Chase will invest $70 million in a new lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Port of Seattle commissioners approved a 15-year lease on Oct. 27.

The 16,000-square-foot Chase Sapphire Lounge will occupy space in Concourse A next to the Delta One Lounge, as first reported by View from the Wing. The $70 million covers both the initial build and a midterm refurbishment over the lease's 15-year term. The airport expects to collect about $135.6 million in rent during that period.

The lounge is expected to generate $7.9 million per year and add 118 hourly jobs and 10 management roles, according to a Port of Seattle commission memo.

Why Chase, not a public lounge

The port originally planned to build a common-use lounge in the space. Port officials switched to the Chase lease because it would cost less and bring in more revenue, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported.

The port had already spent $25.9 million on the space and faced another $8 million to finish a lounge on its own, MyNorthwest reported. Chase's $70 million commitment shifts the remaining construction costs off the port's books.

Airport Dimensions, Chase's lounge operator, was selected through a competitive process and negotiated the lease terms.

Commissioners pushed back before voting yes

The approval did not come easily. At a September meeting, Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa questioned how reserving terminal space for a subset of travelers fit the port's equitable development mission. Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed raised a separate concern: whether lounge diners would spend less at airport restaurants, cutting into concession revenue.

Two commissioners were absent in September, and the three present voted to postpone.

Airport staff returned with a 24-slide presentation. It showed lounge visitors were about as likely as other passengers to buy food and drinks in the terminal. Staff also noted that concession sales near the American Express Centurion Lounge, which opened in 2023, generally continued to grow after that lounge opened.

Who gets in

Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve and Ritz-Carlton credit card holders will have complimentary access. Cardholders may bring two guests free. Additional guests cost $27 per person.

Planned amenities include shower suites, a nursing room, a family room, all-gender restrooms, locally inspired food and drink, digital food ordering and high-speed Wi-Fi.

A concourse shuffle

The Chase lounge triggers a chain of moves across Sea-Tac. The Club at SEA, a Priority Pass lounge currently in the Chase footprint, will relocate to space United is vacating. United is building a new club in Concourse B in the former Centurion Lounge space.

No opening date has been announced. Chase has not confirmed a construction timeline.