Is a Centurion Lounge Coming to Tampa International Airport?

by Sky Skylar | April 20, 2025 | 0 Comments

Many times, I’ve found that American Express Centurion Lounges aren’t just fancy rest stops—they’re destinations in themselves. I’ve read about fellow travelers planning entire layovers around a Centurion Lounge experience. Whether it’s sampling chef-curated dishes or unwinding with a signature cocktail, these lounges feel like a traveler’s oasis amidst the usual airport hustle. According to a recent survey, premium lounge spaces have become increasingly popular, with many passengers ranking comfort and productivity as top priorities when flying. It’s no surprise that Centurion Lounges keep popping up at major airports worldwide, offering everything from locally inspired menus to spa services in select locations.

Reviewing the official American Express Lounge Collection, I’ve observed that these lounges often embrace local culture, including region-specific cuisine. For example, some offer unique dishes showcasing local ingredients, which I find especially appealing for a quick taste of the destination. In my experience, that local flair can help break up the monotony of travel, especially for those of us who rack up frequent flyer miles (whether in reality or vicariously). While an Amex Platinum, Business Platinum, Centurion, or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card typically grants entry, a valid same-day boarding pass is the final key, ensuring the lounges remain an exclusive retreat.

What Are American Express Centurion Lounges?

What Are American Express Centurion Lounges?

I’ve delved into countless accounts of airport lounge enthusiasts who prioritize Centurion Lounges above all else. They’re appreciated not just for their stylish interiors and comfortable seating, but for their top-tier food and beverage programs. Many travelers I’ve followed praise the lounges’ rotating seasonal menus, which tap into local culinary traditions and highlight some of the region’s best offerings. This attention to detail goes a long way toward making travelers feel pampered and reenergized, especially on tight layovers.

Beyond the cuisine, American Express has gained a reputation for premium service elements and hospitality. Some locations even have wellness rooms, quiet areas for meditation, or family rooms to help parents traveling with young children. According to industry data from the Global Airport Hospitality Association, lounges with these specialized amenities tend to receive higher satisfaction ratings and lead to increased loyalty toward both the airport and credit card issuer. I see it as a testament to the value travelers place on feeling at ease—physically and mentally—while on the go.

Getting into a Centurion Lounge usually requires one of the higher-tier American Express cards, like The Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card®. Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders also get access when they’re flying on a same-day Delta itinerary. From what I’ve read, membership benefits often depend on a cardholder’s year-to-year spending. In each case, once you’re in, you’ll likely find a range of perks that can transform even a short wait into a relaxing, productive break.

Tampa International’s Current Lounge Scene

Tampa International's Current Lounge Scene

When I first began exploring Tampa International Airport (TPA), I was struck by how rapidly it’s evolved in the last decade. TPA already accommodates various airline-specific lounges: The Delta Sky Club at Airside E is well-known for its calm atmosphere, and the American Airlines Admirals Club near Gate 85 serves dedicated American flyers. While these lounges each cater to their respective passenger bases, the airport doesn’t currently have an Amex-branded lounge. That’s something plenty of travelers have noticed—and they’re waiting to see if TPA takes the next step.

Beyond airline lounges, Tampa also offers amenities for other groups. There’s a USO Center for active-duty military personnel and their families, which genuinely resonates with the supportive spirit across the airport community. Meanwhile, Priority Pass members can enjoy select dining perks at participating eateries. From my own stint reading about TPA, there’s a sense of optimism in the local travel community, eager for more upscale options. While door fees or day passes can secure short-term lounge access for the casual traveler, many seek a next-level experience that only a top-tier lounge—like a Centurion Lounge—can provide.

For travelers who don’t hold membership or premium credit cards, TPA still presents a pleasant environment loaded with dining and shopping choices. I’ve heard positive feedback about local coffee spots and quick-service restaurants, which cater to everyone from business travelers in a hurry to families looking for a casual meal. Still, it’s clear that TPA’s lounge offerings could move more in the direction of luxurious comfort, especially as the airport grows.

Future Expansion: Could a Centurion Lounge Land at TPA?

Future Expansion: Could a Centurion Lounge Land at TPA?

More people seem to be visiting Tampa than ever before, and it’s not just an impression—it’s backed by the airport’s own projections. TPA’s ongoing expansion is a significant endeavor, including a brand-new Airside D that’s set to open around 2028. This project spans roughly 600,000 square feet, which tells me it’s no small effort. The airport estimates that these improvements will help accommodate up to 35 million passengers annually by 2037, up from 25 million. With numbers like these, those of us watching from a distance can’t help but wonder when a Centurion Lounge might appear.

