Seattle-Tacoma International has a dozen lounges, and every one of them sits behind a single security checkpoint. Unlike Boston or LAX, where your departure terminal decides which lounges you can physically reach, SEA's concourses and satellite terminals all connect airside by foot and train. Whatever card you carry works at every gate.
That layout changes the math on which card wins here. The new Centurion Lounge in the Central Terminal is reachable from any departure gate, which makes the Amex Platinum more valuable at SEA than at almost any other US airport.
SEA Airport Layout
SEA is one terminal with four concourses (A through D) plus two satellite buildings, the North Satellite and South Satellite, connected by underground trains. Alaska Airlines dominates the airport and uses the North Satellite plus Concourses C and D. Delta runs its hub operation out of Concourse A, and international carriers depart from the South Satellite.
The Central Terminal sits in the middle of it all, post-security, with the Centurion Lounge on its mezzanine. From any gate in the airport you can reach it, lounge there, and train back to your departure gate. No other major US hub gives cardholders that kind of freedom, so pick your lounge by quality rather than geography.
Amex Centurion Lounge (Central Terminal)
The Centurion Lounge is the anchor of credit card lounge access at SEA. The new location opened in February 2025 on the Central Terminal mezzanine, replacing the old Concourse B space, and at 14,000 square feet it is three times the size of its predecessor. It includes a full-service coffee bar, the first in any Amex lounge and a fitting nod to Seattle, along with hot food, craft cocktails, and showers. Hours are 5 AM to 10 PM daily.
Access comes through the Amex Platinum with a same-day ticket charged to an Amex card. Guests cost $50 per adult and $30 per child, and authorized users get their own access. One operational note: Amex limits Centurion entry to within 3 hours of your departure time unless you are connecting, so plan your visit around that window rather than settling in for a full afternoon. Because the lounge admits you regardless of airline and is reachable from every gate, this is the single most useful lounge entitlement at SEA.
Alaska Lounges (Concourses C, D, and North Satellite)
Seattle is Alaska's home base, and the airline operates three lounges here: Concourse C on the mezzanine next to gate C16, Concourse D, and the flagship North Satellite location on the mezzanine above gates N13 to N18. The North Satellite lounge is the standout, with pancake machines, local beer on tap, and floor-to-ceiling views of the airfield.
No Alaska credit card grants outright lounge membership, but there is a credit card route in that most travelers miss. The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard includes full Admirals Club membership, and Admirals Club members get reciprocal access to all Alaska Lounges when flying Alaska, American, or Hawaiian, with immediate family or up to 2 guests included. For a Seattle-based Alaska flyer, that card is effectively an Alaska Lounge membership with a better guest policy.
The other routes are a paid Alaska Lounge or Lounge+ membership, a paid first class ticket on an Alaska segment over 2,100 miles, or a $65 day pass, subject to space. The Lounge+ tier also works in reverse, unlocking 90+ partner lounges worldwide including Admirals Clubs, which matters if your Alaska itineraries connect onto American.
Delta Sky Clubs (Concourse A)
Delta operates two Sky Clubs at its Seattle hub, both in Concourse A: one near gate A1, open from 4:15 AM to 11:15 PM, and a newer 14,000 square foot club near gate A11. Expect hot food, a full bar, and substantially better crowding than the single-club era.
Access runs through the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, which includes 15 Sky Club visits per program year and unlimited visits after $75,000 in annual spend, or the Amex Platinum, which includes 10 visits per year when flying Delta same-day. Sky Club membership, Delta One tickets, and qualifying Medallion fares also work. Basic Economy tickets are excluded across the board.
United Club (Concourse A)
The United Club sits on the Concourse A mezzanine opposite gate A10, open 5 AM to 10 PM. One quirk to plan around: United's departure gates moved to Concourse B in 2025, so the club is roughly a 10 minute walk from where your flight actually boards. A new United Club is expected to open in Concourse B in 2027, in the space the old Centurion Lounge vacated.
Access comes through United Club membership, the United Club Card, Star Alliance Gold status, or Polaris tickets.
Priority Pass at SEA
Priority Pass coverage at SEA comes from two Club at SEA locations, and because everything connects airside, both are usable from any gate:
| Lounge | Location | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Club at SEA | Concourse A | 5 AM – 12 AM | Full sit-down lounge, food and bar |
| The Club at SEA | South Satellite, above gate S9 | 6 AM – 12 AM | More spacious, has showers |
The South Satellite location is the better of the two, with more seating, proper work areas, and showers. Cards that include Priority Pass and unlock both: Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, Bilt Palladium, and Hilton Aspire. For which cards carry Priority Pass across all airports, see the credit card airport lounge access guide.
What's Missing at SEA
Seattle has no Chase Sapphire Lounge and no Capital One Lounge, with neither announced. That inverts the Boston picture, where the Sapphire Lounge is the star. At SEA, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X holders are limited to the two Club at SEA locations via Priority Pass, while the Amex Platinum gets the airport's best lounge outright.
For how the two leading premium cards stack up on lounge networks and overall value, see the Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison and the Amex Platinum vs Venture X comparison.
Credit Card Lounge Access Summary
| Card | Lounges at SEA |
|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | Centurion Lounge (any airline), Delta Sky Clubs (Delta flights, 10/yr), Priority Pass (both Club at SEA) |
| Citi AAdvantage Executive | All 3 Alaska Lounges via Admirals Club membership (AS/AA/HA flights) |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex | Delta Sky Clubs (15 visits/yr) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Priority Pass only (no Sapphire Lounge at SEA) |
| Capital One Venture X | Priority Pass only (no Capital One Lounge at SEA) |
| United Club Card | United Club (Concourse A) |
| Bilt Palladium | Priority Pass (both Club at SEA) |
Bottom Line
The Amex Platinum is the strongest card for lounge access at Seattle-Tacoma, because the new Centurion Lounge in the Central Terminal is the airport's best lounge, admits you on any airline, and is reachable from every gate. If you fly Alaska out of SEA, the Citi AAdvantage Executive is the smarter pick, since its Admirals Club membership doubles as Alaska Lounge access with family included. SEA's connected layout means you never lose lounge access to geography, so choose the card that matches the airline you actually fly. The Card Advisor can show which of these cards delivers the most total value for your spending.