Centurion Lounge Mexico City (Review Guide)

After spending the night in Mexico on the way back from Nicaragua, we arrived at the airport two and a half hours ahead of schedule.

That gave us time to relax in the American Express Centurion Lounge before our flight out of Mexico and put any concerns about our pre-flight testing to rest. Here’s our comprehensive review of the lounge.

How to Locate the Centurion Lounge

Meanwhile, if you’re booked on a flight with another company, such as Air Canada, Avianca, or others, Terminal 1 is your departure point. It also houses the Centurion Lounge.

Above the main concourse, on the second floor, you’ll find the Centurion Lounge and lounges run by HSBC and Citi. After passing through security, the upstairs seemed like a breath of fresh air.

Both the stairs and an elevator go to the second-floor lounge area where the Centurion and gladiator sign welcome guests to the lounge.

Below, we discuss in full what made our time at Centurion Lounge memorable and why it is a must-visit.

Centurion Lounge – Access

Platinum and Centurion cardholders have their lines. If a Centurion member walks in, the lounge attendant will temporarily stop serving Platinum members to attend to the Centurion member.

Those with a Platinum Card or a Business Platinum Card from American Express, issued in the 50 states or foreign countries, can gain entry to any Centurion Lounges worldwide.

If you have a Centurion Card (also known as a “Black Card”), you can access the Centurion Lounge and enjoy other perks.

With a  Platinum Card, you can enter into the lounge and bring in two visitors. While you may use both the personal and corporate Platinum card in most Centurion Lounges, the personal card is preferred in Mexico City for reasons that will become clear.

Centurion Lounge – Seating

The Centurion Lounge here makes effective use of its two levels despite not being the largest Centurion Lounge available. Although the lounge has plenty of room, there are occasions when it feels cramped or small.

A circular path leads from the front desk to the ground floor sitting area, which features a variety of seating options. Up the marble stairs, you’ll find a second observation deck dedicated to work rather than leisure.

In this seating space, you can access many gears that allow you to perform your business or any other productive work, such as reading, writing, etc. This way, you can easily invest your time in productive activities while waiting for your flight. 

Centurion Lounge – Dining

If a customer enters the Centurion Lounge and indicates that they want to eat or drink, the servers will show them to the eating area.

Compared to its American counterpart, the Centurion Lounge lacks a full-service buffet. A group of waiters or waitresses are available to accept orders and deliver the specified food, like in restaurants. 

Not only in the dining room but also other parts of the lounge, you can have meals and beverages brought to you. But I’m guessing the speed of service isn’t as good as in the main eating area.

On the other hand, Platinum and Centurion cardholders get restricted per-person access to a small number of complementary things. If you order from a larger menu or receive larger servings, you will be expected to pay for these options.

Cardholders

However, Business Platinum cardholders are not eligible for the complimentary meals and must pay full price for all menu items. Take advantage of the lounge whenever possible by using your own Platinum Card. We believe the same policy applies at the Centurion Lounge in Terminal 1 at MEX.

We could get everything we wanted off the breakfast menu for free, including coffee, a smoothie, a fruit salad starter, and both chilaquiles.

For breakfast and other meals, we anticipate a more limited complimentary offering and a great variety of options for a fee.

One of Mexico’s best chefs, Enrique Olvera, created the menus for the Centurion Lounge. We tasted his inventiveness in the few breakfast dishes we sampled, such as the mini chocolate chips he sprinkled over the fruit salad.

There’s no denying that the food at the Centurion Lounge in Mexico City is some of the best around. While the food is good, the restaurant is stingier than average because the entire menu is available for an upcharge.

Centurion Lounge – Extras

The Centurion Lounges in Mexico City stand out from the others because they provide unique perks not seen in the Centurion Lounges in the United States.

Platinum and Centurion cards, for instance, get access to various in-lounge luxuries, such as a hair salon and spa.

We came to know, via the server at the lounge, that they offer a complimentary short massage. The spa offers much more, but the lack of time didn’t allow us to sample their services. For an additional fee, you can also get a trendy new haircut. In other words, a 15-minute massage is free, but not other services like prolonged spa therapy, hair styling, etc. 

Centurion members get access to a separate lounge. In addition, you may use the shower room to freshen up before your trip or sleep in the nap room.

Summing Up

Compared to the most popular American lounges, Mexico City’s Centurion Lounge is a refreshing change of pace.

Personal Platinum and Centurion cards get access to a limited selection of complimentary meals and drinks.

Also, the small footprint of the lounge conceals an impressive number of facilities, including a massage and a hair salon.

The food is delicious, and the sitting area is wonderful. Indeed,  it is a complete package of luxury and coziness to experience. 

The Centurion Lounge in Mexico City is a must-visit lounge while you wait for your flight since it has almost every facility to help you pass your time productively.