In November 2023, it was announced that the cost of an Alaska Lounge membership would increase, and on top of that, new lounge access restrictions would be added. I wanted to recap the details of this, as the changes are live as of today.
In this post:
Alaska increases cost of lounge membership
As of February 1, 2024, the cost to be an Alaska Lounge member has increased:
- The cost of an Alaska Lounge membership has increased from $400 to $450 for elites, and from $500 to $550 for non-elites; this offers access to the nine Alaska Lounge locations
- The cost of an Alaska Lounge+ membership has increased from $550 to $650 for elites, and from $650 to $750 for non-elites; this offers access to the nine Alaska Lounge locations, plus 90+ partner lounge locations, including all American Admirals Clubs, and select Qantas Clubs and United Clubs
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.
What makes this change sting is that it’s the second price hike we’ve seen on an Alaska Lounge membership in roughly two years, as Alaska also increased the cost of lounge memberships in 2022.
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.
Alaska adds new lounge access restriction
Not only has Alaska increased the cost of a lounge membership, but the airline has also added a new access restriction. As of February 1, 2024, 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.
Really Alaska is just playing catch-up here, as it was the last US airline to not have a specific ticket requirement for accessing lounges (even though that was the norm with all airlines back in the day).
My take on these Alaska Lounge access changes
Of course no one likes to see the cost of lounge access increase or see new restrictions added, though I’m also not surprised to see this. With Alaska being in the oneworld alliance nowadays and partnering closely with American, there’s a need to have some consistency when it comes to pricing.
Alaska Lounge members and American Admirals Club members have reciprocal lounge access perks. American recently raised the cost of an Admirals Club membership, so it’s not surprising to see Alaska do the same. After all, otherwise it’s just an arbitrage opportunity.
I’m also not surprised to see the new restriction on access. While it’s a bummer to see, with all competitors doing the same, and with lounges being generally crowded, the writing was on the wall for this.
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.
That’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 has increased as of February 2024, which is the second price hike in two years. With these changes, the airline now charges $450-550 for an Alaska Lounge membership, and $650-750 for an Alaska Lounge+ membership.
On top of that, members are only able to visit Alaska Lounges when flying on Alaska or a partner airline the same day.
I don’t think anyone will be a fan of these changes, though I also don’t think anyone will be surprised. Since Alaska Lounge and American Admirals Club memberships basically offer the same thing, it makes sense to have prices be roughly similar.
What do you make of these Alaska Lounge membership changes?
Happy Free agent said it all
In a nutshell subpar offerings
Can someone tell Alaska just because they joined one world they didn't become a premium carrier
They don't even tighten bolts or check for lose parts on their BBBoinggggg Planes
They can raise prices all they want. The lounges suck and no sane person would pay real money for them.
Alaska used to have an advantage for their occasional travelers with the half-off day pass for their Visa card holders. That was one reason to select Alaska when multiple parallel options exist.
Ben, you might want to make sure to note that you CANNOT combine the elite discount AND the $100 AS Visa discount. It's one or the other.
Alaska lounges are the worst in the US. Dark, dirty and food offerings are worse than a Holiday Inn breakfast.
This year I will fly 26 Alaska segments and close to 150,000 miles on Alaska and partners. The Alaska lounges don't compare with international partner lounges, but most add to the airport experience and encourage me to arrive earlier for flights. If I price out a couple of lattes, muffins, and breakfast or lunch, I'm glad I bought the lounge pass. I've flown regularly on Alaska for many years with elite status increasing over time...
This year I will fly 26 Alaska segments and close to 150,000 miles on Alaska and partners. The Alaska lounges don't compare with international partner lounges, but most add to the airport experience and encourage me to arrive earlier for flights. If I price out a couple of lattes, muffins, and breakfast or lunch, I'm glad I bought the lounge pass. I've flown regularly on Alaska for many years with elite status increasing over time in the last 15 years. I get a discounted rate and will renew next year and probably gift my lounge passes. The Alaska Mileage Program offers a package of benefits and domestic routes from Seattle to just about every place I fly to. If the new pricing and limits reduce usage, it increases the benefits of my pass.
Let's say the average cost for your food (lattes, muffins, breakfast lunch) per visit is $18, for 26 segments, you would have paid $468 elsewhere. However, you're at their mercy at what food/drinks you can have. That $468 might have gotten you a nice travel reward card that comes with a galore of options and food credit elsewhere.
I like how you look at things positively, and be content with what we have. But...
Let's say the average cost for your food (lattes, muffins, breakfast lunch) per visit is $18, for 26 segments, you would have paid $468 elsewhere. However, you're at their mercy at what food/drinks you can have. That $468 might have gotten you a nice travel reward card that comes with a galore of options and food credit elsewhere.
I like how you look at things positively, and be content with what we have. But it's always worth re-evaluate other options to make your $$$ go a bit further.
For a long time AS lounges were the best value out there. I can remember buying a membership for less than $300 (as an elite and not recently) when DL and AA were both already over $500 a year and having access to the partner lounge network of the day (DL at one point and now One World). But no more and not surprising, as people were arbitraging with their membership. I switched to the...
For a long time AS lounges were the best value out there. I can remember buying a membership for less than $300 (as an elite and not recently) when DL and AA were both already over $500 a year and having access to the partner lounge network of the day (DL at one point and now One World). But no more and not surprising, as people were arbitraging with their membership. I switched to the AA credit card a couple years ago at renewal and that has worked well as it pays for itself.