Officially, there hasn’t been any announcement from American Express regarding a potential Tampa lounge. However, from a purely strategic perspective, TPA’s surging popularity and planned upgrades seem like they would fit the Amex model. I’ve witnessed similar expansions at other high-traffic airports where Centurion Lounges subsequently launched, filling a gap for premium travelers. Delta, for instance, plans to open an 18,000-square-foot Sky Club in the new terminal—an investment that signals TPA is positioning itself as a robust hub. If the momentum continues, TPA could very well be the next candidate for an Amex lounge.

There’s also a community buzz that’s impossible to ignore. Frequent flyers lament TPA’s lack of lounge variety, pointing to airports of similar size that currently host multiple lounge brands. I’ve combed through online forum discussions where locals and repeat visitors compare TPA’s current setup to bigger airports. They raise valid points: With business travel rebounding and leisure travel continuing strong, TPA could benefit significantly from the unique brand recognition that comes with hosting a Centurion Lounge.

Access and Guest Policies

Access and Guest Policies

If TPA does score a Centurion Lounge, there are a few details worth keeping in mind. The standard American Express policy requires you to be an active Platinum, Business Platinum, Centurion, or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Member to get in. Of course, you’ll also need a same-day boarding pass that matches the name on your card. I’ve seen these rules in effect at other Centurion Lounge locations, and they help maintain an exclusive environment for cardholders.

Guest policies vary, but typically you can bring in family members or a few traveling companions for a fee, unless you meet specific annual spending requirements set by American Express. In my travels, I’ve observed that these fees can fluctuate from year to year, and it’s wise to check your card benefits before heading to the airport. There’s something incredibly reassuring about stepping off your plane and knowing you have a place to recharge, freshen up, and grab refreshments in a quiet area—even if it’s for a short connection.

In a time when airport crowds can feel overwhelming, well-defined guest policies help ensure that lounge spaces don’t become too packed. The trade-off, of course, is that many travelers prefer to keep small groups together in the lounge. As far as I can tell, the approach American Express has taken is to encourage serious travelers to unlock greater perks through regular card usage, which balances access and exclusivity.

Top Picks for Lounge Access

Top Picks for Lounge Access

Before a hypothetical Centurion Lounge appears in Tampa, the primary choices remain airline-operated lounges and membership-based programs. I often recommend that frequent flyers who use Delta turn to the Delta Sky Club option, especially if they have a card like Delta SkyMiles Reserve or Amex Platinum. On the American Airlines front, an Admirals Club membership or specific credit card benefits can make sense for consistent travelers with that airline. From what I’ve read, both lounges in TPA are decently rated, though they might not offer quite the same luxury factor as a Centurion Lounge would.

Of course, you’ve also got the Priority Pass membership for those traveling with fewer airline preferences. If you’re the type who likes to shop around for flights or spontaneously drops in at different hubs, Priority Pass can be exceptionally versatile, granting lounge or partner restaurant access globally. I’ve had friends who absolutely rave about its convenience—it’s a lifesaver when you touch down at new airports, uncertain of their lounge landscape.

Since the TPA expansion is on the horizon, you may also want to consider day passes if you’re not a heavy traveler. In my experience, day passes can be a worthwhile splurge after long flights. That said, if you’re clocking frequent flyer miles or consistently passing through TPA on business, investing in a premium card with built-in lounge privileges often pays off in both comfort and convenience.

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Tampa International Airport has already proven it can handle growth, and with each new renovation, passenger experiences tend to improve across the board. Existing lounges like the Delta Sky Club and Admirals Club provide a solid framework, but there’s still room for a brand-new premium offering that takes Tampa’s lounge scene to the next level. The region’s thriving tourism and business sectors make it an ideal staging ground for a possible Centurion Lounge, especially given the airport’s substantial investment in expansion.

Judging by the enthusiasm of local travel buffs and the rise in passenger counts, it feels like TPA is on the cusp of a lounge revolution. The big question is whether American Express will follow Delta’s lead in making a major lounge statement. While we wait for official confirmation, the best approach for frequent flyers is to leverage existing lounge options—either by selecting the right credit card or purchasing access as needed. In the meantime, TPA’s growth trajectory suggests that travelers can look forward to a more robust lounge ecosystem in the coming years.

