Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
The Centurion Lounge SFO is in a temporary location. Since June 15, 2025 it has operated in Terminal 2, Boarding Area D, just past security near gate D12, while the original Terminal 3 lounge is closed for the Terminal 3 modernization; Amex expects the permanent lounge to reopen in 2027. The temporary space is smaller and more limited than the old one, but because SFO's terminals are connected airside, any Platinum cardholder departing SFO can still walk to it.
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Quick answer
- Location: Temporary lounge in Terminal 2, Boarding Area D, right after security, near gate D12 (the former Alaska Lounge). The Terminal 3 lounge is closed until 2027.
- Who gets in: Amex Platinum and Business Platinum on any airline; Delta SkyMiles Reserve on a same-day Delta flight booked with the card
- Guests: $50 per adult, $30 per child (2–17), same flight only; free after $75,000 in calendar-year spend
- Best card: Amex Platinum ($895)
At a glance
| Location | Terminal 2, Boarding Area D, near gate D12 (temporary) |
| Airside from | All terminals (allow ~6 min per terminal) |
| Size / opened | Just over 9,000 sq ft; opened June 15, 2025 |
| Showers | Shower suite listed by Amex; ask at the desk |
| Food & bar | Scaled-back food (no full kitchen), cocktails, wine |
| Entry window | 3 hours before departure; 5 hours before a connection |
| Guest fee | $50 adult / $30 child; free after $75k spend |
Check hours in the Amex app before you go.
How to get in
- Amex Platinum and Business Platinum ($895): Free for the cardmember with a same-day boarding pass on any airline, United included.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve ($650): Only when you're flying Delta that day on a ticket bought with the card. Delta flies from Terminal 1, which is connected airside.
- Centurion (black card): Free, with two guests or immediate family included.
- What doesn't work: Priority Pass, day passes, Amex Gold, Delta Platinum, or arrival-only use.
Guest policy
Platinum and Business Platinum guests cost $50 per adult and $30 per child aged 2–17; under-2s are free. Since July 8, 2026, guests must be on the same flight as the cardmember. Spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year and two guests per visit are complimentary. Delta Reserve holders can bring up to two guests at $50 each on a Delta flight. In a smaller temporary space, groups are also more likely to hit a waitlist.
What it's like
Set your expectations accordingly. When Amex announced the move, One Mile at a Time reported the temporary space is just over 9,000 square feet versus just over 15,000 for the Terminal 3 lounge, lacks a full kitchen, and would be a "scaled back version" of the original. Amex's own page says "offerings may be limited in our temporary Centurion Lounge space in Terminal 2."
What Amex lists: workspaces with high-speed Wi-Fi, a shower suite, signature cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, and wines curated by sommelier Helen Johannesen. Upgraded Points notes a wine-tasting area, a nod to the old lounge's Napa-focused wine wall. Food comes from Amex's Culinary Collective program, but Amex doesn't name dishes for this location, and the menu is lighter than at full-kitchen lounges.
The old Terminal 3 lounge was known for crowds, and Upgraded Points still warns the SFO lounge "can get extremely crowded, no matter the time of day." With less space, use the Amex app: it shows how full the lounge is and runs a digital waitlist, with 10 minutes to check in once you're called. Join while you're still in security.
Getting there
Clear security at Terminal 2 and the lounge is just inside Boarding Area D, near Compass Books and Napa Farms Market. From any other terminal, walk airside; SFO connected all its terminals behind security, and you should allow about six minutes per terminal. United flyers in Terminal 3 (E and F gates) are next door. From International Terminal G, it's a longer walk through Terminal 3. From International A, you'd pass through Terminal 1 first.
Nearby alternatives
- United Clubs (Terminal 3 near E4 and F11, International G) and Polaris (G): United Club card, membership or premium tickets.
- Delta Sky Club (Terminal 1, near C3): Platinum 10 visits a year, Delta Reserve 15, on Delta flights.
- Priority Pass lounges: The Club SFO (Terminal 1), plus the Golden Gate, China Airlines and Virgin Atlantic lounges in International A. All work with the Platinum's Priority Pass.
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Terminal 2): Star Alliance premium and elite flyers.
Every option is on our SFO airport lounges page.
FAQ
Is the Centurion Lounge at SFO open? Yes, in a temporary location. The Terminal 3 lounge closed in May 2025 for construction, and a temporary lounge opened June 15, 2025 in Terminal 2 near gate D12. Amex expects the permanent Terminal 3 lounge to reopen in 2027.
Can I use the temporary Centurion Lounge if I'm flying United from Terminal 3? Yes. SFO's terminals are connected after security, and Terminal 2 is right next to Terminal 3. Allow time to walk back to your gate.
Is the temporary SFO Centurion Lounge as good as the old one? No. It's smaller and Amex says offerings may be limited. It still covers the basics: food, drinks, Wi-Fi, workspaces and a shower suite.
Does the SFO Centurion Lounge have showers? Amex lists a shower suite at the temporary lounge. Ask at the front desk when you arrive.
How much does a guest cost? $50 per adult and $30 per child aged 2 to 17, and guests must be on your flight. Two guests are free after $75,000 in calendar-year spend on the card.
Related guides
- SFO airport lounges
- Centurion Lounge locations
- Amex Platinum guide
- United Club access
- Priority Pass lounges in the USA
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
