OVERALL: 6.75/10 (Yelp converted score: 3/5)
During COVID times, you just want to stop in somewhere, grab a bite, a drink, and sit down and be at peace. You can do that now at the Centurion Lounge in Seattle, finally! (It was pretty much closed when I last visited in November 2020). I most recently visited in May 2021, with my partner, before our flight to Hawai'i.
The main reason for the 3/5 here is the announced AmEx policy, effective 2023 for Platinum card members. Guests are no longer free after Feb 1, 2023! Delta SkyClub doesn't allow guests either, so this probably marks the end of my lounge visiting days (and my Platinum membership as this is a HUGE perk, especially for someone based in a city with a Centurion Lounge), since I have a partner and I don't really think paying $50 is worth it for spending less than 30 minutes refreshing ourselves.
I'm pretty disappointed with American Express in their decision to not allow existing cardmembers to hold onto that perk for longer - I would have assumed at least through the end of their 2023 membership year (for me, that'd be November 2023, instead of February), or allow the Airline Fee Credit to instead be allocated to the guest pass (I'd happily trade now that I can't use the credit on my airline due to gift cards not triggering the credit), then maybe this warrant a review revision.
1) EXPERIENCE: 8/10. The entrance / exit to the lounge is completely one-way now. They've cordoned off certain tables / seats to adhere to "social distancing", and a lounge staff serves all of the food while you choose what you want. Bar is the same as usual but the line is demarcated and easy to find. The bar is still a full bar and they can make custom drinks but you should tip accordingly!
2) LOCATION: 6/10. This lounge is located in the Concourse B (opposite Gate B3) section of SeaTac airport; the hours are 7am - 8pm. Even if my flight is in another area of the airport, I'll stop by here to chill for a bit before heading to my flight. It's nice and central but can be tough to get to, depending on which security gate you go through.
3) VALUE FOR MONEY: 6/10. It's free for AmEx Platinum members as well as up to two guests, but that's about to change in Feb 2023, so... I can't give this full marks anymore.
4) SERVICE: 7/10. The service is much more hands-off now; you can't touch the food, so they have someone serving it for you. The bar is still as before, but since there's usually only one bartender at any given point in time, you might be waiting a while for your drink refill. They're knowledgeable about drinks though and can definitely give you a recommendation if needed.
Also, they have limits to the number of people in the lounge, and the fact that you can't visit a lounge on arrival (only in the airport being departed from). It's kind of a bummer the hours are so narrow - 13 hours open might seem like a lot, but given that flights typically don't follow lounge hours, you might not be able to pop in to get some R&R before heading out for your adventure, especially if you have an early or late flight. read more