The American Express Centurion Lounge in Seattle is temporarily closed. But the reason why is a head-scratcher.
The AMEX Centurion Lounge in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has been closed since Monday. AMEX provided little info on why except this short note explaining the closure:
Beginning March 11, 2019, The Seattle Centurion Lounge will be temporarily closed for a short period as we renovate and improve the space.
I used the lounge on Sunday before my flight to Los Angeles, the day before it closed. When checking in, I asked why exactly the lounge was closing. The agent was quick to say:
Sadly, it’s not because we are adding space.
That was given. The oft-overcrowded “Centurion Studio” became a “Centurion Lounge” a little more than a year ago when it added a second dining room and bar. There is no space to expand unless it takes over the neighboring McDonald’s, which had huge lines at 5:00 A.M. on Sunday morning.
So what will be changed?
Pointing to the check-in desk, the agent said, “We are just getting a new desk. There will be a couple of other minor furniture changes.”
That’s all? Yep.
First, the wooden check-in desk looked perfectly fine to me. Second, why the heck does American Express have to close a lounge for several days just to bring in new furniture? Haven’t they heard of overnight installation? It’s not like we getting a remodeled bathroom…
CONCLUSION
I love breakfast in the Seattle Centurion Lounge and was happy to partake on the “last day” of the lounge opening. Let’s hope the critical task of furniture replacement doesn’t keep the lounge closed too long…
There is little point to visit the Centurion Lounge in Seattle anymore. Unless traveling at dead hours, you have to give your phone number and wait for a text 20, 40, or 60+ minutes later so that you can sit in an area more crowded and chaotic than all but the busiest of gates.
But decent coffee and breakfast. I appreciate it for that reason.
That lounge is a zoo and I will never go there again. Delta Sky lounge in SEA is by far the best one. Last time I was there and had to fly Alaska I tried the Amex lounge to be told I needed to provide them with my phone number and they would text me when I could come back. Really??? No tks!!!
Did they give you any indication how long the closure will last? I am flying out of SEA end of month…
They said “not long” but did not have an exact answer.
My guess, working in construction project management, is that it’s probably something behind the walls that they don’t want you (or even their associates, quite frankly) to know about. Could be something as minor as a leak or as pervasive as mold…
The American Express Centurion Lounge in Studio
i believe you meant Seattle??
I agree, that lounge was overcrowded during our visit last summer. I hope they get rid of those round tables/seats things.