American Express now requires $75,000 in annual spending on the Platinum Card to receive complimentary guest access at Centurion Lounges. Cardholders who do not reach that threshold can still bring guests by paying a per-visit fee, typically $50 per adult guest. The policy change raises a practical question for frequent travelers who travel with family members or companions: does it make financial sense to concentrate enough spending on the Platinum Card to unlock free guest access, or is it better to pay guest fees out of pocket and keep spending distributed across cards with higher earning rates in specific categories? The answer hinges on how often you visit Centurion Lounges with guests, what your alternative earning rates would be, and whether other lounge access programs already cover your travel companions.
American Express Platinum Card holders continue to receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges for themselves. The guest policy change applies specifically to bringing additional people into the lounge. Cardholders who spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year on their Platinum Card unlock complimentary guest access for up to two guests per visit for the remainder of that year and the following calendar year. Those who spend below the threshold can still bring guests by paying the per-visit fee, currently $50 for adults and $30 for children aged 2 through 17, with children under 2 admitted free.
The spending threshold resets each calendar year, and Amex tracks the spending on the primary card plus any authorized user cards on the same account. The $75,000 figure includes all eligible purchases but excludes certain transactions such as balance transfers, cash advances, and fees. Authorized user Platinum Cards, which carry their own annual fee per card, also do not receive complimentary guest access unless the primary account reaches the spending threshold.
For a traveler who visits Centurion Lounges six times per year with one guest, paying the $50 guest fee each time costs $300 annually. At ten visits per year with one guest, the cost rises to $500. For a family of four where both adults need guest access, the per-visit guest fee doubles, and the annual cost at six visits reaches $600. These numbers can make the spending threshold seem worth pursuing, but the analysis needs to account for what those dollars would have earned if spent on other cards.
If instead of earning 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on non-bonus spending with the Platinum Card, the same $75,000 could be split across cards earning 2x, 3x, or higher in bonus categories, the points forgone by concentrating spending on the Platinum Card represent a real cost. The gap between the Platinum’s 1x base earning rate and a 2x or 3x card amounts to tens of thousands of points over $75,000 in spend, which can be worth hundreds of dollars in travel value depending on how points are redeemed.
Consider a simple scenario. A traveler who can put $50,000 of that $75,000 on a card earning 2x points instead of the Platinum’s 1x leaves 50,000 points on the table. At conservative valuations, those points represent meaningful travel utility. The remaining $25,000 might go on the Platinum for purchases where it earns at least 1x, or on other cards earning higher rates in specific categories.
The calculus shifts further for travelers who hold the American Express Gold Card, which earns 4x at restaurants and 4x at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year. Moving $25,000 of dining and grocery spend from the Gold to the Platinum to chase guest access sacrifices 75,000 Membership Rewards points. Even valuing those points modestly, the forgone earnings easily exceed the cost of paying guest fees out of pocket for all but the most frequent Centurion Lounge visitors.
The spending threshold becomes more attractive under a few specific circumstances. Travelers who do not hold other cards with strong bonus categories in their actual spending areas may not face a significant opportunity cost from concentrating spend on the Platinum Card. Business travelers whose company reimburses expenses that cannot easily be routed to bonus category cards might find the threshold achievable without sacrificing much. And very frequent Centurion Lounge visitors, particularly those traveling with two guests regularly, might find the annual guest fee savings large enough to justify any earning rate trade-offs.
Travelers who already use the Platinum Card for large purchases that earn only 1x on any card, such as tax payments, tuition, or certain bills, may be able to reach the threshold without sacrificing bonus earning elsewhere. Those dollars were going to earn 1x regardless of which card they landed on, so putting them on the Platinum to unlock guest access incurs no additional opportunity cost.
Before reshaping spending habits around the Centurion Lounge guest policy, consider whether other lounge access programs already solve the guest admission problem. The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes a Priority Pass Select membership that allows two guests at most participating lounges at no additional charge, though Priority Pass restaurant credits are no longer included. The Capital One Venture X offers complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass, with guest policies that vary by lounge. Some airline cobranded cards also include lounge access benefits that may cover authorized users or companions.
For travelers whose home airport has a Capital One Lounge or who primarily pass through airports with Priority Pass lounges alongside Centurion Lounges, the combination of existing lounge memberships may cover guest access needs without any spending threshold maneuvering. A traveler who holds both the Platinum Card and the Venture X, for example, may have multiple lounge options at many airports, reducing the frequency of Centurion Lounge visits with guests.
Instead of making a binary decision, a practical approach tracks actual Centurion Lounge guest visits over a few months to establish a baseline, then compares the annual guest fee cost against the opportunity cost of concentrating $75,000 in spending on the Platinum Card at 1x. The traveler who visits Centurion Lounges with a guest twelve times per year faces a $600 guest fee bill, which a meaningful amount but may still be less than the value of points forgone by shifting category spending to the Platinum. The numbers shift for each individual based on spending patterns, card portfolio, and lounge visit frequency.
This article is based on American Express Platinum Card terms and conditions, Centurion Lounge access policies published on americanexpress.com as of July 2026, and publicly available information about Membership Rewards earning rates. Guest fees, spending thresholds, and lounge access policies are subject to change. Cardholders should consult their Amex account or the official American Express website for the most current terms before making spending decisions around the guest access threshold.
Q: If I reach the $75,000 threshold mid-year, when does guest access begin? A: Complimentary guest access typically activates once the spending threshold is met and remains active for the remainder of that calendar year plus the following full calendar year. Confirm the exact timing in your Amex account or Cardmember agreement.
Q: Do authorized user Platinum Cards get their own guest access? A: No. Authorized user Platinum Cards do not receive complimentary guest access benefits independently of the primary account. The primary account must meet the $75,000 threshold for guest access to apply. Authorized users themselves still receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges.
Q: Does the $75,000 spending requirement count authorized user purchases? A: Yes, eligible purchases made by authorized users on the account generally count toward the primary cardholder’s spending threshold. Verify specific eligibility in your Cardmember agreement.
Q: Are children charged the guest fee? A: Children aged 2 through 17 are charged a reduced guest fee, typically $30 per visit as of mid-2026. Children under 2 are admitted free. Confirm current pricing on the Amex website.
Q: Can I use Priority Pass from a different card for guests instead? A: Yes. If you hold another card that provides Priority Pass Select with guest privileges, you can bring guests to Priority Pass lounges under that membership without paying Centurion Lounge guest fees. This does not apply to Centurion Lounges, which only admit Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders.