It’s a huge day for Alaska Air Group. The company has announced plans to turn Seattle into a global hub (with Tokyo Narita being the first destination), and has also revealed plans to launch a premium credit card. There’s now another major update, as the company has announced some exciting additions to its lounge network.
In this post:
Alaska Lounges coming to Honolulu & San Diego
While details are very limited as of now, Alaska Airlines intends to open new Alaska Lounges in both Honolulu (HNL) and San Diego (SAN). 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). Both of these new lounge locations make perfect sense.
In the case of San Diego, the Aspire Lounge in Terminal 2 is expected to become an Alaska Lounge in the not-too-distant future. The lounge used to be an American Admirals Club, and it’s also currently where Alaska and American send their lounge members. It’s not a terribly high quality lounge, so I expect the quality to improve when it becomes an Alaska Lounge. However, I’d also expect the lounge will no longer be accessible with Priority Pass.
In the case of Honolulu, Hawaiian’s lounge situation there is currently a mess. The Plumeria Lounge has to be one of the most underwhelming lounges out there, and is open to Priority Pass members and premium customers. The airline also has the Apt. 1929 Lounge, which is uber-premium, with access starting at $500 per couple.
It makes perfect sense for Alaska Air Group to invest in the lounge experience in Honolulu. I’m just curious where the airline is getting the space for the lounge, since the terminal is quite outdated, and doesn’t seem to have space to grow. One thing is for sure — Alaska needs a lot more lounge capacity there, especially if it plans to continue to offer complimentary lounge access to paid first class passengers.
Flagship international Alaska Lounge coming to Seattle
Here’s another interesting development. There are already three Alaska Lounges in Seattle, but 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 Air Group 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.
Bottom line
Alaska Air Group is investing in its lounge network, with plans to open new Alaska Lounges in Honolulu and San Diego. That will expand the company’s lounge network from six airports to eight airports, so that’s exciting.
On top of that, by 2027, Alaska plans to open a new flagship international lounge in Seattle. It’s anyone’s guess if that will just be a standard Alaska Lounge that’s convenient for international passengers, or if it will be specially for premium passengers, and not lounge members.
What do you make of these investments into the Alaska Lounge network?
I asked about the rumor when in Aspire SAN two nights ago and was told that had just been put to bed. All workers were emailed last week and notified that Aspire would not be changing to AS. The person I spoke to was slightly disappointed since the change would’ve provided flight benefits for the workers, but the upside is that the lounge won’t be closing for renovations. I suppose the idea of DL moving...
I asked about the rumor when in Aspire SAN two nights ago and was told that had just been put to bed. All workers were emailed last week and notified that Aspire would not be changing to AS. The person I spoke to was slightly disappointed since the change would’ve provided flight benefits for the workers, but the upside is that the lounge won’t be closing for renovations. I suppose the idea of DL moving to T1 and AS going to T2 West and taking over the SC space makes more sense.
I'm glad the we can not confirm nor deny with a wink wink that I got from Alaska Corporate in Seattle and San Diego management in San Diego was actually true regarding the new Alaska Lounge in San Diego. I had gotten a heads up a few months ago. The current Aspire lounge at SAN is a joke. I call it the Spirit Airlines of lounges. I flew 178,000 miles on Alaska out of San...
I'm glad the we can not confirm nor deny with a wink wink that I got from Alaska Corporate in Seattle and San Diego management in San Diego was actually true regarding the new Alaska Lounge in San Diego. I had gotten a heads up a few months ago. The current Aspire lounge at SAN is a joke. I call it the Spirit Airlines of lounges. I flew 178,000 miles on Alaska out of San this year. I stopped going to the Aspire lounge. It's small and way over crowded (sometimes waits of 30 min to enter). The food never changes. It's the same thing day in and day out. The soup will alternate. The Aspire lounge accepts anyone as long as your flying out of T2 Wheb this location was rub by American it was way better. I'm looking forward to Alaska filling the location. The big drawback is its small. It reminds me of the Alaska JFK size.
