Seattle said yes to a $70 million Chase Sapphire Lounge, then ordered a study of what lounges do to airports

Seattle is getting a Chase Sapphire Lounge. Port of Seattle commissioners voted unanimously on Oct. 27 to approve a 15-year lease for the lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, The Seattle Times reported.

The vote came a month after commissioners delayed the deal, as we covered in our earlier story on the Oct. 27 vote. It also came with a twist. Commissioners ordered a five-year study of what airport lounges do to passengers, shops and restaurants.

The deal in numbers#

Chase welcomed the vote. "We're excited about the outcome and appreciate the Port of Seattle's support in bringing a Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club to Seattle," the bank said in a statement quoted by the Times.

The lounge will include shower suites, according to the Times. It will sit beside the expanded Delta One Lounge.

Why it took two votes#

The lease first came up in late September. Commissioners postponed it to get more information from presenters, the Times reported.

On Oct. 27, Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa added an amendment. It orders a five-year study of passenger behavior and preferences at Sea-Tac. It will also look at how lounges affect nearby restaurants and shops. That amendment also passed unanimously.

The study grew out of concerns from small businesses, according to the Times. They worried that a big premium card lounge could cut into their sales. About $500,000 a year will go toward the study. Hasegawa said the first report is due by the second quarter of 2027.

That study could matter far beyond Seattle. Airports across the US are weighing more bank lounges. Few have published hard data on how those lounges change spending in the terminal.

Port staff made the case for the deal. Jeff Wolf, the port's director of aviation commercial management, said a Sapphire Lounge would make Sea-Tac a more competitive airport, the Times reported.

Who would get in#

Chase customers are a big slice of Seattle's travelers. According to the Times, 12% of boardings at the airport in 2025 were by Chase customers. That was about 3.1 million boardings, and about 500,000 of them were eligible for lounge access.

The Times reported that additional guests beyond the two free ones cost $27 each.

The lounge shuffle#

The Sapphire Lounge's spot was first meant for a revamped version of The Club at SEA, a common-use lounge near Gate A11. The port decided a bank or airline lounge would earn more and cost the port less, according to the Times.

So The Club at SEA is moving instead. It will take over the United Club space near Gate A10. United's club is set to move to the B Concourse next year.

1. 1United movesits club leaves Concourse A for the B Concourse next year
2. 2The Club movesinto the old United Club space near Gate A10
3. 3Chase buildsa 16,000-square-foot Sapphire Lounge at the end of Concourse A

Source: The Seattle Times

This will be Sea-Tac's second credit card lounge. American Express already runs a Centurion Lounge in the Central Terminal.

You can see what's open today in our guide to lounges at Seattle-Tacoma.

The reaction on X#

Seattle realtor Jeff Reynolds put the news in his list of the city's good week. To be precise, Sea-Tac has approved the lease. The lounge has not opened and has no opening date yet.

View this post on X

Card fan Tre Dabney saw the bigger trend. Banks are racing to open lounges, and he thinks travelers come out ahead.

View this post on X

What we still don't know#

Chase has not said when the lounge will open or shared any design images. We will update this story when Chase or the port sets a date.

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