AS lounge's food selection is beyond terrible. There's no shower or rest area. Not all cocktails are free, which is quite bizarre. Why would anyone pay that much for this sub-par lounge?
Two words: pancake machine
I use my Ritz Carlton $300 airline incidental credit to pay for AS lounge+ membership, so my cost (as Gold 75K) went up from $50 in 2022 to $250 in 2023 to $350 in 2024...I might not renew.
Since I have AA $595.00 Card, This Card is useless for me. It did not work in Qatar, they tried to send me to a Garbage Lounge there. It did not work at DFW. It did not work in Madrid (Iberia Lounge). Luckily I was Flying Business Class. So No Renewal of this Lounge Pass. easy decision!
@Ben/Lucky ---> I've been an AS elite since my VX status became AS status. I currently have an Alaska Lounge+ membership that allows me access to AA's Admirals Clubs. (My AA and oneworld status comes from being an AS elite.) To renew my AS Lounge+ will cost me $550 in 2024. Now, a Citi AAdvantage Executive card grants me Admirals Lounge status and access to Alaska Lounges, and costs $595.
Domestically these overlap, and obviously...
@Ben/Lucky ---> I've been an AS elite since my VX status became AS status. I currently have an Alaska Lounge+ membership that allows me access to AA's Admirals Clubs. (My AA and oneworld status comes from being an AS elite.) To renew my AS Lounge+ will cost me $550 in 2024. Now, a Citi AAdvantage Executive card grants me Admirals Lounge status and access to Alaska Lounges, and costs $595.
Domestically these overlap, and obviously there is no need to have both. But is there an advantage to having one over the other when traveling internationally?
The AA card has access to a substantial list of non-US lounges, many of which are Priority Pass lounges.
Just another one of the "death by a thousand cuts" as to the merits of Alaska and their great programs. Totally expected after their joining Oneworld and lowering their standards to AA's.
"the airline has been investing in new lounges, in terms of renovating and expanding existing locations and opening new ones."
Whatever improvements are happening is not occurring at Terminal 6 at LAX or Terminal 2 at SFO.
AND THE FOOD! Come on. It's like dry carrots, old brownies and sad soup. The pancake machine was cool the first time. Why would anyone pay for this?
I've found Alaska's loyalty program just not worth it anymore. Back when I could get an AS Lounge Membership for $350 (and use my Amex Plat $200 credit towards it) it was a good deal. Now the price has doubled, and last I visited in 2022 the food seemed to have regressed into not-quite-a-meal territory.
I get Lounge+ membership for FREE with my Alaska top tier elite status. Alaska lounge has been upping the food offerings. I can now have scrambled eggs with sausage for breakfast.
Alaska staff at lounge receptions in Seattle need to get with the rules. I was flying Alaska in their so-called first cabin and I am OneWorld Emerald through Qantas (platinum one which I dare say is higher than anything Alaska has) and in two lounges they tried preventing me from entering until I made enough of a fuss that I was finally allowed in. Having been on Qantas' highest level for 20 years I think...
Alaska staff at lounge receptions in Seattle need to get with the rules. I was flying Alaska in their so-called first cabin and I am OneWorld Emerald through Qantas (platinum one which I dare say is higher than anything Alaska has) and in two lounges they tried preventing me from entering until I made enough of a fuss that I was finally allowed in. Having been on Qantas' highest level for 20 years I think I know what the rules are and I "read" them the OneWorld rule book and later lodged a complaint through qantas. Alaska maybe relatively new to the alliance but their staff should know the highest status level allowances at the very least. No issues at JFK but there were at their SEA hub and I was not impressed having come off a 5+ hour flight and had a 6 hour transit.
The horror!!
I don't disagree that they should know this - Emerald access is pretty simple really - but I've had similar issues with BA. Denied access to the BA First (not Concorde Room) Lounge as an AA Executive Platinum and bizarrely BA tried to keep me out of the BA first lounge at JFK in 2022 even though I am BA Gold, because I was flying Alaska out of the same terminal. And of course BA...
I don't disagree that they should know this - Emerald access is pretty simple really - but I've had similar issues with BA. Denied access to the BA First (not Concorde Room) Lounge as an AA Executive Platinum and bizarrely BA tried to keep me out of the BA first lounge at JFK in 2022 even though I am BA Gold, because I was flying Alaska out of the same terminal. And of course BA only got to the point where they would consistently credit miles and tier points for Alaska flights in late 2022/early 2023.
The AA executive card has a $595 annual fee, not $550.
The worst value re lounge memberships. No showers and poor food offerings = hard boiled eggs and granola for breakfast and soup and salad only for lunch and dinner. Had a membership for a year but decided to respect myself and did not renew it.
I hear you on the food, it was pretty limited, but it's gotten noticeably better in the past year. Breakfast now has eggs and sausage hot options, lunch/dinner usually also has more varied salad ingredients (tomato, mozz, quinoa, and mac and cheese). Some lounges have make your own mexican bowls and make your own cold cut sandwiches. But it's def no centurion lounge or DL sky club.
Consider the Citi AA Executive Card. Club membership. 10x on hotels and rental cars booked through AA's portal. A range of credits. And, Alaska cards offer what?
Tangentially, same thing for the Delta Reserve.