Sky Skylar’s Take

Every time I sift through the details of TPA’s ongoing expansion, I’m energized by the possibilities. The airport has a friendly, open feel, and I can’t help envisioning how a Centurion Lounge would amplify that atmosphere. Lounge life is about more than just comfort; it’s a gateway to smoother, more productive travel.

Right now, for premium experience seekers, the main advice remains simple: keep your eyes on Tampa’s updates. My hunch is that TPA will continue forging ahead, and if American Express joins this party with a Centurion Lounge, it could be a game-changer for how we view Florida’s airport scene.

Stay connected with the world of travel at BoardingArea.

Also on BoardingArea
Nerd Ka Travel
Spirit Airlines Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Again, Aims for Long-Term Restructuring
Spirit Airlines has entered bankruptcy protection for the second time in recent years as the company works to address financial and operational challenges. On August 29, 2025, Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc., the parent of Spirit Airlines, announced that it has filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Flat Top Sheets on Beds: This is Actually a Debate?!?
Note: This article pertaining to Flat Top Sheets on Beds: This is Actually a Debate?!? was originally published on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 8:03 in the evening and has been updated. Flat top sheets on beds — whether at home or in a hotel room — has apparently stirred up...
Points With a Crew
How much to tip a hotel maid? (POLL)
Do you tip hotel maids?  I am not a frequent hotel traveler, but whether or not you tip a hotel maid is a question that many frequent travelers wonder.  Asking the question of how much to tip a hotel maid is one with very strong opinions from all sides! Side note: I...
Your Mileage May Vary
How One Motel 6 Charges Almost $500/Night & Regularly Sells Out
If you’re of a certain age, you probably remember the radio commercials for Motel 6. They were full of folksy music (a tune composed by Tom Faulkner, performed by him on guitar and Milo Deering on fiddle) and Tom Bodett ending the spot with “I’m Tom Bodett for Motel 6,...
Economondo
Air Canada Review: My Bargain Transatlantic Flight from Frankfurt to Montréal
Background and Booking Whilst a plethora of relatively cheap transatlantic flights from the UK to North America exist compared to say a decade ago, regular passengers between the UK and Canada will likely be aware that the cheapest way of hopping across the pond involves first heading to Paris and then...
No Work All Travel
Looking at Three Non-Traditional Benefits of Priority Pass
I have been a Priority Pass member for a number of years, owing to a couple of credit cards. In that time, I have visited countless airport lounges — and a few restaurants — around the world, mostly through Priority Pass membership. Click here to skip down to the main topic It’s...
View from the Wing
Leak: American Airlines Delayed A321XLR Should Finally Debut JFK–LAX At Christmas
The inaugural American Airlines Airbus A321XLR flight is likely to be between New York JFK and Los Angeles in the second half of December. That’s according to aviation watchdog JonNYC, who reports expecting American to run a transcon with the plane as early as “Holidays 2025.” I can now...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – Jet2 Boeing 737-800 taxiing out at Birmingham Airport
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art. This week, we have a Jet2 Boeing 737-800 taxiing out at Birmingham Airport, as nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday. Jet2 operates a fleet of 97 Boeing 737-800s in its fleet. The airline also operates Airbus A321, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A330-200...
Your Mileage May Vary
Hotel Designers, Please Stop Doing This
Hotel designers have a tough job. Either you’re trying to make a cookie-cutter hotel room seem interesting and inviting, or you have to shoehorn a design into a hotel that has a seemingly infinite number of different room configurations. You’re also trying to maximize the functionality of the room within...
One Mile at a Time
Cathay Pacific Now Offers High Speed Wi-Fi On 100% Of Its Fleet
While nothing earth shattering, Cathay Pacific has reached a pretty noteworthy milestone this month, which remains surprisingly rare among airlines…Cathay Pacific’s inflight entertainment milestoneAs of August 2025, Cathay Pacific offers Wi-Fi and seat back entertainment on 100% of its fleet. This includes all Airbus A350s, A330s, and A321neos, as well...
Frequent Miler
GHA Discovery (hotel program) status match from many hotel/airline/cruise programs
View from the Wing recently reported on what might be an interesting status match opportunity, albeit one that is not free: GHA Discovery (loyalty program of brands like NH Collection, Kempinski, Viceroy, SAii, and many more) is offering a paid status match through statusmatch.com that offers half the cost back...
Live and Let’s Fly
