The entrance to the Centurion Lounge SEA where I had a terrific drink and quality food. Photo by: Evan Berman

After a few hours that I enjoyed exploring Seattle, it was time to head out onto my next adventure. I got to the airport around 2.5 hours early for my next flight, which for me is quite early! I looked forward to visiting the newly renovated Centurion Lounge (which just re-opened a week before my visit) as well as explore a United Club Lounge for the first time (spoiler, I was not impressed!). Finally, The Club SEA was where I was invited to visit, so I finished there to be close to my gate.

This review of the lounges at Sea-Tac Airport is part of the Eastern European Experience. For more information on this trip, follow these links:

Intro

Flight: United Economy Class B737-800 CHS-ORD-SEA

6 Hours in Seattle

Centurion Lounge, The Club SEA, and United Club: SEA Lounges (This Article)

Flight: Turkish AIrlines Business Class B787-9 SEA-IST

Istanbul Airport’s Famous Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge

Flight: Turkish Airlines Business Class B737 MAX 8 IST-BUD

2 Days in Budapest

Dining in Budapest

Hotel: Ramada by Wyndham Budapest City Center

SkyCourt Lounge, Plaza Premium SkyCourt, and Platinum Lounge (Schengen): BUD Lounges

Flight: Lufthansa Economy Class A320-200 BUD-MUC and A321-200 MUC-ZAG

24 Hours in Munich

Starkbierfest Munich

Hotel: H+ Munchen (Wyndham)

Lufthansa Business Class Lounge MUC

Flight: Croatian Airlines Economy Class Dash 8 and ATR 72-600 (Twin-Prop Plane) ZAG-SPU-ZAG-SJJ-ZAG-BEG

2 Days in Split, Croatia, the Beauty of the Adriatic

Delicious Food in Split

Hotel Vestibul Palace in Split, Croatia, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World (Hyatt)

Primeclass Lounge ZAG

6 Hours in Zagreb

Wine Tasting and Learning about Croatian Feelings

2 Days in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Restaurants in Sarajevo

Hotel Aziza Sarajevo (AABooking)

Business Lounge SJJ

Air Serbia Premium Lounge and Business Club: BEG Lounges

Flight: Swiss Airlines Economy Class Embraer E190-E2 and A220-300 BEG-ZRH-LJU

2 Amazing Days in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Food Scene in Ljubljana

Day Trip around Slovenia: Postojna Cave, Predjama Castle, Bled Castle, and Lake Bled

Hotel Emonec Ljubljana, Slovenia (Rocketmiles)

Flight: Air Serbia Economy Class ATR 72-600 and A319-100 LJU-BEG-SKP

1.5 Days in Belgrade, Serbia

Restaurants in Belgrade

Hotel: Hyatt Regency Belgrade (Hyatt)

3 Hours in Skopje, North Macedonia

Primeclass Lounge SKP

Flight: Wizz Air Economy Class A321-200 SKP-MXP

14 Hours in Milan and Monza, Italy

Hotel de la Ville Monza, Italy, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World (Hyatt)

Sala Montale and Emirates Lounge MXP

Flight: Emirates First Class A380-800 MXP-JFK

Conclusion

Introduction:

I arrived at SEA (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport) at 5:15pm PDT for my 7:30pm PDT departure. I had arrived at SEA at 11:30am and asked around when check in would be available for Turkish Airlines. Nobody seemed to know for sure, so despite United Agent assuring me they only arrive 2 hours before departure, I was a bit over 2 hours 15 minutes early. As is typical for flights to the middle east (including Central Asia, such as Turkïye), the economy checked bag line was extremely lengthy. While the Business Class line was shorter, there were still lots of bags. I was able to drop off my suitcase at 5:33pm. My first stop was back to the Centurion Lounge, where I had enjoyed my time earlier in the day.

Centurion Lounge:

I’ve reviewed Centurion Lounges in DFW, JFK, and CLT and will soon post the recaps of IAH, LGA, PHX, and LAX. Each one has a bit of local flair, so it may come as no surprise to know that there is a coffee bar prominently featured. I first made my way to the Centurion after arriving at 11:30am, just as they were changing out the breakfast for the lunch at the buffet. When I returned to the lounge around 5:45pm, it was a bit busier but not much so. I know it’s controversial for some to go from 2 free guests to 0, but I for one appreciate the changes to guest policy which has thinned the lines this year and eliminated the wait at each Centurion that I have visited!

