Everyone has been there — you’re packed and ready for your trip, the excitement is building, and you arrive at the airport only to find long lines that kill your vibe. All you want to do is get through security and stop by a favorite restaurant or grab that precious pre-flight beverage.

Thankfully, this dreaded experience will soon become a thing of the past. Why? Because they’ve reimagined a more seamless travel experience, and it’s coming to an airport near you. Over the next three years, they’re investing $2.5 billion in overall improvements to enhance the airport experience within their hubs and focus cities including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Anchorage.

They’re working on getting you through the lobby and to security in 5 minutes or less—meaning fewer lines and more time for that pre-trip snack. Much like mobile technology widely used to access sporting events and concerts, your phone is all you need to fly through the lobby.

Getting travel ready

The first step starts at home (or work or while you’re waiting in the school pick-up line) on the Alaska Airlines app. Guests are encouraged to check-in and secure a boarding pass before coming to the airport. Getting travel ready before coming to the airport provides peace of mind and allows you to plan your day of travel better. The Alaska Airlines app is the perfect pre-trip tool, but guests can also check-in on a desktop and send a boarding pass to their phone or print one at home.

Bonus! In addition to the time saved by guests, this change also helps reduce the amount of paper they use—an important step toward their sustainability goals.

Tagging your bag 

New bag tag stations will replace dated kiosks in lobbies where you’ll pay for and tag checked bags using iPad tablets. Because you’ve completed all other actions before arriving at the airport, it’ll only take a few quick steps. Airports have already begun changing to the new tablets and guests are adapting—with 3 out of 4 guests arriving with a boarding pass in hand to airports with the new technology. Most airports will transition to the new bag tag stations by the end of 2023.

Dropping your bags off

Beginning in spring 2024, the lobbies in their hub airports will be getting innovative technology that will allow you to drop your bags off with just a few quick scans. Popular in many international airports, they can’t wait for you to try it in Alaska’s hubs. The machine will scan your face, government-issued I.D., and bags. From there, it will take your bag(s) on a belt to be loaded onto the aircraft. The process takes less than a couple minutes and will have you on your way to security.

Need extra help? 

Alaska Airline know the vast majority of Americans own a smartphone, some guests may need extra assistance at the airport. For those guests, they will always have customer service agents available. They have heard from many guests that the best way they can care for them is by offering self-service options. This transformation gives you the choice between getting through the lobby quickly or receiving personalized help.

Alaska Airlines can’t wait to welcome you into their new lobby experience soon!