Photos: American Express opens new Centurion Lounge at Miami Airport

American Express cardholders can now relax at the new Centurion Lounge in Miami International Airport – sure to provide a welcome relief from what's found in your typical US airport lounge.

AMEX's iconic Centurion wall
John Parra/Getty Images for American Express

Located in the North Terminal's Concourse D, guests are greeted by a variety of seating areas: from those with tarmac views...

Natural light is plentiful...
John Parra/Getty Images for American Express

... through to casual duos...

Seating in the Centurion Lounge
John Parra/Getty Images for American Express

... seats for larger groups...

The Centurion Lounge in the evenings
American Express

... and a business corner for working on your own laptop or a nearby PC:

You'll also find AC outlets at the long table...
American Express

From the buffet come dishes by local chef Michelle Bernstein, beginning with lighter items such as watermelon salad and cool minty pea soup through to more hearty delights like chicken pot pies and Coq au Vin.

It's soup time...
John Parra/Getty Images for American Express

Download the lounge's full menu: click here. [PDF, 456kb]

There's also a well-designed bar for a pre-flight cocktail...

The bar comes well-stocked...
John Parra/Getty Images for American Express

... or a glass of fruit-infused bubbly:

Champagne anyone?
John Parra/Getty Images for American Express

"We designed this lounge to reflect the vibrancy of Miami, with great food, entertainment and plenty of ways to relax," said Lisa Durocher, SVP Consumer Charge Cards & Benefits at American Express.

"Whether traveling for work or pleasure, Card Members will find a retreat in the lounge."

That's especially so with an 'Exhale' spa offering complimentary massages and manicures, and a soundproof room for children to keep things quiet for business travellers:

We'd hope you can change the channel...
John Parra/Getty Images for AMEX

Access to the lounge is 'free' for Aussies paying $1,200 a year for the American Express Platinum Charge card or $5,000 each year for the American Express Centurion card, along with AMEX's Business and Corporate cards of the same branding – all of which can be issued in any country.

These cardholders may enter with two adult guests or a spouse and two children at no extra cost, while anyone with any American Express credit card can pay US$50 per visit at the door.

That’s not a bad option to have in a country where business and even first class flyers don’t have lounge access included before most domestic flights, especially if your wallet packs a free card like the Qantas Discovery or Virgin Australia Velocity Escape cards.

Miami joins AMEX's other US Centurion Lounges in New York, Dallas/Fort Worth, Las Vegas and San Francisco, the American Express Sydney Airport lounge, and also a new 'Centurion Studio' lounge in Seattle in the coming weeks.

Also read: Inside the American Express Centurion Lounges

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.