I wanted to learn how to get to the Alaska Lounges. Alaska isn't one of the "big three" US airlines, but it still has a robust lounge network.
Alaska Airlines is the only major US airline that allows all first class passengers into its lounges. Alaska Lounge access is one of many ways to access the carrier's lounges.
Alaska Airlines has a relatively small network of lounges compared to the other airlines. Alaska Airlines has lounges at several airports. There are Alaska lounges.
New and larger lounges are coming to both Portland and Seattle as Alaska Airlines expands its lounge capacity.
Portland and Seattle have two and three Alaska Lounges, respectively, but all of the above airports have one.
There are a lot of different ways to get into the Alaska Lounges. First class tickets, a membership, a day pass, a priority pass, and oneworld elite status are some of the ways you can access Alaska Lounges.
Alaska Airlines is the only US airline that gives all passengers lounge access.
This applies to passengers who pay with cash or miles in fare classes C, D, E, J, and I, but excludes passengers who have upgraded. A codeshare flight on American Airlines wouldn't qualify because it's operated by Alaska Airlines.
If you have a first class ticket, you can't bring any guests with you.
Alaska Airlines has different lounge membership plans at different prices. You can get access to just Alaska Lounges with an Alaska lounge membership.
You can get access to Alaska Lounges, American Admirals Clubs, Qantas Clubs, and United Clubs with an Alaska Lounge+membership.
No matter which option you choose, it's still a membership.
You can purchase an American Airlines Admirals Club membership if you want to. Alaska Lounges can be accessed when you fly either Alaska or American.
The cash cost to join the Admirals Club is shown here.
There is a cost to purchase an Admirals Club membership.
You can bring two guests with you if you have an admirals club membership.
It's similar to the point about getting an admirals club membership.
The best credit card to get Alaska Lounge access is the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.
The card has an annual fee of $450 and allows the primary cardmember to access Alaska Lounges.
The icing on the cake is that those with the card can add up to 10 authorized users at no cost and each of them will get access to the Admirals Club when flying American Airlines. The authorized user and two guests don't have to be flying with the primary cardmember
The authorized user benefit only applies to the primary cardmember.
The Alaska Lounge day pass can be purchased for $60. Due to crowding issues, these can only be purchased in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. You can't visit multiple lounges the same day with the passes because they're only valid for the lounges at which they're purchased.
Four Alaska Lounge day passes are given to the members of Alaska Airlines. Every year, these are deposited into members' Mileage Plan accounts and can be shared with friends and family.
Give them a voucher code if you share them with other people.
Alaska Airlines and Priority Pass seem to have differing opinions on certain things. Some Alaska Lounges are included in the 1,300+ lounges that a Priority Pass membership provides access to.
Only the JFK location of the Alaska Lounge is currently a priority pass location. If you find that there are capacity controls, don't take this as a sure bet.
Priority Pass memberships are included with some of the most popular credit cards in the US.
2 guests, plus authorized users $0 per authorized user Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 2 guests, plus authorized users $75 per authorized user Chase Sapphire Reserve® 2 guests, plus authorized users $175 For Up To 3 People, $175 For Each Additional (Rates & Fees) The Platinum Card® from American Express 2 guests, plus authorized users $300 per authorized user (Rates & Fees) The Business Platinum Card® from American Express 2 guests No authorized user access Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card 2 guests No authorized user access Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® CardThere is a new way to get to Alaska Lounges based on oneworld status.
When flying exclusively within the United States, a oneworld Emerald member through British Airways Executive Club can access the Alaska Lounges, while a oneworld Emerald member through Alaska Mileage Plan can't.
Oneworld members can bring a guest into the lounge.
You can get into Alaska Lounges if you have oneworld elite status and a oneworld long haul ticket. Alaska Lounges can be accessed at your gateway airport or at a connecting airport if you travel on a oneworld premium cabin ticket.
Alaska Lounges can be used if you are flying from Seattle to London or New York to London.
When flying with Alaska Airlines, select partner elite members can access the lounge. This is a niche outside of oneworld. It's for example:
Military personnel who are on orders can get a complimentary Alaska Lounge day pass. To fly on an Alaska Airlines flight within three hours, you need to be able to verify your active status, provide orders, and be booked.
There are many ways to get into the Alaska Lounges, from a paid first class ticket, to a lounge membership, to having partner airline elite status.
First class passengers lounge access is offered by Alaska. The airline has among the most reasonable membership costs for lounges, as well as allowing people to access lounges on other airlines.
Everything you need to know about Alaska Lounge access can be found in the above. Let me know if I didn't see anything.
The rates and fees can be found in the links. The Platinum Card from American Express has rates and fees.