- Introduction: A New Era Of German Business Class
- Review: Lufthansa Lounge Detroit Airport (DTW)
- Review: Lufthansa Business Class 787 (DTW-FRA)
- Review: Lufthansa Welcome Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Hilton Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Condor Business Class A330-900neo (FRA-SEA)
- Are Condor’s “Prime” Business Class Seats Worth It?
- Review: Marriott Seattle Airport (SEA)
- Review: Alaska Lounge Seattle Airport (SEA)
- Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle Airport (SEA)
- Review: Alaska Airlines 737-900ER First Class (SEA-MIA)
Prior to the final sector of my quick review trip to Germany, I visited a couple of lounges at SeaTac Airport. In the previous installment I reviewed the Alaska Lounge Seattle, and in this post I wanted to review the Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle.
Amex opened an expanded Centurion Lounge in Seattle in February 2023, so I was excited to check this out. After visiting, I can say that this is probably my favorite location in the Centurion Lounge network, as it has some new features and a somewhat different design than the other lounges in the network.
In this post:
Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle location
The Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle has a convenient location, whether you’re originating in Seattle or connecting. It’s located in the Central Terminal, on the mezzanine level above the food court. So when you clear security, just look for the food court, which won’t be too far away (it’s either left or right, depending on which checkpoint you go through).
When you’re facing the food court, head toward the back left, and there you’ll see the elevator leading up to the Centurion Lounge.
The reception desk is located at the top of the elevator. There I was welcomed by Jennifer, who wouldn’t have been nicer or more welcoming.
Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle hours
The Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle is currently open daily from 5AM until 10PM, covering a majority of departures from the airport. The airport does have some late night redeyes, so the lounge will close prior to some of those flights.
Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle entry requirements
This Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle has the same entry requirements as all the other lounges in the network. Amex Centurion Lounges can be accessed by those who have any of the following cards:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (review)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review)
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card (review)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (review)
- Amex Centurion Card
When it comes to accessing Amex Centurion Lounges, there are some terms to be aware of:
- You need a same day boarding pass to access Centurion Lounges, and in the case of Delta Reserve cardmembers, the boarding pass needs to be for travel on Delta
- You can access Centurion Lounges up to three hours before departure, unless you’re connecting, in which case you can access earlier
- You can’t access Centurion Lounges on arrival, or with a standby or non-revenue standby ticket
- If you’re guesting people into Centurion Lounges, you need to stay with them the entire time they’re in the lounge
Note that guesting policies differ based on the card you have and how much you spend on it, and you can read more about that here.
Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle layout & seating
The newly expanded Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle is 14,000 square feet, so it’s more than three times as big as the previous lounge, which was only 4,500 square feet. It has seating for roughly 400 guests.
When you enter the lounge, you’ll first see some seating to the left, which is reserved for those with the Amex Centurion Card.
If this seating is intended to be premium, I find the placement a bit odd, since it’s the least private and most exposed area of the lounge (everyone who enters walks past), and it’s also farthest from the buffet. But I guess perhaps being seen by everyone might just be the goal? I dunno… 😉
Across from this and to the right is the bar area, which is visually pretty beautiful. This area has some high-top seating at the bar, booths, over a dozen dining tables, and then also a couple of communal tables. Since I visited in the morning, this area was pretty quiet, since most people preferred to sit in the dining area.
Next up is the lounge’s wellness cafe and barista coffee station, which I’ll talk more about below.
There are a few more dining tables across from this space.
Also in this area are a few couches, as well as a phone room and a multi-purpose room (which I guess is intended to be a more flexible version of a family room).
This space then leads into the dining area, which once again has a cool design that I find much more interesting than the typical Centurion Lounge decor. This space has dining tables along a very long booth.
After you walk through the dining room, you’ll find yourself in the final room of the lounge, which has much more typical Centurion Lounge decor. The one thing that stands out is the art from Harold Caudio, featuring a 40 square foot mural of the Seattle skyline that’s made of coffee beans.
All-in-all, I quite like the lounge’s decor, and appreciate that it’s not just a cookie cutter Centurion Lounge. It’s nice to see the design concept evolving. As far as the lounge’s views go, much of the lounge opens up into the terminal, and has a view of the food court. However, the very back of the lounge also has views of the airfield, and of the Olympic mountains, at least on a clear day.
Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle food & drinks
I visited the Centurion Lounge in the morning, when breakfast was being served. You can find the Centurion Lounge Seattle’s menu below.
