Seattle WC changes
 

Was in the Seattle WC yesterday ad noticed that the self-service bar is gone. Sign says "see attendant".
Asked the front desk and was told that the state liquor board said no self service allowed- must have a bartender.
Was told by an employee at the AS Board Room that the state would allow them to give away beer, wine, and vodka only. Everything else had to carry a charge.
Only in Washington.......... laws change hourly.....

Well this is the WC that's never open when you need it. (closing at 5:30 when they have all those DTW/MSP red-eye departures is ridiculous)

Can use the CO Club in Seattle
 

Of course Northwest doesn't advertise it because that would be good customer service, but if you are a WorldClub or President's Club member traveling on NW after 5:30 PM you can use the CO President's Club - not quite as convenient but it's after security and while small, has food, drink and a place to sit.

..but you still have to take the train to the NW gates from the CO club. :td:

It's been self-service for years. Did the laws change or did the state just now come poking around?
What's the effective difference between vodka and Scotch? This state is insane.

To get to the train you basically have to walk the length of Concourse B. Its almost one end of SEA to the other between the NW gates and the PC.

Exactly! The Concourse B stop is permanently closed to make sure that there is a sterile area for incoming international passengers from the South Concourse. Honestly, this so-called security is borderline ridiculous. They should re-screen incoming international passengers if it is soooooooooo important.

They re-screen the Eva Airways pax for some reason.

-RM

They could just not open the doors on the "sterile" car of the train when it stops at Concourse B. Keep the arriving international pax trapped in there until the train comes around to the main landside station.

Seattle WC is still serving alcohol....just different procedures
 

Don't jump the gun here. Seattle WC is still serving alcohol. It is true, they had to change some procedures in order to comply with Washington State's Liquor Laws, but they have already hired a bartender (hired from Marriott), and are taking orders for these beverages.

Until cosmetic upgrades are done to the facilities, there won't be a typical "bar" furnishing but bartender will take your order, go back to the kitchen, and bring out your drinks. The bartender will take your beer, wine, and possibly your mixed drink orders and return with your drinks. Look for the "Bartending Station" at the rear of the WC to place your orders.

As for the cosmetic upgrades, there is no easy solution. They are looking into various options. For one, they are considering a removal of the wall by the kitchen where currently, two pay phones (against the kitchen wall) are located. They are also considering to remove the rear "agent's counters" which are being unused, and replacing it with a fully staffed bar. There may also be other options being considered but those are what striked me as most likely based on my conversation with them. (Due to bankruptcy, this cosmetic change may take a while before it is implemented.)

On a different topic, Seattle WC is expecting an Wifi, either at the end of this month, or next (November). Stay tuned for that.

Jiburi

I don't believe the law changed. The action was based on violation by the British Airway's Lounge in Seattle. When British Airways was cited with violations, they contended that NW had not staffed its self-service bar for their operation and re-directed the problem. (British Airways had used WC in the past years before they recently build their own great lounge)

While Seattle WC and the head of WC in MSP, from what I hear, knows and are in full compliance with the liquor law, there were some areas where the liquor board wanted changed so that BA would do the same.

Jiburi

This is similar to the DCA WC, where you can't have self-serve alcohol. You have to order it from one of the WC staff, they make it for you and voila....you have a drink....it's what has to happen to stay within local law....sucks but the only way to change it is to change state law.....

If it was a Washington state liquor law (which have been very strange over the years), then why is it free beer, wine and vodka at ALL of the AS clubs. Surely it wouldn't affect the ones at LAX, SFO and PDX.

My take is that limiting the free beverages simplifies things for AS, and they get to make money on the folks that want something "different".

A little off subject but in the MSP WC there were three ladies with NWA badges on talking about major changes in many WC locations, but it sounded like upgrades not enhancments.

oh how you tease us with such statements but no details!!