Alaska Airlines Plans to Open Three New Lounges

After announcing its first flights to Asia as part of a major network expansion, Alaska Airlines has confirmed plans for three new airport lounges in strategic locations across the West Coast and Hawaii.

Although details of the new lounges have yet to be unveiled, Alaska Airlines plans to open a new Alaska Lounge at both Honolulu (HNL) and San Diego (SAN), as well as its first ‘flagship’ international lounge at its primary hub of Seattle-Tacoma (SEA).

Currently, Alaska Airlines operates just nine lounges across six airports: three in Seattle-Tacoma, two in Portland (PDX), and one each in Anchorage (ANC), New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO). Adding three more would represent a significant expansion of Alaska’s growing portfolio.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Alaska’s addition of a ‘flagship’ lounge at SEA, expected to open in 2027, is set to be space where international travelers can unwind before embarking on one of the airline’s numerous new international flights scheduled to begin over the next few years. This includes its first flights to Asia—to Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Seoul Incheon (ICN)—which are scheduled to begin in May and October next year, respectively.

In addition, Alaska plans to launch its first-ever flights to Europe over the next five years as part of a major reinvention following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September this year.

Previously, the Seattle-based airline has primarily focused on connecting destinations across the West Coast, albeit for a select few transcontinental flights and international services to Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

“Our long-term view is to create an international gateway out of Seattle, and it’s going to benefit not only leisure customers but corporate customers as well,” said Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines.

“Europe is a natural place where people in the Pacific Northwest gravitate to, especially in the summer. So we’re going to look at points of interest in Europe and where our guests most likely want to go.”

Alaska’s proposed new lounges in Honolulu and San Diego also make sense commercially, considering Honolulu is Hawaiian Airlines’ primary hub and San Diego is an important hub for Alaska.

Premium passengers of both airlines currently have several lounges to choose from at both airports: Hawaiian Airlines offers the Plumeria Lounge and Apartment 1929 Lounge, while American Airlines features the Admirals Club in Honolulu.

Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines

Additionally, there is the Aspire Lounge in San Diego. However, the introduction of exclusive Alaska Lounges will help alleviate overcrowding issues at both airports.