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On an Air Canada flight from LAX back to YYZ, I visited the Amex Centurion Lounge at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). Air Canada flies out of Terminal 6, so getting to the lounge is a 25 – 30 minute walk through the underground pathway at LAX. There is a Maple Leaf Lounge at LAX Terminal 6 (review), usually steps away from where Air Canada operates, in case a 1-hour walk (both ways) doesn’t appeal to you.
The Amex Centurion lounge is located right after security and right before the large duty-free area on the left-hand side. Look for Tom Bradley’s plaque with bio – the lounge entrance is on the opposite side.
Entrance to Amex Centurion Lounge LAX
You need to take the elevator one level up to reach the reception desk. It is also in the same area as the Qantas 1st-class Lounge, the Emirates Lounge, and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Lounge. Access to the lounge requires an American Express Platinum Card (personal, business, or corporate), the American Express Centurion Card, or the Black Card.
Lounge Layout
As you go through the reception desk on the right-hand side, you will find both the buffet and the main bar seating. Around the buffet were mostly chairs with wooden backrests and white tables, as well as a back countertop with light blue barstools. Around the bar were dark blue barstools.
Reception Desk
To the left of this buffet is a small refreshment stand with coffee, juices, and iced tea. To the left of that is a seating area with a calming green/nature motif, with about two dozen tables. If you’re looking for a quiet place to sit down and have a meal near the buffet, this appeared to be the place during my visit, as the area around the buffet was noisy due to the capacity.
Lounge Seating
Making a right from the buffet is the main bar, which is the highlight of any Centurion Lounge visit for me and their extensive cocktail list, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. As you walk past the bar, you get to another seating area as well as another coffee station. Walking further down from this coffee station are the bathrooms, both men’s and women’s, as well as a shower room.
If you make a left as you pass through the reception desk (versus a right), you get to another seating area, and further ahead, there’s a second, smaller bar, with a menu definitely not as extensive as the main bar. At this bar, there is another coffee station and more ample seating. There’s also Grey pod seating, where you can have a little bit more privacy. Charging stations were at most of these pods. Walking farther ahead to the left, another seating area with a long wooden table (which I have seen at other Centurion Lounges) and more privacy pod seating.
Individual Pods
“Green” Seating Space
There is also a multi-purpose room/family room. After the multi-purpose room down this corridor, there is another quieter room to sit down. Finally, if you get to the end of this corridor, there is the Centurion cardholder’s dedicated space. Right before that is the “nap room,” with black Sofas and dim lighting for a quick rest if you have a long layover or are just looking to nap. There is also a small business center with a printer and a computer.
Multi-purpose Room
Reserved Area for Centurion Cardholders
While there was plenty of seating, there were no views of any flights at their gates or any Windows, letting in natural light from outside, which was a bit of a bummer.
Lounge Food & Drinks
Food options at the lounge always impress me more than at other airport lounges, which is why I make the long walk over. During my visit, hot foods included jambalaya, roasted potatoes, orange-glazed carrots, a vegetable casserole, blackened chicken, and a smoky tomato bisque. The bisque and jambalaya (plus the bar, of course) made the walk over worth it!!
Salad Station
Hot Food options
More hot food options
Cold foods included fresh vegetables to build your own salad with quite the selection, I must say, as well as a prepared corn salad and a cucumber and onion salad. Dessert was chocolate cake and cookies. The desert was a bit of a letdown to me, if I am being honest. There’s also fresh fruit, including apples and bananas.
Build Your Own Salad
Dessert Section
Drink options at the Centurion Lounge are always extensive, from beers, wines, and spirits. During my visits to the CL, if time permits, I try to have a few signature cocktails exclusive to the lounge slowly. The bar is very well stocked, and all drinks, even premium spirits, are complimentary. The bartenders do monitor guest alcohol consumption, which I appreciated.
Bar Area – Seating
Signature Drink – Platinum Mule
On this visit, I had the Platinum Mule, their spin on a Moscow Mule and the Sky High, which mixed Irish Whiskey, Earl Grey Tea and Champagne. Both great cocktails and the bartenders know how to put in a good presentation!!
Takeaway
If you are flying Air Canada, you will most likely be departing from Terminal 6, so getting to this lounge is a 1-hour commitment (20-30 minutes each way). I did pop into the Maple Leaf lounge, which was a 1-minute walk from my departure gate, and from a food-and-drink perspective, I would put the Centurion lounge above.
One highlight of the 1-hour walk from the lounge is a much larger duty-free shop with a wider selection of alcohol and spirits than the one in Terminal 6. I found some great deals (up to 70% off) on spirits. So the walk up there was worth it.
Overall, I enjoyed the Amex Centurion Lounge LAX. The food selection, aside from dessert, and their bar menu were impressive, as always. The lounge was getting to capacity during my visit, but finding a seat wasn’t hard. The area around the bar and buffet was a little louder, but plenty of quiet space if you are looking for that.
Was it worth the 1-hour walk? Defiantly!! As mentioned earlier, there is a dedicated MLL lounge at LAX as well, if distance is a deterrent. If you have an Amex Platinum card in your wallet, and if you are in this hobby, odds are you do, I would say it is worth the walk to the lounge. 8/10
