Expanded American Express Centurion Lounge Opens At Seattle-Tacoma Airport

It’s here. What was once a tiny space for frequent-flying American Express cardholders has now expanded to accommodate the unprecedented success of Centurion Lounges. Open to eligible American Express cardholders with the consumer or business versions of the Platinum Card, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card and Centurion members, this new lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is triple the size it was previously. If you were worried about having to stand in one of the long airport lounge lines that have made headlines recently, worry no longer.

New location on airport’s mezzanine level

The lounge stretches as far as 14,000 sq ft providing ample space for work and relaxation. It is situated on a newly created section of the terminal to accommodate just what customers were demanding (more space). This newly added mezzanine level of the Central Terminal is after the security checkpoint and even offers expansive airport views as well as those of the distant Olympic Mountains.

Pablo Rivero, vice president and general manager, global lounge experiences, describes it as: “inspired by the vibrant Seattle dining and coffee scene, this space showcases the best of what Seattle has to offer, including a custom menu from Chef Kristi Brown and our first full-service coffee bar with locally-roasted beans Seattle is known for.”

Guests will find large windows overlooking the airport as well as a 40-square foot mural designed by artist Harold Caudio depicting the Seattle skyline. Take a closer look; the entire thing is designed with coffee beans. If the caffeine doesn’t get you, the sugar will.

There’s also a Skittles-coated portrait collection of notable public figures. The new space also provides amenities that fit the needs of more travelers. There are more private phone rooms (so that travelers don’t have to overhear noisy calls), more noise-buffering spaces and more restrooms (which was a pain point for travelers in the old lounge).

New menu from Seattle-based chef

Seattle-based Communion Restaurant and Bar Executive Chef Kristi Brown is responsible for the new menu using local ingredients to produce globally inspired dishes like Trinidadian-spiced pork belly and a blackened chicken cobb salad.

This is also the first Centurion network lounge to have a full-service coffee bar. Instead of producing your own concoction, baristas will honor Seattle’s coffee culture by creating espresso, cold brew and rotating seasonal specialty coffee drinks from local Seattle roaster Caffè Umbria and a bespoke blend created just for the Centurion Lounge. Also on the menu are kombucha, wellness drinks and smoothies that are made to order.

New admission rules

Of course, the new rules regarding inviting two guests free of charge have created a stir, but not one that American Express deserves much fault for since the company gave more than a year’s notice to members. These days, the ability to bring in two free guests is limited to those that hold the Black Card or Platinum Cardholders that spend more than $75,000 per year.

With more travelers interested in visiting a Centurion Lounge, the bigger the space, the better. Seattle’s new Centurion facility adds another option to the airport’s many lounges.