British Airways has been working on improving its lounge network, including renovating lounges that are past their prime. The airline has just unveiled its new lounge at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and it looks great!
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New British Airways Lounge SeaTac unveiled
British Airways’ new Seattle lounge has just opened its doors, following an extensive refurbishment. The lounge’s redesign is described as taking inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, while also incorporating “British design elegance.”
The lounge features textile artwork by Hannah Mason and Vacilando Studios, and the decor highlights Seattle’s identity as a City of Music, with Haptic Lab additions. The lounge heavily uses warm tones, marble stone surfaces, and opal glass lamps, with soft shapes.
The lounge has a completely redesigned food service area, offering a range of hot and cold items, plus an a la carte dining area for passengers traveling in first class. The lounge also has a new full service bar, which acts as the centerpiece of the lounge.
While this lounge is primarily for premium British Airways customers (first and business class customers, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, etc.), it’s also used as the contract lounge for carriers like Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, etc. In theory, this lounge should follow standard oneworld lounge access policies, though British Airways is notorious for playing games with access rules for its outstation lounges, on the basis of capacity constraints.
The Seattle location joins Singapore (SIN), Washington (IAD), Lagos (LOS), and London (LGW), where lounges have been updated over the past year. Next up as part of this project is a redesign of lounges in Dubai (DXB) and Boston (BOS), plus an all-new lounge in Miami (MIA), with an even more updated design concept. Then in 2026, we’ll see a full redevelopment of lounges in London (LHR).
Here’s how British Airways Chief Customer Officer Calum Laming describes these lounge investments:
“We announced our £7bn transformation programme last year and promised to improve the customer experience both on the ground and in the air. Across our global network we have 28 lounges in 20 airports that all play a huge part in our customers’ journeys, so we’re committed to offering the very best experience.
“Just like our customers and colleagues, each lounge is unique. Customers can expect to see nods to our British heritage blended seamlessly with features that celebrate the locality of the destination. We’ve worked with local designers, artists, and suppliers across the globe to ensure that each lounge has its own British Original personality – and we can’t wait to unveil more.”
I’m impressed by British Airways’ lounge redesign
I recently visited British Airways’ refreshed lounge in Washington, and I was super impressed. I thought the design was beautiful, the food quality was good, and I loved having a staffed bar. I’ll be publishing a review soon, but I enjoyed it way more than I was expecting to.
As much as I’m critical of British Airways at times, the airline is doing a good job with its lounge redesign, and I’m happy to see these continued investments. The Seattle location was most definitely in need of a refresh, so customers will appreciate this.
What’s perhaps most interesting to me is that the current lounge designs we’re seeing aren’t even the carrier’s brand new lounge concept, as that’s apparently launching soon. I’m happy that my home airport of Miami will be one of the first to get that new design.
Bottom line
British Airways has just opened its newest refreshed lounge, at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. The lounge was desperately in need of a refresh, and I’d say these changes look great. Not only is the lounge cozy and elegant, but I love that it has a first class dining section and a proper bar.
What do you make of British Airways’ refreshed lounge in Seattle?
Seems that most of BA's 'out-station' lounges are getting a refresh. Unfortunately; the lounges at BA's home airport are really bad and fraying at the edges . Still don't understand why BA haven't already redesigned those god awful 'NHS-hospital' styled bathrooms/loos. Even those in the Concorde room, are so utilitarian and pitiful.
Looks a vast improvement - used the lounge last year and was one of worst layouts, food offerings and customer experience I’ve ever had in a BA lounge. For example, I used the (one shower) and the receptionist checked the shower room was empty before I entered (to see it was empty) and just left the dirty towels from the previous guest on the floor by the sink. The catering was also pretty awful (and...
Looks a vast improvement - used the lounge last year and was one of worst layouts, food offerings and customer experience I’ve ever had in a BA lounge. For example, I used the (one shower) and the receptionist checked the shower room was empty before I entered (to see it was empty) and just left the dirty towels from the previous guest on the floor by the sink. The catering was also pretty awful (and of similar poor quality on the business flight back to the UK) so hope the catering has had a refresh too! I know Do&Co are used from LHR but don’t know who the local supplier is in Seattle but it was pretty awful. Staff were however very incentivised to try and sell us an upgrade to first class - we were asked twice at check in and then again at the lounge reception.
“…renovating lounges that are past their prime.” is a bit of a euphemism. The BA lounge at SEA was so run down, taking a dump in its middle would have been an improvement.
Will use the lounge in three weeks, really curious what the experience will be like.
" it’s also used as the contract lounge for carriers like Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, etc."
Isn't JAL using, the "Club at SEA" lounge, which is terrible? JAL website: https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/service/lounge/sea/
Does this lounge let in non-BA OWE, or do they play games with access?
Wow.... if Virgin wasn't planning to ditch the 787 next month, this might be reason enough for me to jump ship to BA.
