Alaska’s takeover of Virgin America closed about a year ago, and the airlines have been working on streamlining things as much as possible. Prior to the merger, just about the only thing that the airlines had in common was their strength on the west coast. Just about everything else about the airlines was different, from their fleets, to their frequent flyer programs, to their “style,” to their approach to inflight entertainment, etc.
Alaska 737
So the airlines have started co-locating in terminals around the country as much as possible, though that’s not necessarily an easy task, given how congested airports are. This has also presented a challenge on the lounge front.
Alaska Airlines operates their own lounges in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. Alaska gives all paid first class passengers (whether paying cash or on an award) access to lounges for all domestic flights, so that’s a nice gesture.
On top of that, Alaska has reciprocal lounge agreements with other other airlines. You don’t have access to these partner lounges on account of being on a first class ticket, though you do have access if you’re an Alaska Lounge member.
Alaska’s largest hub where they don’t operate their own lounge is SFO. This is Virgin America’s home airport, and in the meantime both Alaska and Virgin America have co-located most (though not all) of their flights to Terminal 2. Alaska continues to operate some flights out of the international terminal. Alaska Lounge members have two lounge options:
- If departing Terminal 2 (where most Alaska and Virgin America flights depart from), Alaska Lounge members can use the American Admirals Club
- If departing the International Terminal (where a limited number of Alaska flights depart from), Alaska Lounge members can use the Cathay Pacific Lounge
Cathay Pacific Lounge San Francisco
I guess this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but Alaska Lounge members will no longer have access to the Admirals Club in San Francisco as of January 1, 2018. While Alaska and American are scaling back their relationship, I don’t think this is directly related to that. Rather the American Admirals Club no longer has the space to handle the volume of Alaska passengers that are using it, given the number of flights that have been shifted over to this terminal.
Alaska is working on finding their own lounge space in Terminal 2, though I’m not sure they’ll have much luck there, as the terminal is already pretty much at capacity.
So, what’s the best alternative for Alaska flyers who still value lounge access at SFO? Get an Admirals Club membership. Admirals Club members can access Alaska Lounges regardless of whether they’re flying American or Alaska, and can also access Admirals Clubs regardless of which airline they’re flying.
The cheapest way to get an Admirals Club membership is to pick up the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. This is the best way to access Admirals Clubs — the card has a $595 annual fee, though the primary cardmember gets an Admirals Club membership, authorized users each get Admirals Club access as well. If you do did this:
- The primary cardmember would get the full membership that also gets reciprocal access to Alaska Lounges
- Additional cardmembers would get Admirals Club access as long as they’re flying American or an eligible partner airline the same day, though they wouldn’t get access to Alaska Lounges
Bottom line
I’m curious to see how Alaska resolves this situation. Historically Alaska is an airline that offers lounges at their hubs, while Virgin America doesn’t. With Alaska being the surviving airline, it sure seems like they want to open a lounge at SFO. However, it remains to be seen whether they can actually get any space in Terminal 2.
We are first class passengers from SFO to JFK on a delayed flight and we have just learned that we will be sitting In a seatbelt at the gate for the next 5 hours. This is not first class. I tried to call the airline and was told there was a 37 minute hold. There is a perfectly nice Admirals Club here but we not allowed in. We also heard there are no blankets or...
We are first class passengers from SFO to JFK on a delayed flight and we have just learned that we will be sitting In a seatbelt at the gate for the next 5 hours. This is not first class. I tried to call the airline and was told there was a 37 minute hold. There is a perfectly nice Admirals Club here but we not allowed in. We also heard there are no blankets or pillows in first class on this red eye flight. No first class traveler should ever consider flying with them.
Just an update that Admirals Lounge SFO does not accept Alaska Lounge Card anymore - since last April... Very disappointing as there are no lounges in T2 SFO, where Alaska flies almost all their flights from!
So, what does this mean for Alaska 1st class paid passangers departing on a domestic flight from SFO? No lounge access at all?
Yech, I miss Virgin. Not that I hate Alaska, but Virgin was SO MUCH BETTER.
SFO states that they will be building a new rooftop airline lounge above Terminal 2 in the space that used to house the base of the old control tower. I have to imagine (and hope) that would be for Alaska. "The project will include building a public café and an outdoor observation deck along with an airline lounge and office space."
https://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/airport-development/former-air-traffic-control-tower
Adam.
Ah, OK, that explains while recently taking domestic flights on AA on paid F tickets, they kept asking me for my OneWorld Emerald card (courtesy of BA).
If that status qualifies me then I guess it doesn't even matter what class I am in.
