Seattle Tacoma International Airport has several lounges available to flyers. Seatac has lounges associated with major airlines such as United, Delta, and Alaska plus pay for use lounges by The Club. There are several other lounges which have different access requirements. Depending on if you have Priority Pass or if you are flying Business Class will help you determine what lounge to visit. The best Seattle airport lounge will be dependent on the person and access available. Below is a quick recap of all the priority pass and airport lounges currently open in Seattle.
#1 American Express Centurion Lounge
The Seattle American Express lounge is among the smallest in the network at just 4,500 square feet. It’s busy and often times on a wait. Thankfully this lounge will be expanding into a much larger new home in the center concourse in 2023. Access is restricted to select American Express card holders. The lounge boasts tarmac and Mount Rainer views. Although this lounge is small, I rate this as the best lounge in Seatac Airport because there is a large food and beverage offering. American Express also does not upcharge for premium alcohol or food.
The Seattle American Express lounge is also one of the few lounges with a shower. Otherwise, oly Delta and British Airways lounges offers showers.
Pros: Premium food and drinks with no upcharges. Great views. Friendly staff
Cons: Often times very busy, Food is not cooked in house, limiting offering compared to other Amex lounges with full kitchens.
#2 Delta Sky Club A/B concourse
The Seattle Delta Sky Club is the largest lounges in Seattle. The beautiful 21,000 square foot two story lounge opened in 2016 and has exceptional views of Mount Rainier and the airports taxiways. It shares walls with the American Express lounge, offering similar views. The lounge is open to select American Express card holders along with Sky Club members and long-haul Delta One flyers. This lounge is modern and large with an extensive food and drink offering. The only real downside to this lounge is Delta upcharges for premium alcohol. The lounge use to have a pay for use Spa as well, but this was closed on my list visit.
Pros: Beautiful modern interior, large food and beverage offers.
Cons: Must be flying Delta to utilize, Upcharges for Premium beverages.
#3 Alaska Airlines N Satellite
Alaska Airlines Flagship Lounge in the N Satellite opened in 2018 to much fanfare. The new lounge is a step above any other Alaska lounge offering in A terminal dedicated to only Alaska Airlines. It’s one of the nicer lounges in the airport (SEA). The Alaska Lounge N Satellite looks like a major international airlines lounge but is missing a few key elements, such as a shower. Yet, this Oneworld lounge offers a small buffet and bar. Complimentary beverages are available. Alaska does boast a good selection of local craft beers, ciders, and seltzers. However, their spirit brands are typically off label brands no on has heard of. The lounge does offer a barista who will brew you up a great cup of coffee while you wait for your flight.
The lounge is open to Alaska Lounge Members, AA Admiral Club members when flying AA or Alaska, and Oneworld Elites. Also unique to Alaska, all paid first class customers can access this lounge. Alaska Airlines Credit Card holders can visit for just $25.
Pros: Great Views of the runways and Olympic Mountains. Made to order coffee. Local draft craft beer. Domestic First class lounge access.
Cons: Upcharge for food and alcohol. Can be very Busy. Location
#4 United Airlines United Club
The Seattle United Club in concourse A offers a basic lounge for those flying United. The lounge is newer and I believe it opened in 2016. I have only visited this lounge a couple of times. It can get busy before the bank of flights for United. The lounge is fairly small, but offers enough space to spread out plus a couple of private meeting rooms. The United club is modern, with a nice clean marble and steel look. Food and beverage options are limited to snacks and well drinks. There is an upcharge for many of the alcohol options. This lounge rates below the other lounges due to it small size and limited food and beverage offers.
Pros: The Only Star Alliance Gold lounge in the airport.
Cons: Small size, limited food and beverage options
Pros: The Only Star Alliance Gold lounge in the airport.
Cons: Small size, limited food and beverage options
#5 Alaska Airlines C concourse
This smaller eccentric lounge opened in 2017. Shortly after Alaska Airlines merged with Virgin America, Alaska’s team opened this new lounge. Still having an identity crisis and trying to appear hip and fun, Alaska’s C concourse lounge brought a new space with loud and vibrant colors to the Alaska Lounge family. The lounge offers great views of the mountain and a social bar area to grab a drink. Yet like the other Alaska Lounges, this lounge upcharges for many food and drink options. The same access rules apply as the other Alaska Lounges
Pros: Near most C gates
Cons: Small, limited hours. Upcharges for better food and drinks.
#6 & #7 The Club
There are two clubs at SEA. The A concourse Club is the old Delta crown room. The lounge also hosts several airlines that do not have their own lounges in Seattle. Aer Lingus, Hainan Airways, Eva Air, Emirates and several other lounges use this lounge for their premium guests. There are two club locations and despite having different layouts they have similar food and beverage offerings.
The Club in the S satellite is the former NWA Worldclub. Both lounge are open to Priority Pass members. On many visits food offering is limited to cheese, soup, pasta and pre-packaged items. If you’re hungry I would not visit this club if you have access to another lounge at the airport but they do sell day passes for those who otherwise do not have access. Drinks are of a higher caliber though than United and Alaska Lounges.
Cons: Location, far from most of the Airport
Pros: Free food and drinks, Priority Pass access
#8 Alaska Airlines D Concourse
This Alaska lounge is very similar to #5 and #3 on the list. The difference is that this lounge needs a make over. The two story lounge is Alaska’s oldest lounge in Seattle. The lounge has all the basic offerings of a lounge and nice views of the tarmac. However, Alaska Airlines has announced that this center terminal lounge will be remodeled soon.
Pros: Immediately after security.
Cons: Old lay out, lacks character. Busy.
#9 British Airways Galleries
The Seattle British Airways galleries is probably the worst lounge at SEA airport. The old lounge in the South Satellite desperately needs a make over. It’s home to most premium long-haul Oneworld passengers including British Airways, JAL, Cathay Pacific, Qatar, and American Airlines. The lounge offers pre-package foods and a small bar. There’s just one large oval room for seating and two shower rooms. The food and beverage offers are abysmal for a international airline.
One a recent visit before flying Qatar Airways Qsuites to Doha, I left the lounge after just a half glass of wine. Instead opting to head back to the American Express lounge. The Seattle British Airways Galleria does offer good runway views, but that’s the only highlight to this lounge. Otherwise I would suggest avoiding it at all costs. There is a private First class lounge within the lounge, yet even with Oneworld Emerald status I was denied entry.
Pros: Oneworld Lounge.
Cons: Old lounge, lacks decent food.
Bottom Line
Seattle to home to several airport lounges. My favorite lounge currently remains the American Express lounge. I believe even when the new lounge opens it will remain the best lounge at Seatac airport. The airline lounges are decent, but with limited food and drink options, or the additional upcharges they just cannot compete with American Express. Priority Pass has two okay lounge options. Yet, those with Priority Pass restaurants should really consider Bambuza.
What is your favorite lounge in Seattle? What I rank as the Best Airport Lounge may not be the same as you. I’d love to hear your opinion and why.