Location:

The Centurion Lounge is in the middle of the Central Terminal. From any series of gates, make your way to the Central Terminal Concourse (as in, visit another set of gates) and locate Lucky Love Fish Shack. Around the corner is where the entrance to the Centurion Lounge is. If your flight is in one of the satellite terminals (as mine was), you will need to walk about 10 minutes though you will not have to re-clear security, which is a positive!

The lounge is open from 5am-10pm.

Access:

As I’ve discussed in previous articles, the guest access for Centurion Lounges changed this year. In short, if guest access is important for you, have your guest be an authorized user on your account. Otherwise, you will need to pay $50 per guest.

Additionally, the 3 hour rule is still in effect– you may only access Centurion Lounges 3 hours prior to departure, though that rule is not in effect for connecting passengers. As an example, I arrived at 11:40am at the lounge and despite my next flight not being until 7:30pm, I was allowed to enter. A flight confirmation is all that is required. I downloaded the mobile boarding pass, but in case you are unable, show the agent your upcoming confirmed flight information and they can enter it manually. You will need one of the following cards to gain access:

• $695 Annual Fee AmEx Platinum Card (Business or Personal, including the Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab versions)
• $550 Annual Fee AmEx Delta Reserve Card (Business or Personal) when flying Delta
• Invite-only $5,000 Annual Fee Centurion Card (Business or Personal). If you have either card, you may still bring in 2 free guests (though few people have either card so it’s a moot point!)

Food and Drinks:

As mentioned above, I entered just as they exchanged breakfast for lunch. As such, the food was nice and fresh. While still not as good as the Capital One Lounge (nor the Turkish Business Class Lounge in Istanbul that was yet to come), this was a quality meal especially for an airport. I’ve found that the kale in Centurion Lounges is usually quite fresh and good. The chicken and rice were both solid, though nothing spectacular.

I overheard the friendly bartender praising the Capitol Hill drink around lunchtime and decided to try it for myself. This was quite good and I had another when I returned in the evening (though I should note this bartender was quite unfriendly, begrudgingly moving the menu in my general direction with a huff and taking her time to serve others who ordered after me before starting on my drink. At least the male bartender in the early afternoon was friendly!)

Wi-Fi:

I had a Zoom meeting and got some work done on my laptop and had no problem with either option. The wi-fi was fast as is typical of Centurion Lounges.

Bathrooms:

The bathrooms in the Centurion Lounge were well-maintained and feature the typical L’Occitane products. The bathrooms were divided by sex and featured individual stalls, rather than individual bathrooms.

There is a shower suite, though no spa. This is typical of the Centurion Lounges though as you cannot access upon arrival, it does take some of the utility away.

Amenities:

While this technically falls under food and beverage, I consider this to be an amenity (especially as there really are no others). The picture is of the “wellness cafe,” which is a fancy term for coffee bar. There is a barista to make coffee and little pastries as well as smoothies to accompany. I’m not a coffee drinker (sacrilege, I know!), but for those who do, I imagine this is a welcome addition to the standard formula of bar + buffet= Centurion Lounge!

When I sat down to lunch, there were few seats taken. I sat at a table by the window and enjoyed a beautiful view of the roof of the terminal building. At least there was sunlight! When I returned for lunch; however, I could only find a couple of seats. While by no means uncomfortable, this seat was not the optimal spot to sit for hours:

United Club:

Hoo boy… Next up was the United Club. Let me start by saying that I know Seattle is not a big Star Alliance Hub and United has a much smaller presence than Delta (SkyTeam) or Alaska (oneworld). That being said, this was my first time in a United Club and the only reason I did not leave immediately upon entering was I wanted to photograph this dreadful space.

I do want to acknowledge one benefit of accessing this lounge: there were 5 people in it when I entered. The lounge is quite quiet and serene. If you want to relax and don’t care about eating or drinking, this can. bea great spot to hide away from the chaos of a busy airport. That’s the irony of the SkyClubs: they are so good that too many people want to access them!

