It’s a fascinating time for Alaska Air Group, given the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. We know that a lot is changing, including turning Seattle into a global hub, using a fleet of Boeing 787s. In late 2024, we learned about some major changes coming to Alaska’s airport lounge network.
Continue reading: Alaska Plans Honolulu & San Diego Lounges, Flagship Seattle Lounge
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Visited an Alaska Lounge (SEA North Satellite) for the first time a couple weeks ago. Have to say it's the nicest looking domestic (non-business class) lounge I've been to, and it was a good overall experience. Loved the tarmac views, especially of our HA A330 that we were taking to NRT. Hopefully they will use similar design cues for the international lounge.
Chances are they’ll be taking over the former delta sky club space at terminal 2 once delta moves over to the new terminal 1 in 2026/2027
SAN new terminal 1 opens this week. With second phase scheduled to be open in 2028. Delta is suppose to occupy the new second phase in terminal 1 with. Delta sky club in terminal 2 will be vacant after the move. Or a new connector between terminal 1 /2 is being built which is closer to Alaska gates.
Delta is moving to terminal 1? Didn’t think there would be a whole lot of movement with airlines and terminals.
Delta is not not moving until 2028 as part of the Terminal 1B is opened. Currently only 1A has an opening on September and will include SWA, Breeze, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit and Sun Country. Air Canada and West Jet will join in early 2026.
Among AS lounges, I've only been to the SFO one, which wasn't large, but clean and not busy for my evening flight back to HNL. Much better than the Plumeria Lounge at HNL, which I'll be checking out in December. It will be nice to see how less crowded it will be now that it no longer participates in Priority Pass.
Thank goodness that they passed on the Aspire Lounge in SAN. What a travesty: tiny space, always overcrowded with lines, bad food and expresso machines always out of order. Gave up on Admirals club access because of this partner lounge. Wise decision AS - hope for us from SAN. Thanks for the news, Ben.
With Alaska now offering nonstop service from Tampa (my home airport) to San Diego (my most frequent destination now) I have been so impressed with Alaska. Very flight so far in both F and Premium has been super pleasant. Glad to see the lounge investment in SAN. That airport is developing into a very nice airport.
Also worth noting: a new 13,000 sq ft Alaska lounge will open in Portland in 2026, replacing the current lounge.
Sometimes I wonder if airlines aren't becoming restaurant owners instead of transportation companies.
Or ... rename the parent company Atmos, put the operating certificate under that name, and operate the subsidiaries (Alaska, Hawaiian, Horizon, etc.) under their separate brands.
Hopefully the HNL one will be called “Pualani Lounge” to pay homage to the OG Hawaiian Airlines.
Alaska has been building a 5 story building between Terminals C and D for about 2 years - very visible from the AS lounge in Terminal D. Been about a year since last there, but agents in the club indicated it was a new large lounge - to be 3 stories. - like 35,000 sq ft. I am surprise you haven't seen the building in your travels - it is highly visible. The top floor slopes so that ATC control tower can get a view of the runway. At the time, agents were not sure if Term D lounge would close - likely not if they are making the new one Flagship - but maybe a segment will replace the D lounge.
That’s good news for San Diego. I’m never sure what to make of Honolulu lounge updates, I’ve never seen anything there that made me want to spend extra time in the airport. Hopefully, this is turning the tide.
What I really wish Alaska would do is prioritize some of their older lounges. LAX needs to close that AS lounge, and re-envision the footprint, perhaps combining it with the Air Canada lounge across the way.
It's a time-honored historical tradition. The most profitable public/commercial transportation companies tend to have a lucrative side business that actually pays all the bills. For railway it was (and outside of the USA is) real estate, for the airlines it's credit cards.
Having lived in Hawaii for 20 years of which were on Oahu, locals laugh at any proposed opening dates. Add 2 or 3 years, minimum. Nothing on the islands opens when planned or comes in on budget. Ever.
When Delta does move, perhaps Alaska will take over the Delta check-in counter footprint (and absorb their Hawaiian check-in counter) and move to T2-West vs. their cramped T2-East location.