New Amex Centurion Lounge at Newark Airport: 2026 Guide
American Express is scheduled to open its first Centurion Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in 2026, but as of September 27, 2026, the exact opening date has not been announced and Amex still lists Newark as a location coming soon.
The new lounge will be located in Terminal A and is planned to span approximately 18,000 square feet. Its design is expected to combine familiar Centurion Lounge features with several New Jersey-inspired touches, including a jazz-themed cocktail bar, a piano lounge, an indoor terrace overlooking the airfield and Manhattan skyline, and locally inspired food and drinks.
For travelers who regularly fly through Newark, the project is significant because EWR has not previously had an American Express Centurion Lounge. Here is what is currently known about the new facility, where it will be located, what it is expected to offer, and how access is likely to work once it opens.
Newark Centurion Lounge: What We Know So Far
The original project announcement was made by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and American Express on September 12, 2023. At that time, the lounge was announced for a 2026 opening. The latest American Express lounge network information still places Newark among the locations coming soon, rather than listing it as an operational lounge.
| Feature | Current information |
| Airport | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) |
| Terminal | Terminal A |
| Opening | Scheduled for 2026; exact date not announced |
| Size | Approximately 18,000 square feet |
| Terrace | 1,400-square-foot indoor terrace |
| Views | Airfield and Manhattan skyline |
| Signature features | Jazz bar and piano lounge |
| Food and drinks | Complimentary offerings with a locally inspired menu |
| Other amenities | Workstations, family space, restrooms, shower suites, Wi-Fi |
| Current status | Coming soon |
Where Will the New Amex Lounge Be at Newark Airport?
The new Centurion Lounge will be in Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport. Terminal A opened in 2022 and is currently used by Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue, and United Airlines.
The precise gate-area location and operating hours for the Centurion Lounge have not yet been published by American Express. Travelers should therefore avoid relying on older maps, unofficial floor numbers, or estimated gate locations until Amex activates the official EWR lounge listing.
This is particularly important at Newark because a traveler may depart from a different terminal. United Airlines, for example, also operates from Terminal C, while Terminal A serves a mix of other carriers.
Once the lounge opens, checking the terminal shown on your boarding pass before heading to the airport will be essential.
How Large Will the Newark Centurion Lounge Be?
American Express and the Port Authority have announced an approximately 18,000-square-foot Centurion Lounge. That makes it a substantial addition to Newark’s premium passenger facilities.
The lounge is planned as part of a new building associated with Terminal A. Earlier reporting described the project as a three-story structure near the terminal, with the Centurion Lounge occupying part of the development.
However, travelers should pay more attention to the final operating details than to early construction descriptions. Exact entrance points, floor information, seating capacity, and opening hours can still change before launch.
What Amenities Will the Newark Centurion Lounge Have?
The Newark location is being designed with several features intended to distinguish it from a standard airport waiting area.
1. Indoor Terrace With Manhattan Views
One of the most notable features will be a 1,400-square-foot indoor terrace overlooking the airport’s airfield, with a view toward Manhattan. The space is designed to give travelers a place to relax while also offering views of aircraft activity outside.
For travelers interested in aviation, this could become one of the most appealing parts of the lounge.
2. New Jersey-Inspired Jazz Bar and Piano Lounge
The lounge will have a cocktail bar inspired by New Jersey’s 20th-century jazz history, along with a piano lounge featuring live music. American Express has specifically highlighted this area as part of the Newark location’s regional identity.
Rather than simply copying the design of another Centurion Lounge, the Newark concept is intended to incorporate local cultural elements into the experience.
3. Locally Inspired Food and Drinks
Guests are expected to receive complimentary food and beverage options, including a menu inspired by local cuisine and signature cocktails. These offerings are consistent with the broader Centurion Lounge concept, which emphasizes chef-created dining and premium beverages at participating locations.
The exact Newark menu has not been announced, so specific dishes or restaurant partnerships should not be assumed yet.
4. Workspaces and High-Speed Wi-Fi
Travelers who need to work before a flight should find dedicated workstations and high-speed Wi-Fi. American Express has also identified ample seating areas as part of the planned design.
That makes the lounge potentially useful for both short pre-flight visits and longer airport stays.
5. Family and Shower Facilities
The planned facility will include a dedicated space for families with small children, along with premium restrooms and shower suites.
These features can be particularly useful for travelers arriving early, connecting between flights, or coming directly from a long day of travel.
6. New Jersey History and Archival Displays
The design will also incorporate an archival collection of artifacts and antiques intended to reflect New Jersey’s culture and history of innovation.
This local emphasis is one of the more distinctive aspects of the project and goes beyond the standard lounge amenities.
Who Will Be Able to Access the Newark Centurion Lounge?
The exact EWR access rules will be confirmed when American Express publishes the lounge’s individual location page, but the current Centurion Lounge program provides access to eligible Platinum Card Members, Centurion Members, and certain other eligible American Express cardmembers, including eligible Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers under applicable rules. Access is subject to space availability.
For U.S. Platinum Card Members, American Express currently requires:
- A valid eligible Platinum Card
- A confirmed same-day boarding pass
- A seat or zone assignment
- Identification when requested
- Arrival within the applicable pre-departure access window
The current standard for U.S. Platinum Card Members is access within 3 hours of the departing flight. During a connection, the current policy allows entry up to 5 hours before the connecting flight.
Importantly, the Platinum access rules do not require passengers to fly a particular airline. American Express states that Platinum Card Members can access Centurion Lounges with a same-day departing flight on any carrier, subject to the applicable terms.
