United Airlines is moving from concourse A to B in Seattle. This allows Delta to use their vacated international capable gates on Concourse A – a move I haven’t seen widely reported. And that’s going to mean opening a new United Club on the B concourse to replace the current lounge at gate A9.
This is a project that’s been underway since at least 2021. And since the airport is moving United they’ve taken on the cost of the move, including covering buildout for a new United Club. The airline is managing their own construction and will get reimbursed. There have been continued project updates through last year.
Note that the “in-use date” for Concourse B establishes the planned move date for United Airlines in 2025 Quarter 3, presuming no extra-ordinary steps taken to revise this date. United Airlines had earlier elected to self-complete their lounge. The schedule for completion of this work remains to be determined.
I haven’t found don’t find any 2025 documents in the Commission agenda with separate authorization, progress, or reimbusement for the new United Club’s construction. All of the United lounge references through last summer remained forward‑looking (“future authorization request”). So it’s not clear what the actual timing to deliver the lounge will be and how that will coincide with moving their gates in the airport. But it does look like United is getting a new lounge in Seattle.
United Club Denver
Of course this will be my third United Club to visit in Seattle. I’m old enough to remember the Red Carpet Club in North Satellite, on the transit/train level below the concourse — a windowless “basement” club under the stairs. I would access it regularly back around 2002-2003 using my Mexicana Frecuenta Gold Star Alliance status when flying United in and out of that airport. I believe it closed in 2013, with the opening of the current A9 facility.
As much as some want to believe otherwise, SEA is managing competing interests from AS and DL fairly.
UA does not need gates on A given that it is larger, supports large narrowbodies and widebodies and many gates are connected to the new larger FIS.
DL is keeping gates on B and I suspect that DL gets preferential use rights on A concourse gates while AS’ international flights along w/ most other carriers will use S gates and the bridge to the A concourse and FIS.
Given how full SEA is and how much AS and DL both want to do, there will be even more of this shifting around and it does make sense for SEA itself to fund it.
Maybe they’ll takeover the old Amex space?
Almost forgot that United served the airport… psh. For real, UA practically only fly from SEA to their hubs at SFO, DEN, ORD, LAX, IAD, IAH, and EWR. SEA for United is more like FLL or LGA for United; yes, they are in-fact ‘there,’ but, like, they aren’t the main show in town… I’ll be honest, I’ve only ever flown AS and DL in/out of SEA.
It is the old Amex lounge space. The United gates will be just across the concourse. The gates facing a will remain delta and those facing c will move to United. This allows delta to operate more efficiently and united to maintain its limited presence while including a lounge. Now what happens to the old United lounge??
I miss the United N gates and more importantly, the larger number of destinations United served.
Wonder why the tax burden in Seattle is so high? The Port of Seattle spends money like water, spending one-tenth of a billion dollars on a United Airlines gate move.
@derek — What’s your specific concern? Are you griping about sales tax? Property taxes? Because WA state doesn’t have income tax. As far as tax burdens go, I’d say Seattle is fairly mid-range, compared to elsewhere. Clearly, you’re no fan of this ‘move,’ but more so sounds like you just irrationally hate a particular city… was it the Seahawks defeating the Broncos? It’s been a while. As with your recent comments disparaging Canadians in the other recent post on here, I’d say, you’re just trolling again.
My God 1990 Do you even live in WA? The state just completed the largest tax increase in state history. there may be no income tax, but there is a clearly unconstitutional capital gains tax. this state taxes everything, and they cant stop Look at the gas prices. we are not mid-range! geez
Delta plans on operating from 18 gates on A when all the moves are completed I believe.
Will US airports ever figure out how to use the magical invention known as common-use gates? If not, what stops them from doing so?
Samus,
yes, US airports have common use gates and that is also true of SEA.
When airlines use gates to a high enough level, they get preferential or dedicates use access to certain gates.
@Scott — Nice gate-keeping. So, according to you, one must literally live in a place to comprehend relative tax burdens. No. We can contemplate, regardless of where we physically are. I’ve been to the state numerous times and have friends who live there. Everyone complains about all sorts of taxes everywhere, not just WA, CA, NY, FL, TX, etc. Some who frequent VFTW think all taxation is theft… we call them, unrealistic.
Back to WA: 7% on gains over $262,000 up to $1 million, then 9.9% beyond that; real estate, retirement accounts, and some small business activities are exempt. So, basically that new ‘tax’ targets the super-wealthy who ‘earn’ their money from stocks, not ‘labor.’ It affects very few people. If that’s your primary concern, then you must be doing quite well for yourself. Congrats!
@derek,
General taxpayer money does not fund the airport. It comes out of airport fees that airlines and concessions pay. So, you pay these fees when you buy airline tickets or when you buy something at the airport.
North satellite will always be air, Canada and United Airlines. To me, I don’t care.If alaska took over
Just like Northwest will always be south satellite, including SAS. British Airways Ana, Aeroflot world airways, all the carriers from the 1990s and 80s. My time my memories
@Mark
I was under the impression that DL was keeping B1 thru B5 and we would be taking B7 thru B11 is that not the case? As someone who worked for Continental prior to the merger I would love it if we got those gates back.
I miss the good old days, the N Councourse was built for and exclusively United’s.