I’ve always loved the idea of airport lounges. They’re quiet, have free snacks for my son, a crisp “vacation Pinot Grigio” for me, and they give us a calm space to relax in between flights.
So that’s why earlier this year, I upgraded my Gold Delta American Express card to the Reserve card for honestly one reason. I really wanted to find out firsthand what the ATL Centurion Lounge with kids experience is actually like.
We had a spring break trip planned with a layover in Atlanta. and if you’ve ever done an ATL layover with kids, you know you need a plan. But was the Centurion Lounge the right move?
In my opinion, lounges are always great for kids because it’s a quiet space for them to relax before or between flights and have food that my picky eater will actually fill up on. But sometimes they can be disappointing from an adult perspective.
Upgrading my credit cards to get access came with a pretty hefty price tag ($650/year), so I wondered if that cost would really pay off and if the Centurion Lounge is worth it for families traveling with young kids.
In this post, I’ll cover if the ATL Centurion Lounge was good for kids, if it was actually worth that annual fee, and all the amenities you can expect if you visit.
If you’re looking for more tips about flying with toddlers and kids, head to that section of my website for much more information!
Quick Overview of the ATL Centurion Lounge
Here’s a quick snapshot of everything you need to know before visiting the ATL Centurion Lounge with kids.
- Location: Terminal E (International Terminal) across from gate E11. Accessible from all terminals via the Plane Train.
- Who can access:
- AMEX Platinum, Business Platinum, and Centurion Member cardholders; Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders (when flying Delta)
- Adults guests require a $50 fee, there is a $30 child guest fee for kids 2-17, and kids under 2 are free with proof of age.
- Hours: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Size: Large; multiple indoor and outdoor seating areas
- Vibe: Elevated, but not stuffy
Is the ATL Centurion Lounge Kid-Friendly?
Yes, I thought the ATL Centurion Lounge was very kid friendly! There were many other families traveling with kids of all ages, the food selection had tons of options that my son actually ate, and there was plenty of seating for us to recharge before our second flight.
Here’s what made it family-friendly:
- Large variety of food, including simple staples for picky eaters
- Multiple seating areas and plenty of space to move around
- Lots of charging stations
- Discounted entrance fee for kids
- Clean restrooms
- Friendly staff
What wasn’t as family-friendly:
- Fee for kids to enter
- Potential wait times to enter
What My Experience Was Like Visiting the ATL Centurion Lounge with a 4-Year-Old
We visited during a mid-morning layover around 10 a.m. on a Saturday. One thing parents always ask about is the ATL Centurion Lounge wait time. While I was disappointed there was a wait to get in, it ended up only being 5 minutes!
When I arrived, I used a QR code to check in and confirm how many guests I was bringing. Once it was our turn to enter, we checked in again with a host who helped give us an overview of where the amenities are located.
Honestly, despite being prime time on a weekend, I didn’t think the lounge was crowded at all. They did a great job managing the wait list so it never felt too busy.
The ATL Centurion Lounge has both indoor and outdoor seating. While we wanted to sit outdoors on a deck overlooking the runway, there were no available tables, so we stayed inside. I was actually glad we stayed inside because the deck smelled pretty strongly of jet fuel.
Since it was mid-morning, they were serving a breakfast buffet that had tons of options. It had simple items like fruit, yogurt, granola, scrambled eggs and bacon for my son. And it had more refined staples for adults like avocado toast.
Our seats were really comfortable and we still had a great view of the runway even inside. There were tons of charging stations so we could plug in my son’s iPad right at our seats.
If you’re like me and my husband, you also like visiting the lounge for a free pre-flight beverage. This might have been my only complaint. Most people were ordering simple options like wine or mimosas, but only one bartender was working so the service was kind of slow.
Food & Drinks: Is It Actually Helpful When Traveling with Kids?
This may be me justifying the annual fee on my credit card, but the ATL Centurion Lounge breakfast during our visit was a buffet spread that exceeded my expectations for kids.
If you’ve been hesitant about visiting an airport lounge with a picky eater, this buffet setup is genuinely one of the best I’ve seen for kids. It was relatively simple and had options that my picky four-year-old actually ate.
We visited during breakfast, so he filled up on fruit, bacon, yogurt and pastries. The best part of the buffet setup was that he could try tons of different things!
