Review: AMEX Centurion Lounge Hong Kong

During my extended layover in Hong Kong, I managed to pay a visit to the American Express Centurion Lounge, AMEX’s first international Centurion Lounge.

This facility opened in October 2017, covering an 8,000 sq ft space that used to be occupied by Virgin Atlantic. It is, by most accounts, probably the best credit card lounge in the whole airport, though the newer Chase Sapphire Lounge may have something to say about that.

Opening Hours & Access

The AMEX Centurion Lounge is located in Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1, near Gate 60. 

Opening hours are 7 a.m to 12 a.m daily, and access is available to the following cardholders (both principal and supplementary):

• AMEX Centurion (+2 guests)
• AMEX Platinum Charge (+2 guests) 

Do note that the above entitlements are for Singapore-issued cards. The entitlements for your card may differ depending on country.

Due to overcrowding issues, The Centurion Lounge will not admit Platinum cardholders more than three hours before the departure time on their boarding pass.

This restriction does not apply to cardholders with a confirmed connecting flight. For example, if you arrive in HKG at 12 p.m with a connecting flight at 8 p.m, you may visit The Centurion Lounge immediately upon landing by presenting your arriving and departing boarding pass.

Centurion Lounge Hong Kong: Overview

The best way to know you’ve found The Centurion Lounge is to look for the queue. While AMEX paints a picture of luxury and exclusivity, the reality is that it’s not that hard to get a Platinum Card these days.

When I arrived at opening time, there was a good-sized crowd waiting to get in. About five minutes before opening, a staff member came out to organise the queue into two lines: Centurions, and Platinums. Centurions were let in first, understandably, after which the Platinum queue was processed.

At the counter, the friendly staff swiped my Platinum card, informed me of the Wi-Fi password, and sent me on my way.

Before you get to the lounge proper, you’ll walk down an open-air corridor and pass a boardroom, a meeting room and a phone room. These have desktop computers and printing facilities, but often become an overflow area for when the main dining area (inevitably) gets too crowded. 

Just before you turn the corner into the lounge, you’ll see a portrait of a dog, which was the first logo of American Express when it started in 1850. You might not know that American Express started life as a delivery company- hence the “express”. The watchdog logo was meant to create confidence in the company’s trust, security and vigilance, but as far as I know, the dog doesn’t actually have a name.

While I try as hard as I can to get into lounges at opening time so I can snap “clean” photos without other passengers in them, it was almost impossible here. This is a lounge that never really has a quiet period, so apologies in advance for the photos. 

The Centurion Lounge Hong Kong has various types of seating arrangements and furniture, though none of them are what I’d call particularly ergonomic. This isn’t the most comfortable place to open up a laptop and power through several hours of work, and maybe that’s intentional.

The bar is meant to be the centrepiece of the lounge, but you can’t actually pull up a seat- at least not during breakfast hours, where space is needed for the toaster and additional breakfast items.

On the far end of the lounge is the buffet area. 

Here’s also where you’ll find the entrance to a private area for Centurion cardholders, which has dedicated seating and table service with a specially curated menu.

“The private Centurion area will also feature an a la carte menu designed by Michelin star chef, Lau Yiu Fai of Yan Toh Heen at the InterContinental Hong Kong. Chef Lau’s menu will offer Cantonese dishes such as baked pork in puff pastry, crispy spring rolls with kimchi and pork, crispy fresh prawns with black truffles, braised wagyu beef cheek and turnip, barbecued pork with honey and steamed rice, and baked egg tartlettes with bird’s nest, among others.”

-AMEX

 I wasn’t able to visit this area, obviously, but a reader has kindly contributed the following photos.

Centurion Lounge Hong Kong: Food & Beverage

Breakfast was served during the window where I visited the Centurion Lounge.

Cold food options included fruit salad, potato salad, fresh fruit and Swiss muesli. 

The hot food selection had an assortment of breakfast items, like blistered cherry tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, buttered corn, pork bacon and sausage, dim sum, hash browns and congee.

At the bar were some additional options like bread, pastries, and a honeycomb. Cheese, crackers, sandwiches and breakfast cereals were also available. 

By the way, there’s also an ice cream fridge at the bar with Movenpick, but this only gets unlocked after 11.30 a.m daily! Strange, they’ll let you have a cocktail in the morning, but not ice cream…

This being a Centurion Lounge, you can expect an impressive wine list, with three whites, three reds, a rose and three sparklings to choose from. GH Mumm Champagne is one of the options. 

The cocktails list is also enticing, created by James Beard awardee Jim Meehan. Cocktails are served all day long, and I’d highly recommend the Rickshaw or Gin Basil Collins. 

The bartenders double up as baristas in the morning, so a decent coffee is at hand. In the fridge are the usual assortment of canned drinks and mixers. 

Power & Productivity

The Centurion Lounge’s Wi-Fi network clocked in at 32 Mbps down and 26 Mbps up. 

Power outlets weren’t as plentiful as I would have liked. They were mostly located at the communal marble high table running along the edge of the lounge, and while they had USB-A ports, the power outlets only accepted Type G plugs. 

It’s fine for those of us from Singapore, but you’d really think a lounge in an international airport would go with universal sockets.

Showers & Toilets

The Centurion Lounge has men’s and women’s restrooms, as well as two separate private shower rooms. You’ll need to reserve them at the front desk, so don’t delay, especially during peak hours. Wall-mounted L’Occitaine bath amenities are provided.

Conclusion

The Centurion Lounge Hong Kong is, in and of itself, a beautifully-designed and welcoming space with good food and an even better cocktail list. 

But what makes it hard to recommend are the crowds. This is a place that fills up quickly and stays full most of the day, and if your flight is around a peak period, you might be better off visiting the Chase Sapphire Lounge (just a short walk away) with your Priority Pass instead. 

How was your Centurion Lounge Hong Kong experience like?