Summary
- Alaska Airlines is restricting lounge access for paid members starting February 1st, 2024, with access only allowed before Alaska, oneworld, or partner flights.
- Membership prices for Alaska Lounge are increasing by $100 annually, but guest access will be maintained and day passes will remain at $30 each.
- These changes are the airline’s second attempt to deal with crowding in the last year, as they previously restricted lounge access for first-class travelers on certain flights.
It’s the season of loyalty changes, and Alaska Airlines is the latest to restrict lounge access for passengers, starting February 1st, 2024. For paid members, you will no longer be able to access the lounge before any flight, it has to be on Alaska, oneworld, or another partner. At the same time, membership prices are going up by $100 annually, but guest access will be maintained, and day passes remain at $30 each.
More cuts, but not as wide-ranging
As spotted by Travel + Leisure, Alaska Airlines has added new entry requirements for Lounge and Lounge+ members. One of the unique perks of the program was that you could access any of the nine lounges before any flight, as long as it was the same day. However, come Feb 1st, 2024, this benefit is being rescinded, and paid members can only access the lounge before an Alaska, oneworld, or other partner flight.
Moreover, the price of membership is going up as well. Alaska Lounge annual fees will rise from $450 to $550 for MVP elite members and from $550 to $650 for non-elites. Lounge+ membership will go from $550 to $650 for elite members and from $650 to $750 for non-elites. The latest increase means Lounge+ now costs more than the United Club, but still less than the recently-increased Admirals Club annual pass.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
You still get to take any immediate family members, i.e. spouse and children under 21, or up to two guests in all Alaska lounge locations. Overall, the cuts aren’t too steep, but for those who were enjoying lounges before any other flights will be stung by the changes.
Dealing with crowding
This is the second time in 12 months that Alaska Airlines has dropped the hammer on lounge access. Last time around, first class ticketholders for flights under 2,100 miles were locked out, effectively cutting all passengers except for those going coast-to-cost, to Hawaii, or internationally. The rationale at the time was that lounges were too crowded post-COVID and cutting out first class travelers, just as Delta, American, and United do, is an acceptable compromise.
Removing non-oneworld and partner passengers is another easy way to free up space, likely since many members also fly Alaska in the first place and occasionally use lounges when flying other airlines. Alaska has one lounge in Anchorage, New York JFK, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, two in Portland, and three in Seattle.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
Simple Flying has reached out to Alaska Airlines for a statement and will update the article once one is available.
What do you think about Alaska Airlines’ recent changes to its lounge access policy? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Travel + Leisure