Alaska Airlines has made two announcements regarding the Alaska Airlines Lounge. The first announcement is the long-awaited opening at San Francisco International Airport. The second change is to a new two-tiered membership program. Alaska Airlines has always had the lowest lounge membership cost of the major carriers in the United States. Alaska Lounge members are allowed to bring in two guests at no additional charge.
San Francisco Lounge Opening
For years, Alaska Airlines has been without a lounge at SFO. The former lounge at their previous terminal location was sinking into the ground forcing the relocation of those airlines to terminal 2. During the interim, Alaska Airlines members had access to the Cathay Pacific lounge in the international terminal.
Alaska Airlines guests will have the opportunity to relax in the new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport by late summer, as the airline announces updated plans for Bay Area travelers. Under this new plan, Alaska will move into the former American Airlines Admirals Club space in Terminal 2, enabling the airline to open a new lounge just as guests start to return to travel.
“We’re always looking for ways to be more responsive to our guests and offer amenities that make travel more relaxing. SFO has been the top-requested Alaska Lounge location by our guests for years,” said Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines’ senior vice president of marketing and guest experience. “So many people are dreaming of travel this year, so we want to open up our newest Alaska Lounge as quickly and efficiently as possible – and renovating this space in Terminal 2 allows us to do that.”
When completed, this new lounge will be the second-largest of the Alaska Lounges at just under 10,000 sq. ft., behind Alaska’s flagship lounge in Seattle‘s North Satellite Terminal. This space is also centrally located in Terminal 2, with easy access to additional dining and shopping options for guests. The Alaska Lounge at SFO joins seven other lounge locations in the Alaska Airlines portfolio, in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles; New York – JFK; and Anchorage.
The Lounge will include an espresso bar staffed by a trained barista, a full bar featuring complimentary local craft brews, West Coast wines and spirits and a wide selection of guest favorites like made-to-order pancakes, steel-cut oatmeal, fresh salads and hearty soups.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the opening of the Alaska Lounge at SFO,” said SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “As the recovery of air travel continues, travelers can look forward to more and more amenities at SFO. The Alaska Lounge offers a great way for people to relax, recharge, and enjoy the friendly service that they’re known for.”
New Alaska Lounge Pricing Plans
The current pricing of Alaska Lounge membership included access to the American Airlines Admirals Club along with the United Red Carpet Lounges at Washington DCA and Phoenix Skyharbor airports. Access to the Alaska Lounge network included two guests traveling with you. The current pricing is:
Lounge Membership pricing (effective October 1, 2021)
Alaska Lounge membership: $450 annually ($350 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)In October 2021, Alaska Airlines will update its Lounge membership structure to give members more options and flexibility. Starting this fall, Alaska will offer two tiers for Lounge memberships: Alaska Lounge and Alaska Lounge Plus. With the standard Alaska Lounge membership, members will receive access to all Alaska Lounges they know and love when flying on any airline. With the optional addition of a Lounge Plus membership, members will also receive access to an extended network of partner airline lounges across the country when flying Alaska – including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs. Pricing will also be updated as follows, remaining as one of the best values for lounge membership in the industry:
- Alaska Lounge Plus membership: $600 annually ($500 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)
- New Lounge membership enrollments and renewals made before Alaska’s two-tier structure goes into effect in October will be grandfathered into an Alaska Lounge Plus membership for the year.
Alaska Lounge Plus Membership
If your travels require more frequent access to our extensive network of partner lounges, this membership option is the way to go. Your current annual fee will increase, but you’ll receive the following benefits (at a rate much lower than other airlines):
| • | Access to 90+ partner lounge locations, including nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges and over 40 more partner locations worldwide |
| • | Two guests |
| • | Everything you’d receive with the Alaska Lounge membership |
Price (effective October 1, 2021):
| • | Plus membership (Elite-MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K) $500 |
| • | Plus membership (Non-elite) $600 |
Additional information about your membership and timing:
| • | Current Lounge members will be automatically grandfathered into the Plus program, effective October 1, and you will retain this until membership expiration. |
| • | Renewals after October 1 will move to the new two-tier program. |
| • |
If you’d like to renew before the new pricing goes into effect to lock in the current pricing and Plus program for one additional year, we are giving you that opportunity. |
Access For First Class Passengers
Passengers flying on paid first class tickets can access any oneworld®member lounge when traveling on an itinerary to or from Mexico City, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, or Australia.
Paying For Alaska Lounge Membership
Many credit cards offer ancillary airline fee credits. I have been using my AMEX Hilton Aspire credit card to pay for my annual renewals. This card gives me a statement credit of $250.00 per year for ancillary airline charges.
Final Thoughts
Alaska Airlines has always been a great value for the cost of lounge membership. In addition to the Alaska Airlines operated locations, there was an extensive list of locations with American and United Airlines. For those that only use Alaska-operated lounges, this should be consistent with the previous pricing. For those passengers relying on partner lounges, they will see a price increase. For me to keep what I have been accustomed to, my price will go up from $300.00 to $500.00 effective October 1, 2021. With that in mind, my cost after my ancillary airline credit will be $250.00. If you renew prior to October 1, 2021, you will be grandfathered for a year at the current rates.
