The benefits of American Express Centurion lounges, complimentary real food and quality beverages, and at some locations, free chair massages and manicures, are well documented.  Most are also well aware of the major disadvantage of these lounges, horrendous overcrowding at times.

This post provides a quick look at the Centurion Lounge at MIA.  It is the first in the series documenting a trip to France in late summer 2017.  Other posts about this trip to Paris cover the American Airlines Premium Lounge at MIA, the flight to CDG in business class, the Westin Paris Vendome, a tour of  WWII Normandy Invasion sights (Part I, Pointe du Hoc, Part II Omaha Beach, and Part III the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer) a trip to Versailles, and a business-class flight from CDG to DFW on a 787-9.

Location and Hours

The MIA Centurion Lounge is located near gate D-12.  It is a short walk from Station 1 on the D terminal train.  The lounge is open 05:00 – 23:00 daily.

Access

Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders have free access.  In theory, there is no limit on the number of guests.  Two are free with the Amex Platinum.  The Centurion card gets two free guests or immediate family.  Others cost $50 each for a day pass.  Present your credit card, boarding pass for a same-day flight, and ID at check in.

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Access the lounge via an elevator in the rotunda near D12.
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Verifying credentials and paying for guests can create check-in lines.

Food and Beverages

The cuisine is designed by Michelle Bernstein and features local dishes.

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The buffet has salads, soup, entrees in small dishes, vegetables, and desserts.

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Centurion lounges have a selection of quality complimentary alcoholic beverages as well as premium brands for sale.

The Spa

Exhale operates the spa.  It is open from 09:00 to 20:00 daily.   Make a reservation when entering the lounge.  You can have more than one spa service but must complete the first one before signing up for a second.

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The spa offers 15-minute massages and manicures, heated neck pillows, and herbal teas.
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Manicure station
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A screen separates the chair massage area from the rest of the spa.

It was lucky that there was a short wait for a manicure when I arrived.

Seating

Seating is the most problematic part of a Centurion Lounge visit since crowding is often an issue.  The MIA lounge is being expanded to help with that.  The expansion should be completed by the end of 2018.20171207_173349_resized20171207_173519_resized

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Tables for dining are located near the buffet and bar.

Other Features

The lounge has a family room, a work table, business facilities, newspapers and magazines, and WiFi.  The lounge also has a shower suite.

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The area for working is located on the opposite end of the lounge from food and beverages.

I stayed only long enough for for a short reconnaissance, a quick bite, and a manicure (not much of a wait fortunately).  The lounge was a little too crowded for my tastes.  As I prepared to leave to visit the Premium Lounge, there was an announcement that someone in the lounge was missing  a child.  The announcement repeated a few minutes later as I exited.  Having briefly been separated from my son in an airport years ago, I knew how worried the parents must have been.  On the way to the next lounge, I overheard some people say that the child had been located at a gate.  Thank goodness.

Overall Impression

As expected, the Centurion Lounge at MIA distinguished itself as a great domestic lounge due to the free spa services, food and beverages.  Equally unsurprisingly, the lounge suffered from crowding.  As good as Centurion Lounges are, at MIA there is a stealth Admirals Club that rivals the Centurion Lounge for food and beverages.  I was heading that way next.