We had read such great things about the Amex Centurion Lounge at the Las Vegas McCarran airport so we were excited to check it out.  American Express Centurion lounges are supposed to be really nice compared to other US airport lounges.

Lounge access is not something that is super important to us since we usually do not get to airports early enough to spend much time in lounges but it is nice to have someplace to relax when we have a layover.  So was this lounge as great as they say?

The short answer is yes.  The Amex Centurion Lounge in Las Vegas was really comfortable and relaxing with semi-private areas to relax in.

Initial Impression

Our initial impression was positive.  The Centurion Lounge is pretty quiet except for the dining area. There were many seats and outlets available.  The Centurion lounge has floor to ceiling shaded windows along the wall letting in natural light. The lounge is very clean and employees are always walking around collecting used plates and glasses.  The only negative is that the lounge is somewhat cold.

Seating

The Amex Centurion lounge has many different types of seating available.

There are tables, couches, nooks, privacy pods and chaise loungers.

The back end of the lounge is the most private part of the lounge with nooks, a large work table and three luxurious chaise loungers (which are usually occupied).

Food and Drink

All food and drinks are complimentary.

The food includes seasonal gourmet fare created by executive chef Scott Conant.

Meals are served buffet style in the center of the lounge from a fixed menu. Breakfast is served from 6-11am. Lunch/dinner meal is served from 11:30 am-10 pm.

We arrived around 6 pm so we only tried the dinner menu.  The Amex Centurion Lounge Las Vegas website lists the current food and drinks menu.

In addition to the main dishes, there was fresh salad, fruits, vegetables as well as ham and Swiss sandwiches.

Desserts included chocolate chip cookies, brownies and chocolate budino.

We sampled most of the offerings and had no complaints.

The only negative is that there are no snacks to go.  In fact, guests are not allowed to take food out of the lounge.

There is a full service bar in the center of the lounge.

The Amex Centurion Lounge offers its own signature cocktail menu by mixologist Jim Meehan and a selection of wines curated by its wine director Anthony Giglio.

Self-serve filtered water was available but it was not very cold.  There was no bottled water. We prefer when lounges offer portable water bottles we can take with us on our flight.

Family Room

A family room is located near the front desk and cafeteria but it is separated from the rest of the lounge.  It is a small, fully enclosed room with a glass wall so parents can watch their children from outside. The family room was completely empty while we were there.

Restrooms and Showers

The restroom and shower both have upscale L’Occitane amenities available.  We did not use the shower during our visit so we did not get a chance to check it out.

The restrooms are clean and well maintained.   We liked that there was a waste basket by the door so you can open the door with a paper towel and toss it.

Internet

We found the free hi speed wi-fi fast enough to use the internet.

Desktop computers, tablets and printing/scanning services are available for guests.

Location

The Amex Centurion Lounge is located in Concourse D of Terminal 1 opposite Gate D1 at the Las Vegas McCarran Airport.

If you’re not flying from the D Gates, you can still get to the lounge without exiting security and going back through security.  If flying in from a Southwest flight which lands in Concourse C, you need to take a tram to Concourse D. Concourse D is much more quiet and calm than Concourse C.

The American Express Centurion Lounge in Las Vegas is open from 5:00 am – 12:00 am daily and is available for travelers arriving AND departing from the airport on the same date.  The receptionist will ask to see your Amex card, ID and a boarding pass for same-day travel.  If you are arriving into McCarran, print a duplicate boarding pass to show at the front desk.

How to Get In the Lounge

The American Express Centurion lounges are not affiliated with any specific airline – they are for American Express card holders only. Other airports in the US with a Centurion lounge include Charlotte, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, New York (LGA), Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle. Lounges are planned for DEN, JFK, and LHR soon.

Amex Centurion lounges are complimentary for holders of the Amex Platinum or Amex Centurion cards and up to two (2) guests.

Overall Impressions

Overall, the Amex Centurion Lounge at Las Vegas McCarran was a nice lounge.  While the food was good, what really makes this lounge better than other US lounges were the comfortable seats and relaxing environment.  The three chaise loungers are especially comfortable and a good spot for a nap but they are hard to snag as there are only three.  The negatives were that it was too cold and there was no bottled water.

If you are ever in Las Vegas with time to spare before or after your flights, the Amex Centurion lounge is a good place to pass the time at the airport.  Even if you are not a holder of an Amex card that entitles you to free entry to Centurion lounges, it might be worth paying $50 for the free food and drinks, free wi-fi and comfortable seating.