A Guide to Priority Pass Lounges at Seattle-Tacoma Airport

Seattle-Tacoma fliers have a handful of lounges to explore when flying from or transiting through the Pacific-Northwest hub. These include:

• American Express Centurion Lounge.

• Delta Sky Club.

• United Club.

• Multiple Alaska Airlines lounges.

However, these lounges are restricted to passengers with eligible access. That’s why cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express, which comes with its own lounge access and Priority Pass membership (enrollment required), are important additions to your travel wallet if you are not a member of these other lounges. Terms apply.

The Priority Pass Seattle options include a mix of restaurants and traditional lounges to choose from before a flight. It’s a great way to start any trip if you want a bit of peace and quiet or some refreshments before heading for the runway.

About the lounges

Priority Pass SeaTac fliers as well as anyone with a Priority Pass card can enjoy access to two lounges no matter what airline they are flying. Most airlines require you to be flying with that particular carrier or one of its partners to access its lounge, even if you paid for a membership.

Priority Pass sells its own annual memberships, but there are quite a few credit cards that come with Priority Pass access as well. At Seattle-Tacoma, there are four Priority Pass options to choose from, including lounges and restaurants where you swipe your card for a food and beverage credit.

Priority Pass options at Seattle-Tacoma

Trail Head BBQ Bar

Location: Central Terminal, after TSA, near Gate C1.

Hours: 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Conditions: A visit is good for $28 off the bill; if you register a guest, they would be eligible for an additional $28 off the bill ($56 total). Note that Priority Pass Select membership through American Express credit cards excludes restaurants.

Many may find this better than a traditional lounge. As a restaurant, the menu is more substantial as is the drink list, which contains local craft beer, cocktails and regional wine. To-go orders are not eligible for using the Priority Pass credit, however.

Gratuity is not included in the Priority Pass credit, so that should be added separately. If you go over the allotted credit, you must pay the difference.

Bambuza

Location: North Satellite.

Hours: 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Conditions: A visit is good for $28 off the bill. A registered guest would be eligible for an additional $28 off the bill, or $56 in total. American Express credit cards excludes restaurants in Priority Pass Select memberships.

This tasty Vietnamese restaurant is a favorite of many travelers, and some may take a detour from other terminals just to be able to take advantage of their Priority Pass benefit here. Using locally sourced and fresh ingredients, the menu includes a variety of dishes ranging from tofu pho soup to rice or noodle bowls.

A drink menu includes soft drinks, wine, beer and cocktails, all of which are eligible to be used with the Priority Pass credit. Allow time to sit down and enjoy your meal since to-go orders are not eligible for using the Priority Pass credit. Note that you cannot use the credit toward gratuity, and if you go over the amount, you must pay the difference.

» Learn more: Credit cards that offer airport lounge access

The Club SEA (Concourse A)

Location: Concourse A.

Hours: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Conditions: Access is only permitted three hours prior to a flight.

This is one of two The Club lounges at SEA. It offers a variety of light refreshments and an open bar with complimentary wine, beer, cocktails and soft drinks. Guests will find ample workspace, power outlets and free wireless internet. There are also computer workstations available. Since no airline lounges currently participate in the Priority Pass Sea-Tac network, this is as close as it gets to a traditional lounge experience.

» Learn more: How to maximize your Priority Pass Select membership

The Club SEA (South Satellite)

Location: South Satellite, next to Gate S9.

Hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Conditions: Access is only permitted three hours before a flight.

This is the second of the two The Club lounges at SEA. This lounge serves a buffet of light refreshments and an open bar with complimentary wine, beer, cocktails and soft drinks. The South Satellite is home to many international airline departures, and as a result, several foreign carriers use this as their business class lounge. This means you might find a slightly upgraded selection of snacks some hours of the day.

Also, guests will find ample workspace, power outlets and free wireless internet. There are computer workstations available as well.

How to access these lounges

Priority Pass membership starts at $99 per year, but accessing a lounge still requires a fee for every visit. A $299 option permits 10 free annual visits, which makes it a better option for those that travel occasionally while a $429 option offers unlimited visits. But, the smartest frequent fliers rely on Priority Pass lounge access through their credit card benefits.

The following premium travel cards come with free Priority Pass membership:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

• Citi Prestige® Card.

• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card — 10 visits per cardmember year. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

• U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card.

Most of these cards come with Priority Pass Select membership, giving you unlimited access to the network’s 1,300-plus lounges worldwide — with the exception of those that cap access at 10 visits, as noted above. It is wise to always study the benefits of your card. Most permit bringing in two free guests, but some do not.

From there, the cost for an additional guest is $35 per person.

The bottom line

Priority Pass members flying to or through Sea-Tac can visit four lounge or restaurant locations before a flight. Be sure to review the details on the Priority Pass website as lounge hours can vary and some lounges may cap the number of people who can enter. Have an alternative lounge option ready, just in case, and arrive early to enjoy the experience.

The information related to Citi Prestige® Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.