The Value Of Points: Hotel Employees Have No Clue What They Are Worth!
A Bad Hampton Inn Stay Gets Worse Let me just give you a little glimpse into an interaction I had at a Hampton Inn where I stayed for two nights. The first night did not go well.  I had access to a two room suite.  In the bedroom, the headboard of...
One Mile at a Time
Huge: Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card 200K Bonus Points Offer
Link: Apply now for the Sapphire Reserve for BusinessSM Several weeks ago, we saw the introduction of the Sapphire Reserve for BusinessSM, which is Chase’s new premium business card. While the card has a steep annual fee, it also has strong perks, plus a massive welcome bonus. Given that the product is new...
Eye of the Flyer
Check Your Delta Air Lines Itineraries: Some Big Schedule Changes Hit This Weekend
Another fairly significant “Schedule Change Saturday” arrived for some Delta Air Lines passengers this weekend. What Can Happen During a Schedule Change? Here is what might change during Schedule Change Saturdays: Flight departure days  Though, this is fairly uncommon Flight departure and arrival times Aircraft Seat assignments That great seat you picked might not be there anymore I know people...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
VH Belmondo Durrës Hotel & Beach in Albania. Not Recommended. Hotel Review.
My first night in Albania was spent at the VH Belmondo Durres Hotel & Beach in Durrës, which is now known as the VH Eurostar Durres Hotel & Beach. Despite all the research I did — including viewing photographs and location — the stay was not worth the very low...
View from the Wing
Hotel Exploits Loophole To Gut Marriott’s ‘Ultimate Guarantee’: Elite Guest Turned Away, No Compensation
When you make a reservation at a hotel, you expect to have a room. But that doesn’t always happen. Hotels will overbook, knowing that some guests won’t show up. But sometimes everyone shows up! They have more guests than rooms and they have to ‘walk’ someone....
Your Mileage May Vary
Plane Passenger Was Awful & This Guy Did What We All Dream Of
There are lots of unofficial rules when it comes to flying, not just for passengers but for airports and airlines, as well. Here are a bunch of them. One thing we didn’t include on that list is the issue of taking your shoes and socks off on a plane. That was...
PointsMath
13+ Current IHG Promotions [Sep’25] [Save, Earn or Redeem Promotion]
IHG is one of the biggest hotel chains in the world. Although it has a limited presence in India, you can still benefit from IHG Promotions internationally. New Members: Earn 3K Bonus Points on 1st Stay Become an IHG member by 31 March 2026 Promotion: Earn 3K Bonus Points after completing a stay within 21...
Frequent Miler
American Airlines 787 Flagship Preferred Suite Review
Separately, I reviewed American Airlines’ new Flagship Suite. These are AA’s terrific new business class seats. But AA has a slightly nicer option on the same flights: Flagship Preferred Suites. These are the business class suites that are in the first row of each of the two business class sections....
Points With a Crew
19 Tech and Travel Deals at Amazon For Labor Day Weekend
I was browsing around Amazon this morning looking for deals, and I found a few deals on some travel gear as well as a few other things. Of course, it’s always a bit hit or miss to decide what things are actually on sale rather than just “deals”. As always,...
ATX Jetsetter
Emirates Adds Dom Perignon Rosé Vintage 2009 in First Class
Its no secret that Emirates has one of the best First Class products in the sky, especially the company’s new “gamechanger” First Class. The soft product and onboard offerings are also top notch and now, there’s a new development in what is being poured on board. Emirates is now pouring Dom...
Your Mileage May Vary
The Trick to Finding Lower Airfares Near You
Nothing about booking airfare is straightforward. The way airlines figure out how much to charge to get you from city A to city B drives me crazy. Idiosyncrasies in the pricing system have led to passengers booking hidden-city tickets with the help of websites like Skiplagged. While that method to...
Altitude Yes
Tokyo Haneda Airport History from the Sky: 1950 – 2025
Today, Tokyo Haneda Airport is Japan’s largest airport, servicing over 78 million passengers annually as of 2023, and operates as the country’s gateway to the world. The airport spans 1,522 hectares, or 3,761 acres of land, with four runways. However, just like any other airport in the world, Haneda had its...
View from the Wing
Customers Sue After Hyatt Bans Accounts For Buying Fake Hotel Nights As Shortcut To Elite Status
Marriott Platinum status was for sale in China for $20. I wrote about how United’s status match system was being scammed. MileagePlus stopped verifying that credentials were real. They stopped verifying that the people getting the status were real. People were using faked credentials to match to...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

Our Bloggers