You might think this is harsh, but look at the pictures of the poor excuse for a buffet below. In contrast, this is a typical buffet at a Delta SkyClub:

Location:

The United Club SEA is located in Concourse A, near Gate A10 and is open from 4:15am-11:30pm.

Access:

United Clubs have a similar rule for entry as American’s Admirals Clubs (as opposed to Delta SkyClubs which have become much more restrictive of late):

• Unlimited access with United Club (2 Guests) or Air Canada’s Maple Leaf membership (0 or 1 Guest) when flying on a Star Alliance Airline:
  • The $525 Annual Fee Chase United Club Card (or old United Executive Card)
  • Purchased United Club Membership, the price of which depends on your elite status
  • Air Canada Maple Leaf Club North America Members have 0 Guests while Worldwide Members may bring in 1 Guest. There are numerous ways to have this membership, either purchasing outright or through Canadian Credit Cards (while high-level elite status may also provide it)
• Access to active-duty military personnel on a United or United Express flight
• Virgin Australia Elite Members when flying on a United or Virgin Australia (currently only flying within Australia, so this is no longer relevant) flight
• Star Alliance Gold Elite Members gain access when flying on a Star Alliance Airline, though:
  • Star Alliance Gold Members who received status from United can only access with a same-day international flight
  • All other airlines’ Star Alliance Gold Elite Members need only be flying on a same-day Star Alliance flight, including domestic United flights
• Premium Cabin passengers on Star Alliance flights may enter with 0 guests (Business) or 1 guest (First Class). Additionally:
  • United Business Class (and United First to Canada) Passengers may access the lounge at the departure, connecting, and arrival airport. That is, you need not be flying internationally from the airport to visit its United Club
  • All other Star Alliance Business Class Passengers may only access the lounge at the airport from which they are departing internationally. This is how I accessed the United Club SEA.
• Redeeming a day pass for a same-day travel on United, a Star Alliance Airline, or a partner airline’s flight. If you have the United Explorer Card or United Business Card, you receive 2 free passes each year. Otherwise they are $59. Please do not waste good money on this club!

As noted in the description, I was flying Turkish Airlines Business Class from SEA, while I flew United CHS-ORD-SEA. As such, while I was permitted entry at the United Club SEA, I was not eligible to visit any United Lounge at ORD, nor would I have been able to visit one at CHS, if they existed. Had I flown United Polaris Business Class, I would have been able to visit any United Lounge I so desired at any of the 3 airports. United Polaris Lounges are considered to be some of the best business class lounges anywhere, so if you are eligible to visit one, definitely do not let this report of the inferior United Club lounge sway you!

Food and Drinks:

Yes, this photo is the entirety of my “food and drink” portion. Let me explain why. Almost every other lounge I’ve visited either has real glasses (even for water) or a sturdier plastic cup. But at least the (thin plastic) water cup has United branding! The only free drinks were the above water and Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Light, and well liquor. Considering at most bars, these are $3-$6 a piece, maybe as much as $10 for a well mixed drink, I’m glad at least those are complimentary. But anything else, whether that’s Jack Daniels or a draft beer, had a charge… and the selection was poor!

Finally, the food was unbelievably disappointing. I’ve heard stories of the cheese cubes that used to be commonplace in US airport lounges but was hopeful that my positive experiences in Delta SkyClubs would be a sign of the progress that has been made. Nope! And these two photos represent all the food options here! The salad toppings account for nearly 1/2 of all the food displayed?!?

Delta SkyClubs are financially supported by AmEx, who also have their own AmEx Centurion Lounges. The DFW Capital One Lounge is incredible and I’ve heard good things about the Dulles one, and the Chase Sapphire Lounge in BOS has delicious food. Chase, can you help United Clubs become Delta SkyClubs? Please?

Wi-Fi:

I stayed only to take pictures and have a cup of water. As such, I did not test the wifi. However, it would not have surprised me if the wifi was not working!

Amenities:

Hah! There are certainly no amenities here.

