Fans of ThruMyLens know that I’ve done past reviews on airport lounges which I’ve experienced like the American Express Centurion Lounges in Atlanta and London, Chase Sapphire Loung in New York, and the Admiral’s Club in Chicago.  Today I’ll be talking about my most recent experience at the American Express Centurion Lounge, located in Reagan National Airport  (DCA).

Reagan  National Airport is actually one of my favorite airports in the United States.  What’s not to like?  It’s named after my favorite US President.  I also think it’s a beautiful airport to walk through.

The American Express Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport opened on July 17, 2024 – so it’s barely over two years old.  The company that I work for is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, so I’m in the Washington DC area at least a couple of times a year.  As an American Express platinum card holder, I was excited when I heard that a Centurion lounge was being opened in DCA.     It’s in Terminal 2, on Level 2 near the B gates, past the South Security Checkpoint. That makes it convenient if you’re flying from that part of the terminal, but since I typically fly American Airlines to DCA, I’m usually traveling out of the E gates in Terminal 2 – which was about a 10 to 15 minute hike for me to get to the lounge.

After the flight into DCA and the hike to the lounge, I was ready to sit down and grab soda, but immediately experienced one of the increasingly prevalent downsides to centurion lounges – the wait to enter.  Once I arrived, I had to provide my information to an employee outside the lounge. and wait to get a text message letting me know that I could only then enter the lounge.  In retrospect, the wait wasn’t terrible – only about 10 minutes.

When the lounge reaches capacity, visitors are placed on a digital waiting list and sent a text message letting them know when they can enter.

Once inside, the lounge can feel crowded.  The amenities are appealing, but the experience is less relaxing when you’re navigating a line to enter or looking for a place to sit.

At nearly 12,000 square feet, the lounge has plenty to offer on paper. There’s a buffet with a menu developed by chefs associated with Centurion Lounges in Miami, San Francisco, and Philadelphia; a full bar with cocktails, wine, and other drinks; showers; a conference room; workstations; Wi-Fi; and quieter spaces to sit. The floor-to-ceiling windows bring in natural light and look out toward the airfield and Potomac. The lounge also includes art by local artists along side the familiar decor found at other American Express Centurion airport lounges.

The food is another mixed point for me.  Centurion Lounges generally offer more variety than many airport lounges, and the DCA menu reflects that effort. But a broader selection doesn’t guarantee that the food will suit my taste.  As with my past Centurion Lounge visits, I found myself looking at the spread and not finding much I was eager to eat.  That’s a personal preference, of course, but it’s part of how I judge the lounge as a traveler—not just by how many items are on the buffet.

One small but persistent annoyance is the soda service.  If you want a soda, you have to go to the bar and ask for one. There are no self-service soda dispensers in the lounge. It’s a minor inconvenience, but it feels unnecessary when guests could pour a drink themselves and leave the bar staff free to focus on other orders.

The DCA Centurion Lounge has a strong location and a good range of amenities, and it’s a welcome option in Terminal 2 ar DCA. But for me, the wait, the crowds, the food that doesn’t always appeal, and the lack of self-service soda keep it from feeling like a consistently premium experience. It may be a useful place to spend time before a flight; I just wouldn’t assume that the Centurion name guarantees a standout visit.  In many cases, I think I’m better off just sitting down in one of the restaurants located in Terminal 2.  Almost certainly better food (not a buffet) and better, faster service.  Immediate seating at a table versus wandering the entire lounge looking for a good seat.  But of course you have to pay for that, and as a America Express platinum card holder, I feel like I need to visit every Centurion lounge I can to get my money’s worth from that annual fee.