United Airlines is moving ahead with a new two-story United Club at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), with the project expected to cost about $21 million and open in late 2027. The 7,181-square-foot (670 square meters) facility will replace the carrier’s existing lounge near Gate A9 after United shifted its Seattle operation from Concourse A to Concourse B.

The scale of the investment is notable because the lounge occupies a relatively small footprint. The total project cost works out to more than $2,900 per square foot, reflecting both construction expenses and additional design, management, and contingency costs. The Port of Seattle has approved a $15.5 million reimbursement agreement for the construction, while United is covering additional enhancements beyond the airport’s replacement obligations.

A Replacement Lounge Becomes A Major Upgrade

Credit: Shutterstock

United’s need for a new Seattle lounge stems from an airport-driven change rather than a simple decision to abandon its existing facility. The airline moved its gates from Concourse A to Concourse B, allowing SeaTac Airport to repurpose the former United gate area. The relocation meant that the United Club near Gate A9 ultimately needed to be replaced in the new operating area.

The replacement is being built in the former American Express Centurion Lounge space across from Gate B3. Its position will place the facility much closer to United’s current gates, including B7A, B9, B11, and B15. The existing A9 lounge is expected to remain available during the transition. The Port of Seattle had an obligation to provide a replacement facility following United’s move, but the airline chose to go beyond a basic like-for-like replacement. The project includes a substantially different interior concept, including terrazzo flooring, decorative wall treatments, ceiling artwork, and a more contemporary United Club design.

The $21 Million Price Tag Reflects More Than Construction

Credit: Shutterstock

While the project’s headline figure is approximately $21 million, that amount encompasses several different expenses. About $15.5 million is associated with construction, while an additional $5.75 million covers design, Port-controlled contingency, project and construction management, and related costs. The overall estimate has also increased from an earlier projection of roughly $18 million. The Port of Seattle Commission attributed the additional expense to construction-cost inflation and changes incorporated into the final design. That makes the lounge a useful example of how airport construction costs can rise even when the physical footprint remains relatively modest.

At 7,181 square feet, the lounge is far smaller than some of the enormous premium facilities being developed elsewhere at Seattle-Tacoma. Alaska Airlines, for example, is planning a 41,000-square-foot (3,800 square meters), two-level lounge in Concourse C that is expected to open in late 2027. United’s project is instead designed around its specific gate footprint and the available space in Concourse B. Building vertically allows the airline to create a two-level facility without requiring a much larger horizontal footprint, an important consideration at one of the country’s most space-constrained airports. The airport’s own development strategy has increasingly emphasized vertical construction because available land and terminal space are limited. Seattle-Tacoma’s recent C Concourse expansion similarly added substantial passenger space by building upward rather than expanding outward.

New Club Reflects United’s Modern Lounge Strategy

Credit: United Airlines

The facility is expected to feature a full-size kitchen, family rooms, and views from both the concourse and mezzanine levels. Those features are intended to bring the lounge closer to United’s current standards. The investment also reflects a broader shift in how airlines use airport lounges. These facilities have become an increasingly important part of the premium travel experience, particularly as carriers compete for frequent flyers, premium-cabin customers, and credit-card customers.

Seattle is already an especially competitive environment for that strategy. Delta Air Lines operates both a Sky Club and a Delta One Lounge at the airport, while Alaska is expanding its own lounge network as it develops a larger long-haul international operation. United’s new facility therefore arrives at a time when travelers have more reasons to compare airport lounges rather than treating them simply as places to wait for a flight.

Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with the new United Club currently scheduled to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2027. The timing would put United’s new Seattle facility on roughly the same broad schedule as Alaska’s much larger lounge project elsewhere in the airport. For United, the project is ultimately an opportunity to use an airport-mandated relocation to rebuild, add modern amenities, and establish a more contemporary customer experience. At approximately $21 million, it is a significant investment for a relatively small space, but the resulting lounge should give United a more competitive ground product as premium travel continues to become an increasingly important part of the airline business.