Last year during Covid-19, Alaska Airlines extended lounge membership by an additional six months. Last month, I wrote about Alaska Lounge changes including the new San Francisco location opening this summer and a new fee structure. If you missed this detailed post, see can read it here. That post also mentions how the airline ancillary credit by premium credit cards can cover most of your annual membership fee.
Six Additional Months of Membership
Yesterday, I received an email from the Alaska Lounge offering me an additional six months of membership for free if I renew my membership now. Here is what it said:
Exclusive: Renew now and get 6 months, on us.
Stephen, we wanted to thank you for being an Alaska Lounge member with this exclusive offer: an extra six months on top of your yearly membership.
Before this exclusive offer ends*, renew online, in-person at any Alaska Lounge or by calling Customer Care at 1-800-654-5669.
Additional 6 months of membership will be processed automatically within 14 days of renewal.
NOTE: This six-month extension offer ends June 30, 2021.
The Alaska Lounges Have Come Back
Last year, Alaska Airlines closed most of the lounges and cut back service in the lounges that stayed open. All of the Alaska Lounges are open except for the New York JFK lounge. The Seattle lounge at Concourse C closes at noon. The new San Francisco lounge is expected to open this summer. Here are the open locations and operating hours:
The food is back, the coffee baristas are back and the bartenders are back. Alaska Lounge members are allowed to bring in two guests at no additional charge.
My Gameplan
The last time that I renewed my membership, it was to expire on December 31, 2020. Alaska lounge extended my membership until June 30, 2021. The new lounge rates go into effect on October 1, 2021. Here’s what I’m going to do, I will renew my membership at the old rate when I pass through the Alaska Lounge at PDX next month. I will use my AMEX Hilton Aspire credit card to pay for my membership renewal. My elite renewal rate prior to October 1, 2021 is $300.00 and I will be grandfathered in at that rate. AMEX will give me a $250.00 airline ancillary credit so my membership will cost me only $50.00.
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. For me, it’s a great deal.
By taking advantage of this offer, I will have received three years of membership (2020 – 2022) for the cost of two years.
