As my girlfriend and I continued our vacation in Oceania we left our hotel in Sydney, hopped on a ferry, transferred to a train, and arrived at Sydney Airport. The trip to the airport took a lot less time than anticipated so we ended up with about 3 hours to burn at the airport before our flight to Auckland departed. To pass the time we first visited the Qantas First Class Lounge and ended up spending about two hours in the lounge.
After about two hours in the lounge we grew impatient and decided to explore the rest of the airport. As we explored the departures level we quickly noticed how beautiful the entire airport is. The central area of the terminal features high ceilings with floor to ceiling windows which let in plenty of light.
Sydney Airport Departure Board
As we wandered around the terminal it reminded me of the departures area of Seattle’s airport.
As we walked around the terminal we found something we didn’t expect to see. Located just off of the main departures area, in Pier B (East) was an American Express Centurion lounge. Truthfully neither of us knew that Sydney Airport was home to a Centurion lounge so we of course decided to take a look inside.
Entering the American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney
Over the years getting into a Centurion Lounge has become a bit more difficult. Today, only departing Platinum Card Members and up to two guests can enter the lounge within three hours of their departure. Connecting passengers can enter upon arrival with proof of an onward boarding pass. Official Centurion Lounge access guidelines can be found here.
The entrance to the Centurion lounge is a bit different than similar lounges found in the US, but the lounge did feature Amex’s signature blue doors.
The entrance to the lounge was a small hallway which a check-in counter off to the right. At the end of the hall was a living wall with the American Express logo prominently displayed.
The narrow hallway foreshadowed the overall size of the lounges.
Centurion Lounge Sydney Interior
Inside the Centurion Lounge we found essentially a single long room with seats scattered throughout.
There were a series of long tables which ran the length of the lounge with stool seating on either side.
In the center of the lounge was a shorter table with chairs which reminded me of the furniture found in many Starbucks.
There was additional seating lining the windows of the lounge, several of which were larger and more padded than other seats found in the lounge.
These seats also came with pretty great views of the surrounding airport.
In total, we counted just over 50 or so seats, so capacity in this lounge is limited to say the least.
Catering Options At The Centurion Lounge Sydney
Guests of the Centurion Lounge could find all of the catering toward the rear wall of the lounge. As we approached this area we quickly found a salad bar which offered most of the crudités typically found in an airport lounge.
However, as is common with Centurion Lounges, the catering options on offer were much more substantial. Located in this same area was a small taco bar just next to the salad bar.
Additionally, there were a few more warm and hearty options found along the back wall.
Behind the buffet line was the full-service bar where guests could order wine or cocktails. Sorry for the poor photo of the bar, the bartender didn’t seem to appreciate my photographs!
Anyone interested in non-alcoholic options could find plenty of soda, water, or coffee directly across from the bar.
A Very Interesting Washroom
By far the weirdest area of the lounge was the washroom. The washroom featured a sliding frosted glass door which slid open at the push of a button. Once inside, you had to push another button to lock yourself in.
Also, once inside it became apparent just how small of an area this washroom occupied. With my phone pressed up against one wall the below photos is of the far wall which housed the door controls.
Essentially, there was a toilet on one wall and a sink on the other, that’s it.
After spending just a minute or two in the washroom I quickly felt claustrophobic and needed to exit.
Additional Seating Is Available
Beyond the areas above there were actually a few other “seating areas.” One could be found just behind the living wall and featured window seats which did not face the window…
The other, again behind the living wall, was a small sitting area under the expected American Express artwork.
Finally, there was a traditional lounge area which offered up about 8 more seats. As I mentioned, seating in this lounge is extremely limited.
After a quick walk around the lounge we ended up having a drink before we agreed that it was time to continue our exploration of the airport.
Final Thoughts
Overall, as you can tell, the American Express Centurion Lounge Sydney isn’t all that incredible. It’s a very small space with limited seating, slightly above average airport lounge catering, and decent airport views. With that there is no way that I would get to the airport early with the sole reason of spending time in the lounge.
However, as you can also tell, the lounge is plenty nice and does offer a nice retreat from the louder and more chaotic airport terminal. Essentially, if you otherwise don’t have lounge access and are a Platinum Cardmember the lounge is definitely worth a visit.
