Alaska Airlines is cutting access for many premium passengers because of overcrowding.
Most first-class flyers will not be allowed into the carrier's lounges.
Passengers booked in first class on Alaska will be restricted from using the lounge if they want to. You'll need to be booked in first class on a flight that's longer than 2200 miles in order to get lounge access, an update to Alaska's website was first reported by One Mile at a Time.
Most of Alaska's network is cut out, but it does include coast-to-coast, Hawaii and most international routes, as shown in the map below.
On the day of the flight only, all lounges in that day's itinerary will be granted lounge access. Unless you qualify for lounge access on your ticket, you can't bring in any guests or family members.
You can purchase a discounted day pass for $30 if you don't meet the guidelines.
First-class tickets that were purchased with cash or miles can be used for lounge access. Access isn't included in first-class upgrades.
Club 49 members, the airline's free program for Alaska residents, are not affected by this change. They will still be able to access the lounge when traveling on a first class ticket.
Three months' notice is required before this change is implemented. The old policy applies to all bookings made through Nov. 17, 2022.
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The cost of an annual lounge membership is going to increase in Alaska. The Alaska Lounge memberships will go from $450 to $500 and the Lounge+ memberships will go from $600 to $650. The $100 discount on the membership option will be given to the elites.
The statement below shows that Alaska is making changes to combat lounge overcrowding.
Our Lounges have become so popular during certain times of the day, we’re making adjustments to our complimentary First Class access policy to allow for a bit more elbow room. We know change can be difficult – but we need to adjust how we operate our Lounges to ensure our guests have the best experiences possible when they visit.
Even with this change, our First Class access policy remains the most generous in the industry for domestic travel. Most airlines do not allow access to lounges when traveling on a First Class domestic itinerary except for select markets.
The changes seem to make sense for Alaska. Lounge overcrowding is caused by more premium travelers competing for space in a lounge.
The lounge isn't nearly as relaxing as it used to be. Airlines can't just quickly expand their lounge footprint because buffet refilling isn't fast enough. Expansion of existing lounges takes a long time and you can't just create more space in airports.
Alaska cut ties with Priority Pass for all of its lounges except the one in New York.
Some Alaskans are likely to be frustrated. Alaska was the only U.S. airline that offered lounge access to first-class passengers, and this will no longer be as exciting as it used to be.
Most of Alaska's lounges are at its hub and key focus cities.
Alaska continues to invest in its network even though it is changing access policies. 60 additional guests will be added to the lounge next week when it opens with an additional 3,000 square feet.
The D Concourse lounge in Seattle will be renovated and reopened in the summer of 2020.
Alaska invested over one million dollars in Portland lounge improvements. A new "Express Lounge" concept was launched in Concourse B to give flyers more space to spread out.
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