It’s an exciting time for Alaska Airlines, as the carrier is building a long haul network out of the Pacific Northwest. To coincide with the launch of some new long haul flights, the airline is opening its most exclusive check-in facility to date, with more to come.
In this post:
Alaska’s new premium check-in at SeaTac Airport
Alaska Airlines is opening an exclusive new check-in facility at Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA), exclusively for top tier Alaska Atmos Rewards Titanium members, plus those traveling in the carrier’s Business Class Suites (the name of Alaska’s new long haul premium experience). Immediate family, or up to two accompanying guests on the same reservation, are also eligible to use the facility.
The idea is that this is an exclusive space behind sliding glass doors, and it offers a more personalized check-in experience, plus direct access to a private security line, to minimize wait times. There’s even a concierge who essentially guides guests through that process.
Here’s how the airline describes this:
Coming soon, Suites guests and Alaska’s Atmos Titanium members traveling through Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport will enjoy a new, exclusive check‑in lane, with additional lanes planned across Alaska’s key hubs, including Anchorage, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and internationally in London, Reykjavik, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo. In Seattle, Alaska’s largest hub, the experience is elevated further with a personal concierge who guides guests from the exclusive Suites and Titanium lobby to a private security entrance.
I’m a little confused. It sounds like similar facilities are coming to other hubs, and even to the carrier’s long haul markets, but I imagine that’s not quite accurate. There’s no way Alaska is getting a private security lane at Heathrow for its once daily flight, heh.
I suspect at other airports, the idea is simply that there will be a separate check-in counter for Titanium members and Business Class Suite customers, beyond the standard first class and Atmos Rewards elite counter.
Alaska really is treating its top tier elites very well!
One really has to acknowledge just how well Alaska is trying to treat its top tier Titanium elite members. At other airlines, these kinds of private check-in facilities are typically reserved for invitation only elite members, like American Concierge Key and United Global Services members.
Meanwhile at Alaska, an elite tier that’s reasonably achievable is enough to unlock that This complimentary upgrade perk is super valuable, and a major incentive to go for Titanium status (given that status points can be earned with credit card spending, award flights, etc.).
For that matter, we’re also seeing Atmos Rewards roll out global upgrades for Titanium members, valid across the Alaska and Hawaiian networks, which is a perk you won’t find with any other airline in the United States.
If you live in Seattle, travel a lot, and can earn Titanium status, it’s certainly becoming a very compelling status tier, between the Alaska and Hawaiian specific perks, plus the reciprocal oneworld benefits.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines sure is upping its premium game as it expands globally, with the introduction of a new check-in facility in Seattle. This is exclusively for Business Class Suite and Atmos Rewards Titanium members, and it’s a private facility with seating, and dedicated access to a security lane.
It’s great to see these improvements from Alaska, and it’s particularly nice how this is being offered to elite members. The airline also plans to improve its check-in experience at other hubs, though I wouldn’t expect it to be quite like this.
What do you make of Alaska’s new premium check-in?
Alaska is treating its top elites well? You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.
As a million miler and titanium I barely get upgraded 50% of the time. 95/100 times 1st on the list with seats to sell within 24 hr and AS would rather sell the seat for $75 and I’ll be stuck in the back.
Take a guess which feature I’d rather have? An upgrade for my “loyalty” or a swanky ticket counter experience for less than 5 minutes…
Achieving Titanium on Alaska Airlines is really not difficult. I achieved Titanium last year and as of today, already achieved Platinum (should hit Titanium again in a few months). Given the large number of Oneworld carriers, just associating my Atmos account number with those reservations did it for me.
@Lucky
Did not mean to post comment without content:
From the quote:
"Coming soon, Suites guests and Alaska’s Atmos Titanium members traveling through Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport will enjoy a new, exclusive check‑in lane, with additional lanes planned across Alaska’s key hubs, including Anchorage, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and internationally in London, Reykjavik, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo."
Sounds like all that's changing at non-SeaTac is just the presence of a separate check-in lane for...
Did not mean to post comment without content:
From the quote:
"Coming soon, Suites guests and Alaska’s Atmos Titanium members traveling through Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport will enjoy a new, exclusive check‑in lane, with additional lanes planned across Alaska’s key hubs, including Anchorage, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and internationally in London, Reykjavik, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo."
Sounds like all that's changing at non-SeaTac is just the presence of a separate check-in lane for Titanium and Suites passengers.
Back to the quote again:
"In Seattle, Alaska’s largest hub, the experience is elevated further with a personal concierge who guides guests from the exclusive Suites and Titanium lobby to a private security entrance."
And in Seattle specifically, there will be more than just separate check-in lanes.
Used it today... regular clear and precheck would have been faster. It is like going through Heathrow first class check in. Id imagine if you are checking a bag it would be great.
This won't last long in its current form. Once they seduce enough people into reaching Titanium, they will change it.
All that boost in the soft product, yet the hard product looks old and tired.
Too bad they are do not allow at least non-US based OW Emeralds status holders to use them too - like how AA allows them to their Flagship First check in area with an escort to the security area, etc.
Maybe at SEA there would be some good traffic throughout the day, but I really doubt even there it would be high traffic always through the area.
Hopefully they will later when they...
Too bad they are do not allow at least non-US based OW Emeralds status holders to use them too - like how AA allows them to their Flagship First check in area with an escort to the security area, etc.
Maybe at SEA there would be some good traffic throughout the day, but I really doubt even there it would be high traffic always through the area.
Hopefully they will later when they are able to judge the usage of the area and open it up for non-US based OW Emerald holders.
Hopefully the agents there are better trained and more helpful (so far those that I've used at the usual counters at LAX and SFO are not the most knowledgeable or helpful when it comes to codeshare/AA/BA linked tickets, etc).
Cheers!
Yep , the terminal stuff is what is Worth about the high fares and fees . They are investing our money Wisely .
How is LAX a hub? I can't even get to LAS from LAX...
Well done Alaska!
Although the "lounge" is a little bit not loungey, just a couple of chairs, but still, the overall experience looks very well executed.
Bah! Yeah, more of an 'it's the thought that counts' on those chairs, sorry, 'the lounge area.' Good on Alaska for trying, regardless.
@TravelinWilly — Agreed, this is an attractive perk. That said, it remains to be seen how long Alaska Airlines will be able to retain flown miles as a component of status qualification, given its integration with OneWorld partners. Alaska is certainly an option I would consider more frequently, particularly for flights to Asia. However, the ground experience can be inconsistent at some of the more distant outstations, like at my home airport.