Alaska Airways has simply introduced a serious change to its lounge entry coverage for first-class passengers…
Alaska cuts lounge entry on flights underneath 2,100 miles
Alaska Airways has lengthy been distinctive amongst US airways on the subject of its Alaska Lounge entry coverage. Particularly, the Seattle-based airline has granted all paid first-class passengers lounge entry, whatever the route.
So long as you paid money or redeemed miles on your first-class ticket (versus upgrading), you bought entry to the Alaska Lounge. That is vastly totally different than the insurance policies of American, Delta, and United, and has been a serious aggressive benefit.
Sadly that can quickly be a factor of the previous. Alaska will not supply Alaska Lounge entry to first-class passengers on flights underneath 2,100 miles:
- This coverage applies for tickets booked as of November 18, 2022, and for journey as of February 15, 2023
- For those who do have segments of two,100+ miles, lounge entry might be granted to all lounges in that day’s itinerary, together with for connecting flights which can be underneath 2,100 miles
- Paid first-class passengers on itineraries with segments underneath 2,100 miles will have the ability to buy a reduced day cross for $30 to the Alaska Lounge
A big majority of Alaska Airways flights are underneath 2,100 miles, so it will majorly lower the variety of first-class passengers with lounge entry. Flights which can be 2,100+ miles embrace transcons, flights to Hawaii, and a few of Alaska’s worldwide flights.
Alaska Lounge membership price growing by $50
Not solely is Alaska Airways chopping lounge entry for many first-class passengers, however the airline can be growing the value of Alaska Lounge memberships. Particularly, as of January 1, 2023, the price of Alaska Lounge memberships will enhance by $50 yearly throughout the board.
That is Alaska’s second value hike in a brief interval. In October 2021, the airline additionally considerably elevated the price of lounge memberships. Alaska Airways justifies this by claiming that it has doubled its lounge footprint since 2018, and has invested almost $30 million in lounge expansions and enhancements.
For context on the pricing, Alaska Airways has two totally different lounge membership plans, at totally different value factors and with totally different lounge entry inclusions. An Alaska Lounge membership will get you entry to only Alaska Lounges, and prices:
- $450 yearly for Mileage Plan non-elite members ($500 as of 2023)
- $350 yearly for Mileage Plan MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K members ($400 as of 2023)
An Alaska Lounge+ membership will get you entry to Alaska Lounges, American Admirals Golf equipment (when flying Alaska or American), choose Qantas Golf equipment (when flying Qantas) and choose United Golf equipment (when flying Alaska), and prices:
- $600 yearly for Mileage Plan non-elite members ($650 as of 2023)
- $500 yearly for Mileage Plan MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K members ($550 as of 2023)
Backside line
Main modifications are being made to Alaska Lounge entry insurance policies as of 2023.
As of February 2023, paid first-class passengers will not get lounge entry with their tickets, until they’re on flights of two,100+ miles. This has been a serious aggressive benefit for Alaska, so the corporate’s coverage will now be extra in step with the competitors. On high of that, as of January 2023, the price of an Alaska Lounge membership is growing by $50 throughout the board.
What do you make of Alaska Airways tightening Alaska Lounge entry insurance policies?
