Alaska Airlines has just announced that the cost of an Alaska Lounge membership will be increasing as of February 2025, though we don’t yet have the full details. This will be the second year in a row that Alaska increases the cost of a lounge membership, and it will be the third increase that we’ve seen since 2022.
In this post:
Alaska hikes lounge membership fees
As of February 1, 2025, the cost to be an Alaska Lounge member will be increasing. As of then:
- An Alaska Lounge membership will start at $595; this offers access to nine Alaska Lounge locations
- An Alaska Lounge+ membership will start at $795; this offers access to nine Alaska Lounge locations, plus 90+ partner lounge locations, including all American Admirals Clubs, and select Qantas Clubs and United Clubs
The prices are listed as “starting at” those amounts, so it’s not clear yet if there will be different pricing for elite members, or what.
For context, here’s how that compares to current pricing:
- The cost of an Alaska Lounge membership is currently $450 for elites or $550 for non-elites; prior to February 2024, the cost was $400 for elites or $500 for non-elites
- The cost of an Alaska Lounge+ membership is currently $650 for elites or $750 for non-elites; prior to February 2024, the cost was $550 for elites or $650 for non-elites
As it currently stands, all elite tiers — MVP Gold 100K, MVP Gold 75K, MVP Gold, and MVP members — receive the same elite discount. Furthermore, non-elite members with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card (review) or Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card (review) receive a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge+ membership if they pay with the card.
With the 2024 changes, we saw new access restrictions added, whereby Alaska Lounge members are only able to use lounges when traveling on Alaska or a partner airline (including oneworld partners and non-oneworld partners). That means Alaska Lounge members are no longer able to visit lounges when traveling on non-partner airlines.
Alaska justifies this change by explaining that the airline has been investing in new lounges, in terms of renovating and expanding existing locations and opening new ones.
My take on these Alaska Lounge fee hikes
What stings with these lounge membership cost changes is that this is the third price hike that we’re seeing in a period of roughly three years — that’s pretty rough! Even if you get a $100 discount for having a co-branded credit card, you’re looking at paying $495 per year for an Alaska Lounge membership, or $695 per year for an Alaska Lounge+ membership, which is on the steep side.
I’d argue that the best value for accessing American Admirals Clubs and Alaska Lounges remains the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (review). The card has a $550 annual fee, and offers an Admirals Club membership, plus a lot more.
Alaska Lounge members and American Admirals Club members have reciprocal lounge access perks, so if you typically use Alaska Lounges when traveling with Alaska or American, this is a great option. It’s cheaper than any membership fee being charged for an Alaska Lounge or American Admirals Club membership.
Bottom line
The cost of an Alaska Lounge membership will be increasing once again as of February 2025, for the third time in the past few years. Once these changes kick in, an Alaska Lounge membership will start at $595, while an Alaska Lounge+ membership will start at $795 per year.
I could totally make sense of the price changes last year, which just got Alaska in line with the competition, and largely reflected that Alaska joined the oneworld alliance. But to see another price increase the following year is pretty bad, in my opinion.
What do you make of these Alaska Lounge membership fee changes?
Minor correction: AF for AA Exec card is $595, not $550.
Apparently a single entry ticket is $60 , given that they have sufficient capacity. So in that case you'll need 10+ visits before the membership starts returning value. Given the state of most 'regular' lounges in the US, with tons of lines to get in, all overcrowded and usually a very limited selection of food and drinks (excluding the super exclusive lounges that Ben sometimes reviews, of course), I think the conclusion is clear: definitely...
Apparently a single entry ticket is $60 , given that they have sufficient capacity. So in that case you'll need 10+ visits before the membership starts returning value. Given the state of most 'regular' lounges in the US, with tons of lines to get in, all overcrowded and usually a very limited selection of food and drinks (excluding the super exclusive lounges that Ben sometimes reviews, of course), I think the conclusion is clear: definitely not worth it.
However, taken from their websites lounge policy, OneWorld Emerald and Sapphire elite status members other than Alaska/American members will have access to the lounge and all other requirements (like membership passes, minimum flight lengths and eligible destinations) are waived, as long as their frequent flyer number is on the reservation. To me that sounds like an incentive for frequent flyers to just fly elsewhere and use Alaskan when they've earned elite status there, or to fly Alaskan and not use their ffp but that of a competitor instead. In other words, it seems to me that Alaska is partially chasing away its own potentially most valuable customers by setting the by far toughest requirements for them... They must be really confident about their position here, otherwise they'd act more competitive. Anyway, anyone interested in checking out the requirements at Finnair Plus or Royal Club, for example? ;)
Everyone should just get One World Sapphire on a non-US airline and quit their complaining. Too much energy on to small of a topic. Let's move on.
I think the Alaska lounges are worth thousands a year in annual dues
They are giving it away right now and have to keep the riff raff out
Their premium high end offerings and sit down dinners with vip service and luxury seating are unsurpassed like their lie flat seats in first class
They make Emirates lounges look pitiful abroad
Why is my nose growing like Pinocchio?
Hard pass Alaska!
The firm pays for my airline club membership and whether it's $400 or $600 is immaterial when our profits per equity partner are north of $8MM.
Bottom line, I seriously doubt anything more than a handful of people are incurring out of pocket cost on Alaska memberships.
Wait you claim to make $8MM and you clients don't fly you on their jets?
You're a disgrace to the profession.
Real partners only have clients with corporate jets.
Bottom line, stop fooling around. Your school bus is waiting to take you home.
Schoolboy comments abound, it must be a boring day in the asylum for inmates and fanboys.
I'm one of the "handful" of folks incurring out of pocket costs for this.
The cost increase is rough. And makes me debate whether this is the right way forward. The AA card is not currently an option as I had it and closed it when the authorized user fees went up last year.
Adding to the limited amenities in AS lounges, their complimentary alcohol selection is worst in the industry by a long shot. Like the stuff you keep in the cupboard below the bottom shelf. Holy next day hangover Batman! I just don't get why anyone would pay for their membership when every one of their locations (apart from ANC) has a better option.
Except for the draft beer part. The SEA N lounge's beer options are very, very good.
Maybe the reason for this cost increase is to make room for Hawaiian Airlines passengers.. HA passengers will soon get access to Alaska lounges, then it'll be even more crowded.
Alaska lounges have legit some of the worst food, while now having among the highest cost for a lounge membership at this point. I don't know why anyone would renew at this point.
UA/AA have credit cards that offer lounge membership at a much lower cost, while offering other decent perks. I'm pretty sure the paid memberships only exist to prop up the value of their co-branded credit cards.
Maybe Alaska saw Delta destroy their...
Alaska lounges have legit some of the worst food, while now having among the highest cost for a lounge membership at this point. I don't know why anyone would renew at this point.
UA/AA have credit cards that offer lounge membership at a much lower cost, while offering other decent perks. I'm pretty sure the paid memberships only exist to prop up the value of their co-branded credit cards.
Maybe Alaska saw Delta destroy their lounge access via Amex and saw an opportunity to squeeze their customers for more.
Their tasty mac & cheese is legit.
Alaska has the lamest lounges in the industry. No showers, no hot food, limited food spread, not worth it.
When's the last time you were in an AL? They have had hot food in them for several years now.
Wow, are you serious? No showers nor hot food? And they have the least amount of lounges compared to AA, UA & DL and now the most expensive price, No thanks