The ultimate guide to Alaska Airlines lounge access
Editor's Note
If you frequently fly on Alaska Airlines, access to one of the carrier's airport lounges can significantly improve your preflight experience. It's no secret that airports can certainly be a bit chaotic, especially if you're flying during peak travel season or the holidays. So, with complimentary food and drinks and a chance to relax while you wait for your flight, Alaska Airlines' lounge experience can provide a more quiet and luxurious preflight experience. Luckily, getting inside the lounges isn't too difficult.
Keep reading as we walk you through the different ways to gain access to Alaska lounges.
Related: Your complete guide to earning and redeeming with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Alaska lounge overview
Alaska Airlines offers a rather extensive lounge network for a primarily domestic and short-haul airline. It operates a total of nine lounges across six airports throughout the U.S.
Here are the Alaska Lounge locations:
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) — Concourse C, near gate C-1
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — Terminal 7 on the mezzanine level, just above security
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — Terminal 6 on the mezzanine level, near Gate 64
- Portland International Airport (PDX) — Concourse B, near the entrance
- Portland — Concourse C, across from gate C5
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — Terminal 2, just beyond the D security checkpoint
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) — Concourse C, on the mezzanine level next to Gate C-16
- Seattle — Concourse D, just beyond the central security checkpoint
- Seattle — North satellite on the mezzanine level, above gates N13-18
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Alaska Lounge amenities include fast Wi-Fi, easy access to power outlets, barista-made espresso beverages and a full bar featuring complimentary local craft brews, West Coast wines and spirits. Lounge guests can also enjoy complimentary prepackaged snacks, such as steel-cut oatmeal, fresh pancakes, various soups and cheese.
Paid membership for Alaska Airlines lounges
Like most major airlines, Alaska Airlines sells annual memberships to its lounges.
The price is based on whether or not you have MVP elite status, and there are two options: Alaska Lounge and Alaska Lounge+. The standard membership provides access to Alaska Lounges only. Meanwhile, the extended option offers access to a network of partner lounges, including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs, Qantas Club locations and some United Clubs.
Here are the current membership prices:
- Alaska Lounge membership: $500 annually or $400 for Alaska Airlines elite members.
- Alaska Lounge+ membership: $650 annually or $550 for Alaska Airlines elite members.
From Feb. 1, 2024, membership prices will increase to the following amounts:
- Alaska Lounge membership: $550 annually or $450 for Alaska Airlines elite members.
- Alaska Lounge+ membership: $750 annually or $650 for Alaska Airlines elite members.
Related: A look at the Alaska Lounge in San Francisco
Complimentary Alaska Lounge+ membership is a Choice Benefit option for Mileage Plan elite members with MVP Gold 100K status.
Also, cardholders with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership after paying with their card. (Note that the credit card discount cannot be combined with the elite status discount, though).
Currently, you can access an Alaska Airlines lounge if you have a membership or purchase a single-entry pass, and present a same-day boarding pass from any airline. However, starting Feb. 1, 2024, you can only enter a lounge with a same-day boarding pass on a flight operated by Alaska Airlines, a Oneworld alliance partner like American Airlines or British Airways, or another Alaska partner like Condor.
Please note that if you're visiting one of Alaska's partner lounges included in the Alaska Lounge+ membership, you may need a boarding pass for that specific airline. Therefore, it's always best to double-check the policies of the lounge you want to visit.
Single-entry passes to Alaska Airlines lounges
Membership to the Alaska Airlines lounges also includes access for you and up to two guests or immediate family members. Additional guest passes are available at a reduced rate of $30 per person versus $60 for daypasses for nonmembers. However, you can only purchase daypasses at the Alaska Lounges in Portland, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. According to the airline's website, they are trying to "maintain space" for their lounge members; therefore, daypasses are no longer sold at their Seattle or Anchorage lounge locations.
When you purchase a daypass at a specific lounge, note that the pass will only allow you entry to that one lounge. Therefore, if you purchase a single-entry pass at LAX and have a connecting flight in Portland, your lounge pass will only grant you access to the LAX lounge.
Additionally, Alaska Airlines offers "complimentary lounge passes for U.S. military personnel traveling on official government-sponsored travel booked through SATO and ticketed to fly on an Alaska flight departing within 3 hours," per the airline's website. If you are an active-duty military member, you can purchase a daypass with a valid military ID at the discounted rate of $30.
Related: 6 things you need to know about Alaska's new lounge access rules
Alaska Airlines elite status lounge access
Alaska Airlines offers one of the most underrated elite programs, thanks largely to the generous mileage multipliers that elite members can earn.
The program has four tiers of status: MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K. You'll earn four Alaska Lounge daypasses if you qualify for MVP Gold 75K or MVP Gold 100K. With daypasses normally selling for $60, this equates to a nice $240 benefit for top-tier elite members. Alaska even lets you share these passes with friends and family, giving you more flexibility in how and when you enjoy your lounge access.
Also, now that MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K members have Oneworld status, they can access Alaska Lounges on qualifying long-haul international itineraries operated by Alaska or a Oneworld partner — regardless of what class of service they are flying. However, Alaska elite members do not get access when traveling solely within or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
That said, if you have Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status in any program other than Alaska Mileage Plan or American AAdvantage, you can access Alaska Lounges when flying any Oneworld flight on the same day; eligible elite members are allowed to bring one guest.
Certain non-Oneworld elite members have access to Alaska Lounges as well. For example, Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Platinum and Gold members can access the lounges when flying Alaska Airlines on the same day.
Related: What is Alaska Airlines elite status worth?
Do first-class Alaska Airlines Tickets get lounge access?
Passengers traveling on a paid first-class ticket or a first-class award ticket can access Alaska lounges (but not partner lounges) if the Alaska Airlines flight exceeds 2,100 miles on the day of travel, they are traveling to Hawaii, or if it's an international long-haul flight. However, passengers who upgraded to first class, whether as a complimentary upgrade, a paid upgrade or an upgrade with miles, won't have access to Alaska lounges.
If no single flight exceeds 2,100 miles, guests may purchase a discounted single-entry pass for $30, subject to space availability. Guests do not have access to other Oneworld member lounges with a first-class ticket on Alaska Airlines.
Can you access Alaska Airlines lounges with Priority Pass?
Until recently, Priority Pass holders had access to Alaska's lounges in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and New York. However, the airline has removed all of its lounges from Priority Pass. Though you may not be able to access the Alaska Airlines lounges with Priority Pass, this lounge membership service provides you access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide.
If you don't currently have a Priority Pass membership, consider adding one of the many credit cards offering access to Priority Pass airport lounges to your wallet .
Related: Everything you need to know about the Priority Pass program
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines offers several ways to access its lounges, including reasonably priced paid memberships and single-entry passes for elite members. However, with limited airport lounges in the United States, unless you regularly fly with Alaska Airlines or frequent one of the six airports that have an Alaska Airlines lounge, it may not be worth your financial investment.
But if you're a frequent Alaska flyer, a Oneworld elite member or just looking for a single-entry pass before a trip, you do have several options to make your predeparture experience more relaxing.
Updated as of 4/18/2024.