That means the Newark lounge is expected to be useful to eligible travelers departing on carriers such as Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, or United Airlines from Terminal A, provided they meet the applicable access requirements.
What Are the Current Centurion Lounge Guest Rules?
This is an area travelers should check carefully because American Express changed its guest policies in 2026.
For U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum Card Members, American Express currently charges $50 per adult guest or $30 for children ages 2 through 17, unless the cardmember has unlocked complimentary guest access. Children under 2 are complimentary under the applicable policy.
Platinum Card Members can unlock complimentary access for up to two guests per visit after reaching $75,000 in eligible purchases during a calendar year on the applicable Platinum account.
There is another important condition: effective July 8, 2026, guests must be traveling on the same flight as the eligible cardmember.
For that reason, travelers should not assume that a spouse, friend, or family member on a different flight will automatically be admitted simply because they are traveling together at the airport.
Because the Newark lounge has not yet opened, its final location-specific guest policies should be checked on American Express before visiting.
Will the Newark Lounge Be Available to Internationally Issued Amex Cards?
American Express states that Platinum and Centurion Members, regardless of the country where the card was issued, are eligible for Centurion Lounge access, although specific guest policies can vary by location.
This is relevant for international travelers connecting through Newark. However, access terms for the individual EWR location should still be confirmed after the lounge’s official page goes live.
Will the Lounge Be Open 24 Hours?
No opening hours have been announced yet.
The current American Express lounge directory does not provide operating hours for Newark and continues to identify it as a location coming soon. Travelers should therefore wait for the official EWR location page rather than relying on hours published by third-party travel sites.
What Should Travelers Expect When the Lounge Opens?
The biggest practical change will be having a dedicated Centurion Lounge option inside Terminal A.
Today, Terminal A already offers several airline lounges, including the American Airlines Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, and United Club.
The Centurion Lounge will add a credit-card-based option rather than an airline-specific lounge experience. That can be particularly useful for eligible Platinum Card Members who are not flying an airline whose lounge they can otherwise use.
For example, a Platinum Card Member flying JetBlue from Terminal A could potentially use the Centurion Lounge before departure without needing elite status with the airline. The applicable American Express access rules, same-day boarding pass requirement, and lounge capacity restrictions would still apply.
What Is Still Unknown About the Newark Centurion Lounge?
Despite the detailed announcement, several practical details remain unavailable. The following have not yet been officially confirmed for the Newark location:
| Detail | Current status |
| Exact opening date | Not announced |
| Opening hours | Not announced |
| Exact entrance/gate location | Not announced |
| Final seating capacity | Not announced |
| Final food and beverage menu | Not announced |
| EWR-specific guest procedures | Not announced |
| Whether every announced feature will be available immediately at opening | Not confirmed |
This distinction matters because the lounge was announced several years before its expected 2026 opening. Early renderings and project descriptions can provide a useful picture of the concept, but the operating details will ultimately come from American Express.
Why the New Newark Centurion Lounge Matters
Newark is a major gateway for the New York metropolitan region, and Terminal A has become an important part of EWR’s redevelopment. The addition of an 18,000-square-foot Centurion Lounge gives eligible American Express cardmembers another premium option within the terminal.
The New Jersey theme also sets this lounge apart. The combination of an indoor terrace, Manhattan views, jazz-inspired design, a piano lounge, local food and historical displays gives the project a stronger sense of place than a purely standardized airport lounge.
For frequent travelers, the most important development may simply be convenience: an Amex Centurion Lounge at EWR gives eligible cardmembers access to a familiar premium lounge brand without requiring an airline-specific lounge membership or status.
Conclusion!
The new American Express Centurion Lounge at Newark is planned for Terminal A at EWR in 2026, with an approximately 18,000-square-foot footprint and a design centered on New Jersey culture, dining, jazz and views of the Manhattan skyline.
The key detail for travelers right now is that the lounge is not yet listed as operational, and American Express has not published a specific opening date. Until the official EWR lounge page goes live, travelers should treat opening hours, the exact location inside Terminal A, and final access procedures as unconfirmed.
Before traveling, check American Express’s current Centurion Lounge directory and the terminal information for your flight, particularly if your itinerary involves a connection or a different Newark terminal.
Frequently Asked Questions
American Express and the Port Authority have scheduled the Newark Centurion Lounge to open in 2026, but no specific public opening date has been announced. As of September 27, 2026, American Express still lists Newark as a lounge coming soon.
The lounge will be located in Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport. The exact entrance and gate-area location have not yet been published.
The planned lounge is approximately 18,000 square feet and includes a 1,400-square-foot indoor terrace.
Planned features include an indoor terrace, Manhattan skyline views, a jazz-inspired cocktail bar, piano lounge with live music, locally inspired food and drinks, workstations, family space, shower suites, premium restrooms, Wi-Fi, and New Jersey historical displays.
Centurion Lounge access is not sold as a general membership. American Express states that access is available to eligible Platinum Card Members, Centurion Members, Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members and eligible guests under the applicable program rules.
Not automatically. Under current U.S. Platinum rules, complimentary access for up to two guests can be unlocked after $75,000 in eligible annual purchases. Otherwise, applicable guest fees apply, and guests must be traveling on the same flight as the cardmember under rules effective July 8, 2026.
For U.S. Platinum Card Members, American Express currently permits Centurion Lounge access with a qualifying same-day departing flight on any carrier, subject to the lounge’s access rules and capacity. The final EWR-specific terms should be checked once the location officially opens.