In terms of HNL. I always use the Sakura lounge which is a Japan Airlines lounge and American Airlines Admirals club. That lounge is fantastic. Plenty of seats, hot food. I can only use it when flying Alaska or American. It's near the Alaska gates but far from the main Hawaiian terminal. I havent been to the Hawaiian lounges although the premier ones that I've seen by peaking in at HNL, OGG, LIH and KOA look like an absolute joke of a lounge.
I wonder the new international lounge at SEA if that would be similar to the Delta One lounge or United international first class lounge? I wonder if it would require a international first class ticket to enter?
S.D. resident, tried the lounge when it opened, couple times after, then stopped. Placement was a afterthought and way too small. Either move it, or add upstairs if possible. Otherwise don't bother.
Hopefully the morons at reception in the Seattle lounges now know not to question entry for oneworld emerald level passengers through Qantas, BA etc. I have no patience for such people who gave me a hard time the last occasion I flew with Alaska and had a long transit in Seattle.
In SAN, Delta is moving to the new T1, so I think that sky club space will open up. Maybe Alaska lounge can go there and they can keep aspire for AA, PP and Amex.
I havent heard that Delta is moving to the new terminal. I just presumed that it would be the Airlines currently in T1. I did hear rumors of American sliding over to the newer part of T2west and Alaska taking Americans current gates. Not sure if that is true.
Even after Alaska takes over the existing Aspire Lounge at SAN, Priority Pass holders will still be able to visit the newly opened Chase Sapphire Lounge.
Ben, the new SEA lounge will without doubt be in the South satellite. All international flights leave & arrive from there & requires a subway ride from the main concourse/security. It would be silly to build it anywhere else in the airport. BA & The Club have lounges there now. Considering the space constraints I think that since AS rebuilt the North satellite, which includes their current "flagship" lounge, they will probably do the same...
Ben, the new SEA lounge will without doubt be in the South satellite. All international flights leave & arrive from there & requires a subway ride from the main concourse/security. It would be silly to build it anywhere else in the airport. BA & The Club have lounges there now. Considering the space constraints I think that since AS rebuilt the North satellite, which includes their current "flagship" lounge, they will probably do the same in the South. It would make sense considering todays announcements/ambitions.
Ben, I think the contents list and first heading should read 'Alaska Lounges Coming to Honolulu and San Diego' not Seattle.
@ Mike C -- Indeed, thank you for the correction. Fixed! Sorry, has been a crazy morning around here...
Ben,
I don't doubt it...especially with the resident DL troll shilling his "facts" around here.
Serious question: why haven't you perma-banned him yet?
Hey, Ben, writing from SEA Airport here. Are you thinking of the 20K lounge within the new C Concourse Expansion we're building? You can find that mention already in our project page here: https://www.portseattle.org/projects/c-concourse-expansion Also includes a fly-thru rendering. That will be complete before the 2026 World Cup. S Concourse Evolution project is still in design and won't begin phased construction until after the WC. Feel free to reach out to us you've got questions...
Hey, Ben, writing from SEA Airport here. Are you thinking of the 20K lounge within the new C Concourse Expansion we're building? You can find that mention already in our project page here: https://www.portseattle.org/projects/c-concourse-expansion Also includes a fly-thru rendering. That will be complete before the 2026 World Cup. S Concourse Evolution project is still in design and won't begin phased construction until after the WC. Feel free to reach out to us you've got questions about SEA. [also to clarify, the Port/SEA rebuilt the N Concourse]. -Perry, SEA Media Relations
I would love to see some Hawaiian flair from the food and drinks down to the nibbles and snacks.
I hope they don’t completely absorb Hawaiian as the state has its own unique cultural identity. I guess it’s makes sense they are like Air France KLM with two brands but an integrated network, joint lounges, a common loyalty programme with a new name representative of the Pacific etc