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Best Credit Card Accessible Lounges at SEA
December 12, 2024
One of the greatest travel perks of premium credit cards is airport lounge access. Seattle’s airport offers several lounges that you can enter without airline elite status or international first-class tickets – as long as you hold the right credit card.
In this guide, we’ll break down the Sea-Tac lounges you can access with popular credit card programs, such as Priority Pass memberships, Amex Platinum/Centurion, and co-branded airline cards. If you’re a Seattle-based traveler or passing through SEA, make sure you’re taking full advantage of your wallet’s power to unlock some comfort.
Why Credit Card Lounges Matter at SEA
Seattle has at least four lounges accessible via credit card perks:
- Priority Pass gets you into certain independent lounges.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express or Centurion® Card from American Express opens the doors to the exclusive Centurion Lounge.
- Co-Branded Airline Cards can grant access to airline-operated lounges.
- Day Pass via Card Credit: Some cards offer annual lounge pass credits or travel credits that you could use to buy a day pass.
Knowing which lounge each card gives you is key. Let’s look at the best lounges you can enjoy with credit cards at SEA, and how to use your benefits effectively.
1. Centurion Lounge – Access with Amex Platinum or Centurion
Location: Central Terminal mezzanine, above the food court (near Concourse B gates).
The Centurion Lounge at SEA is a top-notch space (we highlighted its luxury in Article 1).
For credit card holders, what’s important is how to access:
- Eligible Cards: The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Centurion® Card from American Express are the primary ways in. These cards grant complimentary access for the cardholder.
- Guest Policy: With Amex Platinum, you can currently pay for guests unless you hit a high spend threshold on the card. Centurion (Black) cardholders have more generous guesting (typically 2 free guests).
- No Priority Pass here: Even though many Amex Plat cards also give Priority Pass, note that Priority Pass does NOT cover Centurion Lounges – it’s a separate Amex benefit.
- Experience: Once inside, flash that Platinum card and enjoy premium food, a full bar, Wi-Fi, and even showers. This is one of the best uses of the Amex Platinum at SEA, since a family of four relaxing here could easily save $100+ on airport food and find a calm haven away from the terminal chaos.
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Maximize It: Arrive early because Centurion Lounges can fill up. Amex has a 3-hour pre-flight entry rule – they enforce this to manage crowding. Use the Amex app to join the waitlist remotely if the lounge is near capacity. Remember, Amex Platinum’s annual fee is hefty, so using the lounge frequently gives you more bang for your buck. And if you travel with family often, consider adding them as authorized Platinum users (at a fee) which also gives them lounge access rights.
2. Delta Sky Club – Access with Amex Platinum (with Delta flight) or Delta Reserve
Location: Concourse A, near Gate A1 (and a second Club opening near Gate A11 by mid-2025).
Seattle’s Delta Sky Club is accessible through certain credit cards:
- Amex Platinum & The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Gets you into Delta Sky Clubs only when you are flying Delta that day. You must show your Platinum card, ID, and a Delta boarding pass. No guests free – each guest would cost $50 if you have Platinum.
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- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: This co-branded Delta credit card grants the cardholder access to Sky Clubs when flying Delta, with up to two guests at $50 each. The key advantage over Amex Platinum is that the Reserve card’s access is unlimited
- Delta One/Elite entitlements: Not a credit card, but if you are flying in Delta One or are a Diamond Medallion, you’d get in regardless – however, credit cards cover even Silver Medallion or no-status travelers.
Experience: Once you’re past the front desk (swiping your card for entry), you have full access to the Sky Club’s amenities – which include complimentary food, drinks, seating, and showers. Given that a lot of people have Amex Platinum, the Sky Club can be busy during Delta flight banks, but the upcoming second lounge will help alleviate that. As a cardholder, you don’t have a time limit except it must be before departure or during connections.
Maximize It: If you have both Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve, use Delta Reserve for Sky Club entry because starting 2025, Amex Plat will limit lounge visits and Reserve remains unlimited for Sky Clubs. Also, the Reserve card often comes with guest passes (2 per year) which you can use to bring family/friends for free rather than paying the $50.
Always link your Delta SkyMiles number to your Amex Plat or Reserve in the Amex app – that can let you tap your boarding pass for entry. Keep an eye on those 2025 rule changes: Delta and Amex are tweaking lounge access terms, so ensure you’re updated via Amex emails or Delta news.
3. The Club at SEA – Access with Priority Pass (via many cards)
Location: Concourse A (Gate A11) and South Satellite (Gate S9).If you have a travel credit card, there’s a good chance it offers Priority Pass membership. This membership lets you into over 1,300 lounges worldwide, including SEA’s Club at SEA lounges.
Key points:
- Cards that Give Priority Pass: Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, and many others.
- Using Priority Pass at SEA: Simply show your digital or physical Priority Pass card at The Club lounge front desk. They will charge one visit to your membership. Most premium cards allow at least 2 guests free.
- Access Conditions: Priority Pass at SEA’s Clubs is subject to capacity. The Club lounges sometimes deny entry to Priority Pass during peak times if they’re full. This is unfortunately common at popular airports. It helps to go during off-peak or ask the staff if they expect availability soon. Priority Pass members have a 3-hour stay limit typically – but that’s usually plenty for most.
- Experience: The Club offers a decent environment – snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, comfy chairs, and is quite alright for a short rest. It’s not luxury, but if you’re holding a card like CSR, this is your free lounge option at SEA.
