Ralph Lauren and La Roche-Posay: A few of my favorite highlights from Amex at the US Open

As August comes to a close, tennis enthusiasts from New York City and beyond are boarding the Queens-bound 7 train for one singular reason: The U.S. Open tennis championship has returned to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

From August 26 to September 8, attendees can take advantage of all the Open has to offer, including one of my personal favorites: the credit card lounges.

I returned this year to cover the American Express Centurion Lounge and its engaging two-story Fan Experience.

We explored the Amex offerings on the opening day of the tournament. Here’s what the experience was like.

The Centurion Lounge

The premier experience for cardholders is the Centurion Lounge, located on the second level of Louis Armstrong Stadium, just as it was last year. It operates daily with the following hours:

• Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sept. 5-6, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The following cardholders are eligible to enter the Centurion Lounge:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Centurion® Card from American Express
• The Business Centurion® Card from American Express

The details for The Centurion Card from American Express and The Business Centurion Card from American Express have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.

The lounge offers a delightful menu that includes crispy chicken served with sweet chili dipping sauce; beef kebabs accompanied by Israeli pickles, tahini, rice pilaf, and chickpeas; sungold tomatoes and serrano chilis paired with labneh and basil; hummus served with pita, tomatoes, schug, and sesame dukkah; and a selection of crudités with green goddess dressing. For dessert, guests can enjoy chocolate chip cookies and chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and cherries.

As always, the tournament features its iconic Honey Deuce along with a selection of wines and cocktails.

All guests enjoy complimentary food offerings, and each cardholder is given a drink token upon entry (one for Platinum cardholders and two for Centurion members). These tokens can be redeemed at the lounge.

Inside, the lounge closely resembles the 2023 Centurion Lounge, with the main distinction being the new immersive activation. Last year, visitors could create a personalized leather passport cover based on a quiz that identified their travel style; this year, guests can design a travel pouch and send out destination-themed postcards instead.

At the moment, all Resy reservations are fully booked, but you can join the waitlist by clicking "Notify" to get an SMS if a spot opens up.

Platinum cardholders may book tables for up to two guests, while Centurion cardholders can book for up to four. Each reservation grants up to one hour of lounge access.

All attendees must be at least 21 years of age.

The American Express Fan Experience

Additional Amex experiences are part of the Fan Experience category, featuring a lower-level section open to all guests at the tournament. Here are the hours of operation:

• Aug. 28-30, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Aug. 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sept. 1-4, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sept. 5-6, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sept. 7-8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This year's highlights featured a custom tennis ball station where you can embroider your initials, a Top Spin 2K25 station for solo or partner play, and two tennis experiences — glow-in-the-dark table tennis and a full-sized court for hitting balls.

The Card Member Lounge

The Card Member Lounge is located on the second floor of the Fan Experience and is open to all Amex cardholders.

The engaging experiences were similar to last year's lounge, with the standout being an expanded Ralph Lauren merchandise selection. Here, you can personalize Ralph Lauren water bottles, hats, denim jackets, towels, tote bags, shirts, and sweatshirts with four exclusive Amex designs.

Food and drinks can be purchased at a small bar and a Honey Deuce stand. Throughout the day, complimentary scoops of a special Van Leeuwen ice cream flavor called Match Point Mint Chip x Amex are available. Guests can also receive a full-size La Roche-Posay sunscreen sample (one per guest).

Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis, allowing cardholders to bring two guests.

Additional Amex activations

Beyond the Fan Experience and lounge, there is an Amex Shop located in the South Plaza, open to all Amex cardholders. Here, you can buy concessions, exclusive Ralph Lauren-branded U.S. Open merchandise, and products from small businesses in New York City in a checkout-free environment.

Amex cardholders who spend $100 or more on qualifying U.S. Open purchases with an eligible Amex card can receive $10 back. To benefit from this offer, log into your account to see if the offer is applicable to your card. If it is, you can add it to your card.

Additional Amex Offers can be enrolled in through the U.S. Open app and at Amex-branded locations throughout the grounds, including:

• Discounted bag check providing $5 off one checked bag when using your Amex card at the East and South gates
• Complimentary loaner radio (one per cardmember) for ESPN's play-by-play coverage and highlights
• A one-time $15 credit when you spend $100 or more online at La Roche-Posay
• $2 back up to two times, totaling $4, when you spend $2 or more with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York City's public transit) by tapping to pay
• A one-time $10 credit for spending $50 in a single transaction at Eataly's in-store New York City locations (excluding Eataly concessions at the U.S. Open)

In summary

The American Express Fan Experience, Card Member Lounge, Centurion Lounge, and Amex Shop will be available throughout the U.S. Open event.

While access to the Centurion Lounge is covered by your premium card's annual fee, the complimentary food, drinks, Wi-Fi, charging stations, and air conditioning make this once-a-year experience worthwhile for tennis enthusiasts, especially considering the high prices of food and drinks and the crowds on the grounds.

Make sure to explore the Fan Experience before or after enjoying a break in the Centurion Lounge. Given the crowds on opening day, I suggest visiting the Amex areas early in the morning before the first session to maximize your experience.

Reflecting on my annual visits to the U.S. Open with Amex, the personalized Ralph Lauren merchandise and complimentary full-size La Roche-Posay sunscreen bring me the most joy.