The buffet in the lounge is located in the dining area, and I have to say, this was one of my favorite Centurion Lounge breakfast spreads I’ve seen anywhere (mainly because I’m personally not a fan of meat at breakfast, and I find most Centurion Lounges have a heavy emphasis on that).
Breakfast options included fruit, yogurt, granola, muffins, energy shots, an egg scramble with cured salmon, sweet potato frittata, peach cobbler french toast, and oatmeal.
Across from the food was a self-serve drink station, with an espresso machine, drip coffee, Twinnings tea, some syrups, and orange juice.
While I didn’t have any alcohol, you can find the Centurion Lounge’s cocktail list below.
One awesome new feature of the Centurion Lounge Seattle is that it has a wellness cafe, which is the first time that we’ve seen a concept like this at a Centurion Lounge.
Most exciting (at least to me) is that there’s now barista coffee available. I had a cappuccino, which was smooth and delicious.
The wellness cafe also has small bites, including blueberry pastries, fruit and cheese skewers, and power bowls in the morning, and sandwiches, crispy kale chips, and more, in the afternoon. Smoothies are also available later in the day. Unfortunately prior to 7AM, only barista coffee is available, so I wasn’t able to try anything else. Still, I love this concept.
Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle bathrooms & showers
The Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle’s bathrooms are near the center of the lounge. The men’s room was a decent size, and had L’Occitane amenities.
The Centurion Lounge also has showers, though I didn’t have enough time to check those out, unfortunately.
Bottom line
The Centurion Lounge Seattle is the newest location in Amex’s network, and the lounge impressed me. This lounge has some cool design features that you won’t find in other Centurion Lounges, and also has a wellness cafe concept with barista made coffee and smoothies. Personally I also liked the food selection more than in other Centurion Lounges.
This is a great lounge option in Seattle, and such a huge improvement over the old Centurion Lounge.
What do you make of the Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle?
Whoo-boy. It’s a Tuesday, at 2pm, and there’s a queue to get into the place. Holy crapola. I’m relatively new to the Amex Platinum thing, but this feels like nonsense. I’m a United Club member and have never had to wait like this at any airport. Not impressive.
I knew Facility Wise, the Centurion Lounge has improved.......but at the end of June this year, I was forced to line up and wait for 30 minutes.....if not more.... Outside down on the public area. Not until our turn to enter the lounge, I had no idea that there was only 1/3 was filled inside the lounge.
To us, to be able to relax in the lounge has always been the first priority. Not being regulated like some punctual social beings..... So annoying... .
This was my favorite of all the Centurion lounges especially because of the excellent food, service and friendly staff. Until … not once, but twice I had the terrible misfortune of dealing with Steven. A bitter unpleasant man that can ruin the best of days and take a 5 star lounge to a 1 star. No thank you. I will be taking my business elsewhere.
I‘m a wheelchair user and Platinum card holder and used the American Express centurion lounge in Seattle airport and fell in their bathroom because of negligence. I fell because the grab bar completely broke down from the wall when used it because it hadn’t been fixated there properly. I hit my head badly, could not even call for help because the bathroom was not up to code and didn’t even have an emergency button. I...
I‘m a wheelchair user and Platinum card holder and used the American Express centurion lounge in Seattle airport and fell in their bathroom because of negligence. I fell because the grab bar completely broke down from the wall when used it because it hadn’t been fixated there properly. I hit my head badly, could not even call for help because the bathroom was not up to code and didn’t even have an emergency button. I talked to the general manager of the Lounge but they didn’t do anything but told me to call American Express which pushed away all responsibility and said they could not help either. This is appalling and discriminating, I fell and hurt myself badly because of negligence at their lounge which was not up to ADA code and now they are not even willing to help
me and address this, adding insult to injury. I talked to 8 different people from American Express on the phone and everyone told me there is nothing they can do. This is unbelievable!!!! Please see photos of the incident attached which also show the big swelling at my head. I have doctors expenses, need treatment but American Express is showing to cold shoulder to s client in good standing who was injured because negligence and failure to comply with ADA code at their lounge in Seattle Tacoma airport.
Here is the link with pictures of the incident;
https://www.tripadvisor.de/ShowUserReviews-g58732-d17058523-r889684674-American_Express_Centurion_Lounge-SeaTac_Washington.html?m=19905
Sounds like a construction defect, not an ADA code violation. There is no way the plans would be approved without meeting ADA code requirements as well as the inspector signing off on the lounge without complying with ADA standards.