It was easy to grab food quickly too. They had two buffet lines that were almost identical, so it never got too crowded.
What I liked most about the ATL Centurion Lounge was that you could make the food either a snack or a meal depending on your hunger. Since our first flight was really early, we hadn’t eaten. The meal was filling enough that we were all full until we arrived at our destination.
If we didn’t have lounge access, we would have needed food, and easily would have spent at least $50 on meals for the three of us. Those meals probably wouldn’t have been as nutritious as the fresh fruit in the lounge. And, if we would have purchased something my son didn’t like, we would have had to spend more money to get something else.
Where to Sit with Kids at the ATL Centurion Lounge
The ATL Centurion Lounge had just about every type of seating a family could want.
We sat in lounge-style chairs with tables in between for food and drinks. I thought these were very comfortable, and we had a great view of the runway!
There were also more traditional tables, bar-style seating (even aside from the actual bar) and couches. They even have quiet rooms if you want to step away from the hustle and bustle of the main lounge.
If you’re wondering whether the ATL Centurion Lounge is stroller-friendly: yes, absolutely it is! The walkways are wide and spacious, even though it was at capacity.
The bathrooms were a bit far away from most of the seating, so that could be challenging if you’re traveling solo with your kids and don’t have one parent who can stay with your belongings.
What to Pack (Even If You’re Using the Lounge)
Even though the ATL Centurion Lounge has many of the items that will keep your family occupied during your wait or layover, you’ll still want to make sure you have a few essentials in your carry-on bag.
- Entertainment: The ATL AMEX Centurion Lounge doesn’t have any kid-specific activities (aside from plane watching), so pack toys, games or devices
- Backup snacks if you have really picky eaters
- Sanitizing wipes: We don’t need to get sick right before vacation!
These items are in my full list of what to pack on your carry-on when you’re traveling with a toddler. Save the full list for your next trip!
When It’s Worth It for Families (and When It’s Not)
Whether the ATL Centurion Lounge with kids is worth it depends on your unique travel situation.
It is worth it if:
- You have a long layover (2 hours or more)
- Are traveling during meal time
- Need a calm reset space
- Flying with one or two kids
It’s not worth it if:
- There is too long of a wait to enter
- You have limited time
- Your kids need to run around and burn off energy
In short, airport lounges are absolutely worth it for toddlers who are happy to sit and eat, less so if yours needs to burn energy before a flight.
Tips for Using the ATL Centurion Lounge with Toddlers & Kids
Before you go to the ATL Centurion Lounge with kids, here are my top tips to keep in mind.
- Go as early as you can to avoid delays or waits
- Do a quick lap around the lounge before sitting to figure out which location will be most comfortable for your family
- Feed your kids immediately when you arrive
- Manage expectations and make sure kids know that it isn’t a play area
Final Verdict: Would I Go Back to the ATL Centurion Lounge with Kids?
Yes, I’d absolutely go back to the ATL Centurion Lounge with kids.
It was a very comfortable spot to spend our layover, we were fully fed (mom and dad got to enjoy a glass of wine), and we were able to recharge ourselves and our devices prior to our second flight.
As a bonus, we had a great view of the runway, which my airplane-loving four-year-old was excited about.
If you’re looking for more tips, check out my full list of resources about flying with toddlers and kids.
FAQs: ATL Centurion Lounge With Kids
- Can kids go into the Centurion Lounge? Yes! Kids can go in the ATL Centurion Lounge with parents who have access.
- Do kids count as guests? Yes. Kids count as guests in the ATL Centurion Lounge.
- How much is the Centurion Lounge child guest fee?The ATL Centurion Lounge child guest fee is $30 for kids ages 2-17. Children under 2 are free with proof of age.
- Are there kid-specific amenities? No, there are no traditional kid-specific amenities in the ATL Centurion Lounge aside from plane watching and kid-friendly food options.
- Is the Centurion Lounge better than sitting at the gate with kids? It depends.
- If your kids need to run around and burn off energy, or if you have a short layover, you should skip the Centurion Lounge.
- If your kids are okay with sitting, need a full meal (that they’ll actually eat) and maybe you want an adult beverage, head to the Centurion Lounge.
