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.
I’d like to provide an update, as some more details have been announced since then, with the latest updates being about the new lounge in San Diego.
In this post:
Upcoming Alaska & Hawaiian lounge openings
Alaska Air Group intends to open new lounges in Honolulu (HNL), San Diego (SAN), and Seattle (SEA). As it stands, there are nine Alaska Lounges at a total of six airports, including in Anchorage (ANC), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA). That’s in addition to the Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu (HNL).
So, what can we expect from these new lounges? Let’s cover what we know as of now…
Hawaiian Premium Lounge Honolulu opening 2027
In late 2027, Hawaiian Airlines will be opening a new premium lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The lounge will be located at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1, and will be five times larger than the carrier’s existing lounge in Honolulu, making it roughly 15,000 square feet.
The intent is that this lounge will cater to both Alaska and Hawaiian customers, given the company’s long term branding strategy — flights touching Hawaii will have Hawaiian branding, while all other flights will have Alaska branding.
Details beyond that are limited, though the first renderings of the new lounge look like a massive improvement over the old space.
Flagship Alaska Lounge Seattle opening 2027
While there are already three Alaska Lounges in Seattle, the airline has plans to introduce a new lounge concept at the airport. All we know as of now is that by 2027, Alaska plans to have “a new flagship international lounge in Seattle.”
With Alaska planning on launching 12 long haul routes out of Seattle by 2030, it makes sense that the company wants to invest in a premium lounge experience.
I’m very excited to see what Alaska comes up with here, since I think the airline will do something innovative, especially given the competition in Seattle. I’m also curious if this will replace one of the existing lounges, or if it will be newly built. The current best Alaska Lounge Seattle is a pretty gorgeous space, in terms of design and views.
It’s also not clear if this will be an international Alaska Lounge (as in, an Alaska Lounge for international departures for anyone who is a club member or a premium passenger), or if this will be a totally different lounge, with separate access requirements. I hope it’s along the lines of American Flagship Lounges, Delta One Lounges, and United Polaris Lounges. I suspect it will be, given Alaska’s desire to compete with Delta.
We’ve known that Alaska has plans to open a new 20,000+ square foot lounge as part of the Port of Seattle’s C Concourse Expansion Project, and it was supposed to be the primary lounge for guests departing from the C and D Concourses. However, that doesn’t necessarily seem that convenient for long haul flights, so we’ll see how that evolves.
This is purely speculation on my part, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this lounge has the new “Atmos” branding, which is now used for the company’s loyalty program. That’s because in 2024, Alaska filed a trademark for the name “Atmos,” to be used for “airport services featuring transit lounge facilities for passenger relaxation.”
Alaska Lounge San Diego opening 2028
In early 2027, Alaska Airlines will be starting construction on a new lounge at San Diego International Airport (SAN). Given that construction will only start in early 2027, I imagine that means an opening will happen either in very late 2027 or at some point in 2028, depending on how big of a project this is.
The lounge is expected to be roughly 13,000 square feet, and should be one of the largest lounges at the airport. Initially there had been rumors that the Aspire Lounge in Terminal 2 would become the Alaska Lounge, but that’s no longer in the cards. So if anyone knows where the space for this lounge is coming from, please report back!
This new lounge is described as an investment in the San Diego hub, as Alaska offers service to 45 nonstop destinations from the airport, the most of any carrier.
Bottom line
Alaska Air Group is investing in its lounge network, with plans to open three new lounges. This includes an Alaska Lounge San Diego, a Hawaiian Premium Lounge Honolulu, and some sort of a flagship Alaska Lounge Seattle.
We’ll see how this all plays out, though I think the main frustration is the amount of waiting required, as none of these lounges are opening in the next year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a couple of years before the first of these lounges actually welcomes guests, given how airport projects usually go.
What do you make of these investments into the Alaska Lounge network?
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.
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.
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...
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.
Hopefully the HNL one will be called “Pualani Lounge” to pay homage to the OG Hawaiian Airlines.
Sometimes I wonder if airlines aren't becoming restaurant owners instead of transportation companies.
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.
Also worth noting: a new 13,000 sq ft Alaska lounge will open in Portland in 2026, replacing the current lounge.
I wonder if long-term they want to rebrand fully to Atmos Airlines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SFO lounge is the best IMO. Seattle lounge (big one) up there as well.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.