waiting to depart for Nadi (NAN).

That said, I’ll take these views over those not provided by the completely windowless Centurion Lounge at Heathrow.

Food and Beverages

I was a little underwhelmed by the options available to eat and drink.

I can only assume that the dishes by Khanh Ong (the lounge’s chef partner) that are said to be available from early 2023 hadn’t made their way into the lounge by my visit.

The lounge featured an open-air kitchen design which you’ll find on your left after entering the lounge.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney restaurant seating and buffet area
Dining and buffet area.

The buffet line was just in front of the kitchen workstations.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney buffet close up
Buffet area.

Let’s review the options that were available to me during my visit in February 2023.

A salad and dessert buffet included:

  • Assortment of mini cake bites
  • Cheese and cold cuts
  • Chickpea salad
  • Mixed vegetable wraps
  • Pesto pasta salad

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney cold buffet
Cold buffet.

Hot options included:

  • Chili con carne
  • Rice
  • An Asian noodle dish
  • Fried chicken
  • Carbonara

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney rice and chilli con carne
Rice and chili con carne.

Next were Asian noodles and fried chicken.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney stirfried hokkein and snow cheese spicy wings
Noodles and fried chicken.

Another hot option was a very creamy-looking carbonara.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney pasta carbonara
Carbonara.

I don’t eat beef, I try to avoid fried foods, and that carbonara looked more like a vat of cream … needless to say, none of the options were particularly appetizing to me.

According to Amex, a typical breakfast menu contains:

  • Bacon
  • Baked beans
  • Cereals
  • Fruit and yogurt
  • Hash browns
  • Juices
  • Pastries
  • Sausages
  • Scrambled eggs

Despite hearing of a menu being available to order from, I didn’t see this as an option during my visit.

Here are a few other food options that you might come across during your visit:

  • Arancini balls
  • Beef sliders
  • Cheese boards with locally-sourced cheeses, fruits, bread, and crackers
  • Chicken stir fry
  • Edamame salad
  • Korean beef stew
  • Pasta salads
  • Pasta with beef ragu, smoked salmon, or pesto
  • Pumpkin risotto
  • Teriyaki chicken
  • Wonton soup

All food is complimentary, so you can help yourself to as much as you like, whenever you like. It’s all self-serve, too, so you don’t need to order from a menu and wait for your food to arrive.

This lounge can be great for those who may be short on time prior to their flight.

Bar and Barista

At the very back of the lounge, you’ll find the bar and barista service, staffed by a bartender. You can order whatever drinks you like, which are all included with your access.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney bar
Some of the options at the bar.

The lounge featured pretty much every standard spirit and mixer, so there’s no doubt you can make the perfect drink. Various Australian and New Zealand wines were available on tap and by bottle pour. Plenty of Australian beers were on offer via tap as well.

Among the unique offerings were:

  • Affogato
  • Choc mocha (hot chocolate and espresso)
  • Espresso Martini
  • Iced coffee
  • Mercury draught cider
  • Milkshake
  • A variety of handmade, specialty hot coffee drinks

Instead of Champagne, you’ll find Australian Fleur de Lys.

American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney Fleur de Lys sparkling wine
Fleur de Lys sparkling wine.

All drinks in the lounge are complimentary and are included with your entry, so you don’t have to worry about paying a separate bar tab, though tips are appreciated.

Final Thoughts

The Centurion Lounge at Sydney Airport opened in October 2019 and is definitely an improvement over the older, smaller lounge.

However, even with its new-ish look and larger space, I much preferred my time in the Air New Zealand lounge that I visited after the Centurion Lounge.

Compared with other Centurion Lounges I’ve visited, Sydney’s version would be among my least favorite, I have to say.

If you are flying through Sydney Airport and you are eligible to visit, then it’s still worth popping in.

But if you’re flying in premium cabins or have an airline status, then you might be better off spending your time in the lounges of Air New Zealand, Emirates, or Singapore Airlines.

The information regarding the Centurion® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which American Express card gets you into airport lounges?

As a general rule of thumb, the Amex Platinum card, Amex Business Platinum card, or Centurion card get you access into airport lounges, which include American Express’ own series of lounges and third-party lounges such as those under the Priority Pass umbrella. You can also have an Amex Platinum card issued in another country or a co-branded card.

Are drinks free in the Centurion Lounge?

Drinks are complimentary in all Centurion Lounges and airport lounges run directly by American Express. This includes non-alcoholic beverages such as soft drinks, waters, teas, and coffee, and also liquor such as beer, wine, and spirits.

Does the Amex corporate card have lounge access?

The only business card which would get you into a Centurion Lounge is the Amex Business Platinum card. These cards are commonly issued to employees to use for business expenditures and come with a host of benefits other than lounge access.

Does Australia have a Centurion Lounge?

Yes, there are Centurion Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne.

Does Sydney Airport have a Centurion Lounge?

This lounge is located in Terminal 1 of Sydney Airport, home to most of the airport’s international departures. You’ll find it near gates 50 to 63. Amex advises taking the escalator or elevator down to level 1 to access the door.

Daniel Ross's image

About Daniel Ross

Daniel has loved aviation and travel his entire life. He earned a Master of Science in Air Transport Management and has written about travel and aviation in publications like Simple Flying, The Points Guy, and more.

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