Alaska Airlines has announced plans to retrofit nearly 220 aircraft with more premium seats, adding 1.3 million premium seats annually to the carrier’s mainline fleet.
In this post:
Alaska adds first class & extra legroom seats
Alaska Airlines will be retrofitting three variants of its Boeing 737s with more premium seats. Some planes will get more first class seats, while other planes will get more Premium Class seats (the name of Alaska’s extra legroom economy section).
Here’s what we can expect from the 218 planes that are getting some updates:
- 59 Boeing 737-800s will be retrofitted between early 2025 and the summer of 2025; first class will go from 12 to 16 first class seats, while Premium Class will maintain 30 seats
- 79 Boeing 737-900ERs will be retrofitted between the fall of 2024 and the summer of 2025; first class will maintain 16 seats, while Premium Class will go from 24 to 30 seats
- 80 Boeing 737 MAX 9s will be retrofitted between the spring of 2025 and the summer of 2026; first class will maintain 16 seats, while Premium Class will go from 24 to 30 seats
So as you can see, 737-800s are getting an extra row of first class, while 737-900ERs and 737 MAX 9s are getting an extra row of Premium Class.
For the planes getting an extra row of Premium Class, that’s being done without changing the seat count. With the current configuration, there are four rows of Premium Class, plus five standard economy rows, ahead of the exit rows.
With the new configuration, there are five rows of Premium Class, plus four standard economy rows, ahead of the exit rows.
So that space has to come from somewhere. Is legroom being reduced in those four economy rows, is legroom being reduced in all the Premium Class rows, or what?
This latest update is only partially new news. Earlier this year we learned about Alaska’s plans to retrofit 737-800s with new interiors, and we knew that first class would go from 12 to 16 first class seats. Those planes are getting all-new interiors. Furthermore, the 737-900ERs will also get an interior refresh, bringing modern touches like device holders in economy.
Why Alaska is adding more premiums seats
Alaska describes these updates as being in response to the growing demand for premium travel, in what the airline views as a structural shift. The airline notes how in the second quarter, first class revenue was up 8%, while Premium Class revenue was up 6%.
Alaska sold 71% of its first class seats, which is a pretty impressive number. Going back many years, a vast majority of first class seats were taken by those getting complimentary upgrades, while nowadays airlines actually do a good job monetizing their premium cabin products.
While it’s nice to see Alaska adding more premium capacity, ultimately there’s nothing earth-shattering here. It’s not like the airline is going all-out in leading the industry in premium capacity. For example, United has 20 first class seats on the 737 MAX 9 and 737-900ER, while Alaska is only maintaining 16 seats.
I’ve long been curious if we’ll eventually see a US airline greatly expand its premium cabin capacity, and set a new standard. After all, most flights aren’t 100% full, and the more premium seating you have, the more potential upsell opportunities there are for those who are booked on a flight.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines has announced plans to retrofit much of its existing fleet with more premium cabin seats. 737-800s are getting an extra row of first class, while 737-900ERs and 737 MAX 9s are getting an extra row of Premium Class. The airline is seeing an increasing demand for premium products (as so many airlines have), so this isn’t terribly surprising.
I wouldn’t even view these changes as being particularly bold or revolutionary, as the airline is just matching the layouts of some competitors.
What do you make of Alaska increasing its premium capacity?
I think a part of the story that is not talked about and is very important from a revenue perspective is that they are standardizing FC and PE to align the 737-800 and 900 as well as the max -9. This will allow Alaska to swap fleet types to better align with revenue opportunities or in the case of a mechanical issues and not disrupt their premium customers.
Section? Cabin? Which is it?
I am probably most uninspired by Alaska of any us Carrier. Flying transcontinental in a max on a recliner first class seat is equally as good as lighting money on fire. I really don't get the general American populations infatuation with a seat like this. The soft product features I totally understand. With all of the innovation and efficiency seats have had over the years in transcon premium this is really just a meh.
I agree with @Lucky, not exactly earth-shattering news. However, it is a net increase in available FC/Premium seats, and to @Tony N, it is about profit - that's why AK (and most other airlines) flies.
Now, I wonder if they'll make any announcement about toning down the (often extreme) territoriality some AK flight attendants display around the front lavatory for FC customers. To me, the front lavatory is a part of the "premium" experience, for...
I agree with @Lucky, not exactly earth-shattering news. However, it is a net increase in available FC/Premium seats, and to @Tony N, it is about profit - that's why AK (and most other airlines) flies.
Now, I wonder if they'll make any announcement about toning down the (often extreme) territoriality some AK flight attendants display around the front lavatory for FC customers. To me, the front lavatory is a part of the "premium" experience, for both ease of access and less traffic.
Has anyone else experienced similar?
Recent examples:
DAL-SEA (FC), while seat-belt sign was unlit, I missed the very small lavatory indicator light (about 1 inch square above the aisle). I got up to use the lavatory and had the misfortune of interrupting the flight attendant's credit card pitch. She stopped her pitch and yelled at me twice (and very quickly, like I was attacking someone), "Someone's in there, sit down!". I would have likely found that out by engaging the door handle and it being locked, but I guess it's "premium" to treat sober and behaving paying premium passengers like a five-year-old on a field trip.
PDX-DFW (FC), respecting the policy of AK in that the lavatories are "closed" during climb out and descent, this amounted to about 45 minutes in total. Further, the FAs physically barricaded the aisle in front of the front lavatory for about 30 more minutes, when the seatbelt sign was unlit. Add in the obligatory "turbulence" seat belt sign illumination for another hour as we smoothly crossed the Intermountain West. During a three-hour flight, the front lavatory (by policy and practice) was only available to premium passengers for about 45 minutes.
Nice to have more premium seats, but AK needs to fix this lavatory attitude by some FAs.
More paid seats more money for them. Profit over people.
More premium EATS. Yum. Lol
I'm not even that tall (6"2'), but I really hate footrests. They always take valuable space away and are really annoying.
Footrests are especially appreciated by us short people, whose legs don't comfortably reach the floor in some aircraft seats. When there is no footrest, I have to suffer, or more likely, use my underseat personal item as a footrest.
Using by backpack to build a support is what I've usually done in Business Class seats before they were all lie flat. Works like a charm and is much nicer than intruding into the space with something attached to the seat.
Another stuff to note about the retrofitted first class of Alaska is that it'll be the only domestic first class product with a leg rest and foot rest.
It won't have a fancy-looking IFE monitor, privacy wing, center divder and wireless charger like Delta or United, but Alaska will offer more legroom(41" pitch vs 37"), leg rest and foot rest which are all crucial to passenger comfort.
All the gadgets and privacy stuff...
Another stuff to note about the retrofitted first class of Alaska is that it'll be the only domestic first class product with a leg rest and foot rest.
It won't have a fancy-looking IFE monitor, privacy wing, center divder and wireless charger like Delta or United, but Alaska will offer more legroom(41" pitch vs 37"), leg rest and foot rest which are all crucial to passenger comfort.
All the gadgets and privacy stuff are useless once you close your eyes. I'd choose Alaska's new first class over Delta or United merely for a more comfortable seat.
An additional perk of this is uniformity in case of aircraft swaps to maintain the same seating assignment in the premium cabins. 16 F and 30 Y+.... Smart move.