Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
The Centurion Lounge Washington Reagan is upstairs in Terminal 2's National Hall, just past the south security checkpoint and across from the entrance to the B gates. It's about 12,000 square feet, opened in July 2024, and it's the best lounge at DCA — especially since Reagan has no Priority Pass lounges at all.
Advertiser disclosure: we may be compensated when you're approved through our links. It doesn't affect our editorial take.
Quick answer
- Location: Terminal 2, National Hall upper level, near the entrance to the B gates; closest to the south security checkpoint.
- Who gets in: Amex Platinum, Business Platinum and Centurion cardholders on any Terminal 2 airline; Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders on Delta flights booked with the card.
- Guests: $50 per adult, $30 per child 2–17, same flight only. Two free guests after $75,000 in calendar-year spend.
- Best card: The Amex Platinum.
At a glance
| Location | Terminal 2, National Hall, upper level near the B gates |
| Terminal access | Airside from all Terminal 2 gates (B–E); not from Terminal 1 |
| Size / opened | About 12,000 sq ft; opened July 17, 2024 |
| Showers | Yes, one shower suite |
| Food & bar | All-day buffet; full bar with cocktails and wine |
| Entry window | 3 hours before departure; 5 hours before your next flight on a layover |
| Guest fee | $50 adult / $30 child (2–17); under 2 free |
How to get in
- Amex Platinum ($895) and Business Platinum ($895): Free for the primary cardholder with a same-day boarding pass on any airline departing Terminal 2. DCA's lounge has had shorter hours than most, including an earlier close on Saturdays, so check hours in the Amex app.
- Centurion card: Free, plus two guests or immediate family.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve ($650): Only when you're flying Delta that day on a ticket bought with the card. Delta uses the B gates, right next door.
- What doesn't work: Priority Pass, Amex Gold, Delta Platinum. No day passes, no arrivals access.
Guest policy
Since July 8, 2026, guests must be on the same flight as the cardholder. Platinum and Business Platinum guests are $50 per adult and $30 per child aged 2–17; children under 2 are free. Spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year and two guests per visit become complimentary. Delta Reserve holders can bring up to two guests at $50 each.
For a couple on one Platinum card that's $50 per visit, and $110 for a family of four with two kids. If you regularly travel with others, compare the Capital One Landing, which charges $45 per adult guest with Venture X.
What it's like
Layout. The lounge was built on a new upper level over a former outdoor area, and reviewers at TPG and AFAR highlight the glass walls with views across the terminal, the airfield and the Potomac. Much of the seating is set up for solo travelers: couches, recliners, perimeter chairs, a long high-top coworking table, a phone booth and a soundproof meeting room. A small cordoned-off area is reserved for Centurion cardholders.
Food and bar. At opening, the all-day buffet was developed with chefs Michelle Bernstein, Ravi Kapur and Michael Solomonov, with cocktails by Jim Meehan and a wine list by Anthony Giglio. There's no à la carte ordering. The dining room's lantern ceiling is the design centerpiece, but TPG noted it has few tables, so at busy times you may eat elsewhere in the lounge.
Showers. One shower suite, near reception; reserve a slot at the front desk. There's no spa, no terrace and no dedicated family room (a multipurpose room is first come, first served).
Crowds. TPG's reviewer expected overcrowding during peak departure windows. When the lounge is at capacity, Amex runs a digital waitlist through the Amex app, which also shows how busy the lounge is. Check before you walk over from the far end of the C–E gates.
Getting there
Use the south security checkpoint in Terminal 2 if you can: the lounge is just past it, across from the B-gates entrance, up an elevator or about 50 stairs. All Terminal 2 gates (B through E) connect airside, so American flyers on the C, D and E piers can walk to it — allow 10 minutes or more from the far E gates. Terminal 1 (gates 1–9: Southwest, Air Canada, Frontier) isn't connected airside, so those passengers can't use it without exiting and rescreening.
Nearby alternatives
- Capital One Landing: National Hall near the D gates. Free with Venture X; a smaller, food-focused space. See Capital One Landing DCA.
- Delta Sky Club: Above gate B15. Platinum gets 10 visits a year on Delta flights.
- Admirals Clubs: Near C24, D36 and E46, for American flyers with a membership or Citi AAdvantage Executive.
- United Club: Across from gate B11.
- Priority Pass: None at DCA.
More detail in our DCA airport lounges guide, or try Dulles for long-haul flights.
FAQ
Where is the Centurion Lounge at Reagan National? In Terminal 2's National Hall, on an upper level just past the south security checkpoint and across from the entrance to the B gates.
Can Southwest passengers at DCA use the Centurion Lounge? Not without leaving and re-clearing security. Southwest flies from Terminal 1, which isn't connected airside to Terminal 2, where the lounge is.
Does the DCA Centurion Lounge have a shower? Yes, one shower suite near reception. Reserve it at the front desk.
Is the DCA Centurion Lounge often full? It can be during peak departure windows. Amex uses a digital waitlist in its app when the lounge is at capacity, and the app shows current busyness.
Related guides
- DCA airport lounges
- Centurion Lounge locations
- Amex Platinum guide
- Capital One Landing DCA
- Washington Dulles (IAD) lounges
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
