Amex’s Seattle Centurion Lounge Has Received a Major Upgrade

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Despite the increasing difficulty in accessing airport lounges, numerous new openings provide a good reason to arrive early for flights. Two new Capital One Lounges are set to debut in Denver and Washington Dulles, at least nine new Chase Sapphire lounges are coming to locations like San Diego and Phoenix, plus five additional Delta lounges in Kansas City, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Boston Logan, Newark, and JFK.

One of the most thrilling airport lounges to open in 2023 isn’t exactly new; it’s the reopening of an American Express location following a significant renovation.

In February, Amex introduced a new 14,000-square-foot Centurion Lounge at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. With lounges like this, it’s clear why SeaTac was the only U.S. airport to rank in the top 20 on the Skytrax World’s Best Airports list for 2023. The new Centurion Lounge is almost three times larger than its predecessor in Seattle and can host approximately 400 travelers, addressing some of the overcrowding challenges faced by Amex cardholders in recent years. It features locally inspired food and drink selections (including expertly crafted coffee), soundproof workspaces, shower suites, and views of the concourse, airfield, and the distant Olympic Mountains.

Here’s a glimpse of what awaits inside the new Centurion Lounge in Seattle.

Culinary offerings and beverages

The larger footprint of the new Centurion Lounge provides travelers with a wealth of dining choices.

For the main buffet, chef Kristi Brown, a James Beard Award semifinalist and head chef of Seattle’s Communion Restaurant and Bar, has crafted a “Seattle Soul” menu that highlights the diverse flavors representing the communities of the Pacific Northwest, from West African to Southeast Asian. Some standout dishes include “Trinidadian Spiced Pork Belly,” “Blackened Chicken Cobb Salad,” and “Peach Cobbla’ French Toast.”

The lounge also includes a full-service coffee bar, a first for Centurion Lounges. This wellness-oriented café features its exclusive Blue Roast by American Express, created by Seattle’s Caffè Umbria. Additional offerings include cold brew, matcha, kombucha (from local brand Seeking Ferments), smoothies, and a variety of light bites, such as pre-made sandwiches and salads meant to be enjoyed on-site. There’s also a separate bar serving signature cocktails, including the Match Tonic (with East Imperial tonic, Botanist gin, and matcha soda) and the Macrobiotic Buck (made with Seeking Ferments hibiscus punch, Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, and lime juice). The cocktail menu was designed by Jim Meehan, a distinguished bartender, author, and spirits educator previously at the award-winning PDT in New York City.

Art and Design

The expansive layout of the renovated lounge enabled Amex to craft various unique dining and relaxation spaces. Near the bar, travelers can enjoy high-top barstools and two- and four-person dining tables beneath the soaring atrium ceilings. Further into the lounge, a second dining area features swirling blue, green, and gold wallpaper, wooden beams, and teal tufted leather sofas. Beyond that, guests will discover relaxation zones with wide black leather couches, recliners, and several coworking tables. The overall design is tailored for business travelers, with outlets at every seat, dedicated phone rooms, and high-speed Wi-Fi access.

As with all Centurion Lounges, there are playful design elements that pay homage to the local city. At SeaTac, this is highlighted by a large mural in the main lounge, created by artist Harold Caudio, showcasing the Seattle skyline made entirely of coffee beans. (Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee company, began its journey in downtown Seattle.) And the watercolor wallpaper in the main dining area? It nods to the region’s picturesque waterways.

Visiting the Amex Centurion Lounge in Seattle

The Seattle–Tacoma Centurion Lounge is located on the mezzanine of the airport’s Central Terminal. (Access it via the elevator or staircase situated in the food court behind the Ever Greens restaurant.) It operates daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

To access the lounge—and over 40 other spots in the American Express Global Lounge Collection—you’ll need an Amex card that grants lounge privileges. This includes the Platinum Card® from American Express, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. Both Corporate Platinum Card® holders and Centurion® members can also enter the Centurion lounge network.

If you primarily fly with Delta or its SkyTeam partners, the Delta Amex cards could be a good choice. However, Paul Rubio, Dinogo’s points and loyalty expert, insists that the Platinum Card from American Express is undeniably the top personal credit card for airport lounge access, offering both quantity and quality.

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