Alas, -900neo plus access to upcoming Delta One lounge... plus less tax/fees on redemptions... that's hard to pass on. Virgin still > BA unless I can snag a first class redemption last minute.
I think Virgin still wins overall.
The A330neo is great, VS service is consistently better than BA, DL One lounge will be superior, as is the VS Revivals lounge and Clubhouse out of LHR.
The A330neo is a gamechanger. Oftentimes, BA is simply better due to the superior hard product.
JBS
You’ll be fine on whatever delta-affiliation you choose, per normal.
Your employer prefers it and everyone else knows you stick to your delta idiocy despite living in a city with better mileage programs and network
You’re a delta fanboy. Just own it and move on.
@Plane Jane, who are you referring to? I don’t do any work-related travel, and domestically I fly AS more often than DL.
I’m looking forward to checking it out in a few weeks. It will be a nice change over walking right past the old lounge to use the Priority Pass one next door!
"While this lounge is primarily for premium British Airways customers (first and business class customers, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, etc.), it’s also used as the contract lounge for carriers like Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, etc."
I recall this lounge functioned as a contract lounge for some airlines (such as BR) that aren't in Oneworld. JL and QR are Oneworld members, so their premium cabin passengers, etc. already have access to this lounge based on...
"While this lounge is primarily for premium British Airways customers (first and business class customers, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, etc.), it’s also used as the contract lounge for carriers like Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, etc."
I recall this lounge functioned as a contract lounge for some airlines (such as BR) that aren't in Oneworld. JL and QR are Oneworld members, so their premium cabin passengers, etc. already have access to this lounge based on Oneworld policy.
No, nearly all international carriers use the "Club at SEA" lounge, which is a terrible Priority Pass lounge.
Even OW airlines like JAL use that instead of the BA lounge.
That wasn't my experience. On JAL Business, I was invited to the BA lounge last year.
Any idea when SFO will be refreshed?
Another +1 that was denied access to the BA lounge as AA EP flying on a paid JL Business class ticket in Sept 2024. Started my itinerary in SEA was flatly denied access despite my pulling up the OW Emerald benefits on my laptop and showing it to the desk agent. I was told that because I was ticketed on JL I was only entitled to use the Priority Pass lounge across the hall with...
Another +1 that was denied access to the BA lounge as AA EP flying on a paid JL Business class ticket in Sept 2024. Started my itinerary in SEA was flatly denied access despite my pulling up the OW Emerald benefits on my laptop and showing it to the desk agent. I was told that because I was ticketed on JL I was only entitled to use the Priority Pass lounge across the hall with which JL contracts for business class passengers. Capacity controls was never mentioned as the reason for the denial. The PP lounge became packed leading up to departure with all seats occupied and a waiting line out the door. F&B was mediocre as best.
Curious...Is there a OW representative to whom an email can be sent to voice complaints when OW lounges disregard their own benefits and policy?
You can send all your complaints to @AeroB13a.
You will get an apologist that would even put Tim Dunn to shame.
And a suggestion that anyone not flying on BA especially DEN LHR is a useless PoS.
As a regular user, I can agree/confirm that the new layout looks a great improvement, particularly with the seats/armchairs along the centre between the bar and window seats (now down to two abreast). Given that the worst feature in the previous design was the crowded/cramped seating down the centre, presumably driven by passenger numbers, have they managed to keep the same seating numbers in total? If so, where have they found the space?
Two of those photos are from Singapore there isnt a separate first class area but they do have a special menu for first. And there isnt a self service bar
@ Seattle Steve -- Good catch, thank you. Fixed!
The capacity constraints are pure BS.
There is around an hour window everyday between BA JL QR where the lounge is literally empty. You still get denied. I even offered to leave before the lounge gets packed and still denied.
As long as you're flying AA you get no access no matter what, even as their own GGL.
Could that be to keep the riff-raff out?
Only winding you up E.
E, you never fail to disappoint.
Ben, what members and who can access this lounge? If I fly American first class, could I use it in Seattle? Thank you!
Technically, you should have access if your itinerary includes connection to an international flight or if you have Sapphire or Emerald status on non-AA oneworld airline, however, as Ben mentioned, BA lounge in Seattle is notorious for not accepting customers except those flying BA, JL or QR for capacity issue. This lounge has always been overcrowded. I'm not sure if they've increased the capacity but if not, it'll still be overcrowded and they'll turn away...
Technically, you should have access if your itinerary includes connection to an international flight or if you have Sapphire or Emerald status on non-AA oneworld airline, however, as Ben mentioned, BA lounge in Seattle is notorious for not accepting customers except those flying BA, JL or QR for capacity issue. This lounge has always been overcrowded. I'm not sure if they've increased the capacity but if not, it'll still be overcrowded and they'll turn away non-BA/JL/QR flyers.
. . . on a non-US-based oneworld airline . . . (Don't forget Alaska.). By the nature of the question, I'll guess the person asking doesn't have qualifying tier status.
Domestic first class, no. International first class, yes.