As part of its ongoing evolution, Alaska Airlines is expanding its premium offering with three new lounges over the next few years. The new lounges will open at San Diego International Airport and Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, followed by a new flagship international lounge in Seattle by 2027.

Setting up in San Diego

The new lounges will be based on the Alaska Lounge location in San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Harvey Milk Terminal 1. The space features bold blue tones, expansive windows, soundproof pods, and the famous pancake machines.

The airline is increasing connectivity in San Diego International Airport (SAN), which it views as a growing West Coast gateway to Hawaiʻi. The group is adding mid-morning and late afternoon departures to Maui instead of just morning departures, with the return mid-afternoon and redeye departures from Maui timed to improve connectivity.

Passengers flying with Alaska in San Diego are presently able to access the Aspire Lounge (formerly known as the Airspace Lounge) in Terminal 2, which is located between Terminal 2 East security and the bridge to Terminal 2 West. It has been suggested that this space could undergo an overhaul to become the new Alaska Lounge, but the airport is also expected to open a New Terminal 1 by the end of next year.

In related news, San Diego International Airport welcomed a new lounge last week when the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club opened on the third floor of Terminal 2.

Home in Honolulu

The other airport receiving a new Alaska lounge in the coming years is Honolulu International Airport (HNL) in Hawai'i. Given the carrier's merger with home carrier Hawaiian Airlines, the announcement of a new lounge in the hub was widely expected. In its recent investors call, the airline outlined its network from Honolulu as it repositions several of the widebody aircraft to Seattle to begin new routes to Tokyo and Seoul next year.

While the airline appears to be positioning Seattle as its core Transpacific gateway, it is not neglecting its Honolulu connection opportunities. The airline's new streamlined network will allow even more passengers from the Pacific Northwest to fly to Sydney and Auckland, with a layover in Honolulu. Hawaiian has served Sydney since 2004 and Auckland since 2013.

To accommodate additional guests and increase connectivity, the group will fly Hawaiian's larger A330 aircraft on three of its six daily flights between Honolulu and Seattle (resulting in 20% more seats) and add three more overnight flights from Hawaiʻi to the West Coast: Honolulu and Maui to Portland, and Honolulu to San Francisco.

In the meantime, passengers have multiple lounge options in Honolulu, including Hawaiian's Plumeria Lounge, an American Airlines Admirals Club, and a Qantas Club.

Sleepless in Seattle

The combined Hawaiian-Alaska group has outlined several significant changes for its operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), including a new "Flagship" location that will open in 2027. The airport is set to receive its first Alaska Airlines flights to Asia with the launch of widebody services to Japan and South Korea.

The oneworld Alliance has been gradually expanding its lounge presence, opening branded locations in Amsterdam and Seoul. In addition to Alaska Airlines, oneworld stalwarts American Airlines have a significant presence at the airport. International oneworld Alliance carriers flying into the airport next year include British Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines (JAL), and Qatar Airways.

According to the airport's C Concourse expansion plan, the new Alaska Lounge will be over 20,000 square feet large when it opens.