Every fall, half a million music lovers congregate in downtown Austin’s Zilker Metropolitan Park to attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
This year’s headliners include the Foo Fighters, Alanis Morissette, Odesza and Kendrick Lamar. There are dozens of additional acts sprinkled across seven main stages and two side stages.
With American Express sponsoring the event for the sixth time, having an Amex credit card will make it easier for you to enjoy the festival. Here are the perks you can enjoy.
$5 credit
Register your wristband by linking it to your American Express card and you’ll receive a one-time $5 credit applied to your wristband for cashless purchases at the festival. You’ll want to do this anyway to make food, drink and merchandise purchases easier.
Just note that even though you may purchase food or drink, these transactions code as a general purchase. So it’s best to use one of the best cards for everyday purchases.
Expedited security
If music fuels your soul, but long lines aren’t your thing, American Express can get you “skip the line” access.
When you register your ACL wristband and link any Amex credit card, you can use your wristband at the American Express Cashless Entrance turnstiles at the Lady Bird and Barton Springs West entrances. (Note that the Barton Springs East entrance does not have an Amex fast-pass lane.)
Consider it TSA PreCheck for ACL. This will be especially helpful during busy times when the entrance and security scan lines can take over an hour.
Lounge access
American Express cardmembers (and two guests) can access a lounge on the second floor of the American Express Experience. There, you’ll find lounge seating, Wi-Fi, a bar and a direct line of sight to the American Express stage.
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Cardmembers can use their American Express-linked wristband or show their physical or digital Amex card to gain access with two guests.
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MATTHEW NIEMANN/AMERICAN EXPRESS
The Platinum Card® from American Express and Centurion cardmembers and their guests (one guest for Platinum, up to three for Centurion) will also have access to an air-conditioned premium Centurion Lounge to the east of the American Express stage, offering drinks and light bites.
This lounge will feature a complimentary food item and beverage for each cardmember, with additional items for purchase. Food will include everything bagel popcorn, Nutella double chocolate brownies with salted caramel and toasted coconut, a caprese salad sandwich, spicy Asian noodles and a chicken Caesar salad wrap. Drinks include cocktails, beer, wine and nonalcoholic options.
Your wristband won’t suffice for this lounge — you need to show either your physical Platinum or Centurion card* or the card in a digital wallet like Apple Wallet.
*The information for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
American Express Experience: Open to everyone
All fans are invited to visit the first floor of the American Express Experience. Festivalgoers can buy vintage and pre-loved accessories at the Depop pop-up and commemorate their festival experience by claiming a free digital collectible.
Bottom line
Once your Amex credit card is linked to the registered wristband, you can use cashless payment throughout the festival grounds for concessions, merchandise and any other monetary transactions.
The first floor of the Amex Experience is open to all fans, regardless of whether they have an Amex card or not. All cardmembers get access to an exclusive lounge on the second floor of the American Express Experience, and Platinum and Centurion cardmembers can also access the premium lounge to the right of the American Express stage.
Finally, all Amex-registered wristband owners also receive a one-time $5 cashless spending credit, redeemable on a single transaction at any cashless-accepting merchants on ACL festival grounds.