I'm very sorry you were hurt and sad AmEx has not handled it better, however, I doubt this is an ADA violation or any sort of discrimination. Sounds like the contractor did not place the appropriate backing behind the grab bar.
Sorry you were hurt but the purpose of posting this everywhere is what? Did you have medical insurance to cover your expenses? If not, then file suit and be done with it.
I found the food at the wellness bar to be pretty good. Anyone visiting might at least take a peek rather than heading straight for the buffet. They'll make some things to order if you ask, both food and drinks.
This looks OK, but across the Central Terminal food court above Salty’s is Brewtop Social. For beer nerds, this bar offers the best draft microbrew selection in the whole airport. Far more expansive than Alaska’s North Terminal lounge and you don’t need to fly over 2K miles to enjoy a pint or two.
I was there on Sunday and it was packed. Admittedly, it was Easter morning. We sat in the dining area and eventually wound up at that table with the orange juice on it in your picture. It looks like an awkward spot, but was actually very nice. Nice enough that we never moved over to the skyclub. (we started at the centurion because we had a connection on separate tickets that was over 3 hours...
I was there on Sunday and it was packed. Admittedly, it was Easter morning. We sat in the dining area and eventually wound up at that table with the orange juice on it in your picture. It looks like an awkward spot, but was actually very nice. Nice enough that we never moved over to the skyclub. (we started at the centurion because we had a connection on separate tickets that was over 3 hours so I knew DL wasn't going to let us in). If you haven't been to the SeaTac skyclub it's one of my favorites!
One of the things I don’t like about Centurions is the BRIGHTNESS of the lighting. Even at night, the lighting is far too bright. The lounge should be calmer and warmer, not so brash and bright. Maybe they do that to discourage people from staying into too long.
For this lounge it looks like the lighting is just as BRIGHT as other lounges. It’s just too much.
Is it me or does the seating just look kind of cheap?
Hi there, currently at this lounge, outstanding service by Amex, their best lounge of the ones I have visited so far, (LAX, LAS, SFO, JFK , PHX) top to bottom the best in my view. Food is superb and the coffee bar are tops notch .—Do yourselves a favor while in SEATAC, visit the brewpub social across the hall from Amex Centurion, good food and drinks with Priority Pass. (restaurant)
Both my wife and I have used this lounge. She reported favorably on their breakfast. As a result, I used the Centurian lounge rather than the Alaska lounge when traveling in the afternoon. In my opinion, the food was not good. All the "hot" food was luke warm. A dish with sweet potatoes was seriously undercooked. The chicken dish was the proverbial "rubber chicken" dish. I am hoping they get their food act together as...
Both my wife and I have used this lounge. She reported favorably on their breakfast. As a result, I used the Centurian lounge rather than the Alaska lounge when traveling in the afternoon. In my opinion, the food was not good. All the "hot" food was luke warm. A dish with sweet potatoes was seriously undercooked. The chicken dish was the proverbial "rubber chicken" dish. I am hoping they get their food act together as the old Centurian lounge in Seattle had excellent fare.
Marshall
I too was not impressed with food and drink. Location is perfect, and the staff is a bit uptight. Lastly, the new guest policy is over the top strict. If you are the card holder, you are allowed to bring up to [2] guests. Each guest will be charged $50 to the cardholder.
My partner and I would not come back to this lounge again as we were being treated extremely poorly by two incompetent and unprofessional staff when we checked in. We have been using other lounges for the last two years, and the experience we received here was horrendously unlike other Centurion lounges at all - they were arrogant and unapologetic about their own ridiculous mistakes, due to poor training on how to use their scanner and computer to check in guests.
@ Ben
"If you’re guesting people into Centurion Lounges, you need to stay with them the entire time they’re in the lounge"
Curious is there is any way to enforce this, is it even feasible to enforce?
Of course not.
I’m just wondering Ben, the lounge was empty when you visited. Do you think that the lounge gets rather noisy at busy periods in the food court below being that it looked to be open air?
I have to say I am not overly impressed after two visits. The coffee is good, yes. There are basically no nibbles. The bar will not mix non-alcoholic cocktails. Lines still form in front of it.
I'm glad to hear the lounge now opens at 5:00am. Passed through Seattle flying Southwest in October leaving on a 7:20am flight and although the Centuron lounge was on the way to our gate couldn't use it since it didn't open until 7:00am.