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Maximize It: Download the Priority Pass app and check lounge details or any temporary restrictions at SEA. Also, note that Priority Pass can be used at some SEA eateries pre-security via the SEA Saver program. If traveling with family, know your card’s guest policy so you’re not caught off guard by charges. And consider adding an authorized user to your credit card if they also travel separately – e.g. Venture X gives authorized users full Priority Pass benefits at no extra card fee, effectively extending lounge access to your spouse or adult child with their own card.
4. Alaska Lounge – Access with Priority Pass or Alaska Visa
Location: Concourses C, D, and North Satellite.
Alaska Lounges used to participate in Priority Pass, but as of 2021, they ceased routine Priority Pass access at SEA due to crowding. So, how can a credit card help with Alaska Lounges now?
- Alaska Visa Signature® Credit Card: This card doesn’t directly grant lounge visits, but it offers a $100 discount on Alaska Lounge+ annual membership.
- Priority Pass wildcard: Occasionally, Alaska Lounge might allow Priority Pass during irregular ops (if other lounges are full) but you shouldn’t count on it.
- Day passes via credit: No card gives free Alaska Lounge day passes, but some travel cards have airline fee credits which could reimburse a lounge day pass.
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Maximize It: If you have status or are flying first class on Alaska, you may not need a card. But for a credit-card-only strategy: honestly, unless you’re an Alaska frequent flyer considering membership, the Alaska lounges aren’t easily accessible via generic credit card perks anymore. Instead, rely on Priority Pass for The Club, or consider using an Amex Platinum to access the Centurion.
Pro Tip: Leverage Multiple Cards
Many savvy travelers carry a combo like Amex Platinum + Chase Sapphire Reserve to cover all bases: Platinum for Centurion & Sky Clubs, CSR for Priority Pass (with free guests). If you have both at SEA, you’re golden – you could choose Centurion lounge (better food) if traveling alone, or The Club (to bring 2 guests free) if with friends/family.
Also, keep an eye on new lounge openings: for example, Chase Sapphire Lounge is a new lounge network accessible via Priority Pass (and directly for cardholders) – none at SEA yet, but one could open in the future given SEA’s importance. That would add another credit-card lounge option for Sapphire Reserve holders.
Earn More with Kudos on Your Side
Using these lounges is great, but don’t forget that many credit cards also reward your spending at airports and for travel. Kudos makes sure you’re using the optimal card every time. When you buy an airline ticket or that lounge day pass, Kudos can pop up to recommend which card in your wallet will earn the most points or get you closer to a bonus.
It also keeps track of your card benefits – so you never forget to use your annual airline credit or Priority Pass membership. Essentially, Kudos ensures you get every perk you’re entitled to. It’s like having a personal assistant that knows all your credit card’s fine print. So next time you travel through SEA, you’ll not only breeze into lounges, but you’ll also rack up rewards and savings, thanks to smart recommendations from Kudos.
FAQs: Credit Card Lounge Access at SEA
Which credit card is best for lounge access at Seattle Airport?
The Amex Platinum card is arguably the best single card for SEA lounge access – it grants entry to the Centurion Lounge (arguably SEA’s top lounge) and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), plus a Priority Pass membership that you can use at The Club at SEA (though without free guests). However, if you often travel with a companion, the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be better for you at SEA’s Priority Pass lounges since it allows free guests.
Ideally, a combination is best: Amex Platinum for Centurion (solo luxury) and a card like Sapphire Reserve or Venture X for Priority Pass (to cover any airline you fly, with guests). If you’re loyal to a specific airline: Delta Reserve Amex for Sky Club, or United Club Infinite for United Club, or Alaska Visa + Lounge membership for Alaska Lounges, could be worth it. It really depends on your travel patterns – which Kudos can help analyze!
Can I get into the SEA Centurion Lounge with a Priority Pass card?
No. The Centurion Lounge is exclusive to Amex’s own cardholders (Platinum or Centurion). Priority Pass, even though it’s offered by many non-Amex cards, does not include Centurion Lounges. At SEA, your Priority Pass will instead get you into The Club at SEA lounges. So to access Centurion, you’ll specifically need an Amex Platinum or Amex Centurion card – no substitutes.
Do any credit cards give access to Alaska Lounges at SEA?
Not directly anymore. In the past, Priority Pass from certain cards got you into Alaska Lounge (North Satellite) but Alaska ended that partnership due to crowding. Now, the only credit-card related access is via holding an Alaska Airlines Visa – but that just gives a discount on buying an annual lounge membership (and a couple of one-time passes if you hit annual spend milestones). There’s also the fact that American Airlines Admirals Club members can use Alaska lounges when flying oneworld, due to the Alaska/American partnership.
What lounges can I access at SEA with Priority Pass?
Priority Pass is accepted at the two Club at SEA lounges – one at Concourse A and one at South Satellite. Those are the only lounges in Seattle’s airport currently on the Priority Pass network. There are no Priority Pass-affiliated restaurants or Minute Suites at SEA, so it’s just The Clubs.
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access useful at SEA?
Indirectly, yes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited visits and guests (up to 2 free). Using that, you can access The Club at SEA lounges as mentioned. Chase is also opening their own branded “Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club” in some airports – while SEA hasn’t opened one yet, if they do in the future, Reserve cardholders will likely get special access. But for now, your Reserve is basically your Priority Pass card at SEA. It’s quite useful if you travel with a partner or friend, since you can both enter The Club for free (guests are free on CSR’s PP) – whereas an Amex Platinum would charge for a guest at Centurion.
How do I use an Amex Platinum to get into the Delta Sky Club at SEA?
It’s straightforward: you must be flying on a Delta-operated flight that day. At the Sky Club front desk, just present your Platinum Card along with your Delta boarding pass and a photo ID. They will swipe your Platinum to verify it’s active. As a Platinum cardholder, you get entry for yourself only.
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