Texas has only 2 American Express Centurion Lounges — at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — and within a few weeks, Amex has filed paperwork to overhaul both.
Each project carries a $35 million price tag, and together they signal that Amex is putting real money behind its 2 Lone Star State outposts, rather than just adding new lounges elsewhere. If you fly through either airport and have access, here’s a look at what’s coming.
Houston’s Centurion Lounge Expanding Big Time
The Centurion Lounge at IAH is the smaller of the 2 Texas locations today, sitting at roughly 8,500 square feet in Terminal D. It opened in June 2016 as the seventh lounge in the Centurion Lounge network, featuring a menu from James Beard Award winner Justin Yu and a cocktail list originally developed by mixologist Jim Meehan. Current amenities include showers, a family room, a dedicated meditation space tied to the Calm app, workspaces, and a full bar that opens at 10:30 a.m.
A recent filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation lists a $35 million renovation spanning roughly 23,000 square feet — nearly 3 times the current size, as first reported by the Houston Chronicle. Construction could start as early as August 2026 and run through July 2028. Amex hasn’t shared design details yet, but a footprint that large likely means more seating, more amenities, and probably more food and beverage capacity — all welcome news for anyone who has stood in the IAH lounge’s overflow line during a busy period.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Getting Its Own Expansion
DFW’s Centurion Lounge has been around since 2013, making it one of the oldest in the network. It currently sits in Terminal D near Gate D12. Amenities include 3 shower suites, private phone rooms, a nursing room, a conference room, fast Wi-Fi, and the usual hot food and full bar.
Amex filed plans in April for an 18,000-square-foot renovation that will expand the lounge’s footprint by roughly 50%. The redesign leans into a Western theme with what Amex describes as warm desert tones and rich textures — a clear departure from the brand’s more uniform modern aesthetic at other locations. The revamped DFW lounge is expected to open in late 2027.
How To Access Amex Centurion Lounges
Access to Centurion Lounges isn’t available on a walk-up basis. You’ll need a premium American Express card to get in, such as the Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
While these cards have high annual fees, they offer a wide array of perks, including unparalleled lounge access through the Global Lounge Collection of over 1,500 lounges worldwide, including Centurion Lounges.
Final Thoughts
Texas is the only state with 2 Centurion Lounges getting simultaneous 8-figure renovations, and both projects land in Terminal D at their respective airports. For eligible cardholders, there’s a long stretch of construction noise to navigate during this period, as DFW won’t be completed until late 2027, and IAH won’t be done until mid-2028.
The end result should be 2 of the larger and more amenity-rich lounges in the Centurion network. With the lounges routinely hitting capacity and having queues to get in, the extra square footage is the best part of this announcement. Just don’t expect a quick turnaround if you’re flying through either airport this year or next.