The Club SEA:

Last but certainly not least (as you’ve seen above!) was The Club SEA. There are 2 The Club SEA lounges in Sea-Tac. I did not visit the one in Concourse A, near gate A11. That one is open from 5am-12am. Rather, after the disastrous experience in the United Club, I headed to South Satellite Terminal, from where my flight was departing. This is the lounge I was invited to use prior to departure, as you will see in the access section below. In all, I’d say this is one of the nicer The Club Lounges that I have visited, which makes sense as this is a contract lounge, not just a Priority Pass Lounge.

Location:

Both The Club SEA and the British Airways Terraces Lounge are located up the stairs from the S9 and S10 gates. Turn right for the British Airways Business Class Lounge (and small First Class room) and left for access to The Club. The Club SEA in this South Satellite Terminal is open from 6am-7pm, which meant it closed as we were boarding the flight to Istanbul.

Access:

Access to the Club SEA is pretty straightforward. You may gain entry if you:

• Are flying Business Class with Turkish Airlines. (There may be other airlines that have a contract with this lounge, if so their Business Class passengers may also enter). You are given a lounge invitation at check-in.
• Have Priority Pass. This allows entry for you and up to 2 guests and you may enter before departure, or connection, or upon arrival.
• Purchase a day pass for $50.

For research, I attempted to enter the lounge using Priority Pass, without showing my lounge invitation. The lounge was pretty full and the agent was somewhat hesitant to let me in. You must show your boarding pass to gain entry and once she saw Turkish Business Class, she asked for my lounge invitation and was happy to welcome me! While I was not about to be turned away per se, it’s possible they stop accepting Priority Pass when it gets crowded in the late afternoon.

Food and Drinks:

While I was getting hungry, the food had been put away in preparation of closing when I entered the lounge at 6:35pm. I instead headed to the bar and asked for a glass of champagne. There were two sparkling wine options, both low-end, and I opted for the “local” one, Domaine Ste. Michelle (from Columbia Valley, WA). The bartender was happy to pour me a glass and also told me to come back if I needed a top-off, but I didn’t– that’s a very generous pour! I tried hard not to spill several times carrying to my seat!

Wi-Fi:

I was relaxing before my flight and did not require internet service. Nevertheless, it appeared fast and I saw several people using their laptops, indicating quality speed.

Bathrooms:

The bathrooms in this lounge were perfectly nice. There were 2 bathrooms, men’s and women’s, as opposed to individual bathrooms à la the Centurion Lounge. While there were no L’Occitane products either, there was a mid-tier soap and handwash and the vibrant colors were a pleasant touch.

Amenities:

As I mentioned, the lounge was quite full when I entered. Quite full that is except for the room where I sat down. On the door, there was a mention of reserving for First Class Passengers, but the airlines that would have first class flying internationally from Seattle (other than British Airways, which has a lounge next door!) are Air France, ANA, Emirates, and Lufthansa and their flights were all departed well before 7pm. As such, I sat down in the most comfortable room and enjoyed the TVs and champagne.

I got a kick out of the hands above the seats on the wall facing the TVs. Decisions, decisions on where to sit!

Recap:

Sea-Tac Airport is the 11nd busiest airport in the US and has numerous international flights departing for Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Middle East. The South Satellite Terminal is the main International Terminal, so it would make sense that the major lounges are found here. There are lounges in each of the Concourses and Satellite Terminals worth visiting and I managed to see 3 of them. While the United Club in Concourse A was memorably bad, The Club SEA South Terminal and the Centurion Lounge in the Central Terminal were both quite solid.

I would definitely recommend visiting The Club SEA and the Centurion Lounge. I assume (though did not enter to confirm) that The Club SEA South Terminal is much nicer than the one in Concourse A for no reason other than this is a contract lounge for international Business Class. Just stay away from the United Club unless you REALLY value peace and quiet!

After my visit to The Club SEA, I headed back downstairs and walked 2 minutes over to gate S16. The Dreamliner that would be taking us to Istanbul had started boarding already and there was utter chaos in the boarding groups or lack thereof. I showed my boarding pass to one of the gate agents and while he commented “we boarded Business Class 15 minutes ago,” I was able to use the priority lane and board quickly. Next up: the long flight to Istanbul in Turkish Airlines 787-9 Business Class!