@Martin
Not necessarily. Domestic F on AA, UA, and DL (and basically every other airline) don't provide lounge access unless you've purchased a membership or hold a CC which permits access. International flights, however, are different. But here Lucky's talking about domestic F pax as that's the bulk of AS' routes.
"Alaska Airlines operates their own lounges in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. Alaska gives all paid first class passengers (whether paying cash or on an award) access to lounges for all domestic flights, so that’s a nice gesture."
Hmm, don't all airlines do that? Isn't that the primary audience for any airline lounge i.e. those who have paid up for a first class ticket?
I'd like to think that paid passengers in First are...
"Alaska Airlines operates their own lounges in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. Alaska gives all paid first class passengers (whether paying cash or on an award) access to lounges for all domestic flights, so that’s a nice gesture."
Hmm, don't all airlines do that? Isn't that the primary audience for any airline lounge i.e. those who have paid up for a first class ticket?
I'd like to think that paid passengers in First are always the highest priority for admission to a lounge over, say, those on awards, upgrades, miles or up-market credit card.
I received an e-mail from Alaska on December 14, stating: "Together with our global partners, you have access to over 90 airport lounges worldwide, and starting January 1, when traveling on Virgin America flights, you can visit any American Airlines Admirals Club® location (except at SFO) with your Alaska Lounge membership and same-day Alaska, Virgin America or American Airlines boarding pass."
This change in policy should be helpful to Alaska Lounge members flying VX metal...
I received an e-mail from Alaska on December 14, stating: "Together with our global partners, you have access to over 90 airport lounges worldwide, and starting January 1, when traveling on Virgin America flights, you can visit any American Airlines Admirals Club® location (except at SFO) with your Alaska Lounge membership and same-day Alaska, Virgin America or American Airlines boarding pass."
This change in policy should be helpful to Alaska Lounge members flying VX metal who can access Admirals Clubs at airports other than SFO.
Pretty sure AA is going to have a club built for them in T1 and move there, while AS will take T2 and the AC .
About a year ago I head from a higher up at Alaska that they would be building a lounge of their own in T2 on the second floor above the security check point.
If in T2 @ SFO there is a Boarding Area D->C connector post security. Boarding Area C has the Delta SkyClub. Delta Gold SkyMiles from American Express allows discounted entry for $29.
I was under the impression that AS was planning to build a lounge at SFO within the next year or two. Does T2 have space for that? Presumably it was built to accommodate some type of expansion (in terms of terminal facilities, like lounges), right?
It's becoming pretty clear Alaska didn't do much planning and instead bought Virgin America out of a panic of JetBlue eating their lunch. Fortunately T2 is really nice, so I don't think it's the end of the world unless you're an Alaska boardroom member (at which point I'd request a refund.)
I'm surprised nobody has written about this, but the real problem is the shambles their operation is on the east coast, especially Boston and...
It's becoming pretty clear Alaska didn't do much planning and instead bought Virgin America out of a panic of JetBlue eating their lunch. Fortunately T2 is really nice, so I don't think it's the end of the world unless you're an Alaska boardroom member (at which point I'd request a refund.)
I'm surprised nobody has written about this, but the real problem is the shambles their operation is on the east coast, especially Boston and JFK. Alaska -and- Virgin fliers both lost JFK lounge access and everything from check-in to security (no precheck and backed up security lines that now take 20-30 minutes and BA won't let Alaska flyers use their fast track line) to concessions (they decided to shut down 8 food establishments at once for renovation - good job) to one working (dilapidated and cramped) bathroom in the entire airside terminal - yuck. It's a complete and total train wreck and measurably worse than even LaGuardia.
I can only imagine all but the most loyal Alaska flyers and mileage geeks took their JFK business over to JetBlue and Delta.
AS definitely needs an SFO club. However, you can also get access to the Virgin Atlantic club for $40 - a few glasses of champagne and it pays for itself.
What also isn’t advertised is that flying on VX instead of AS, you can’t use the Admiral’s Club. I was denied entry at the SFO lounge, and was also confirmed when calling into AS customer service. Ended up going out of security and to the Centurion Lounge instead.
A couple of points worth mentioning:
1. SFO T2 is one of the nicest terminals in the country, with good food, lots of open space and seating, and free WiFi. The Admirals Club there is nice, but less necessary than, say, JFK T8.
2. I think Alaska is going to have to first focus on where they want to consolidate their flights, and then they can start searching for lounge space. This likely depends on...
A couple of points worth mentioning:
1. SFO T2 is one of the nicest terminals in the country, with good food, lots of open space and seating, and free WiFi. The Admirals Club there is nice, but less necessary than, say, JFK T8.
2. I think Alaska is going to have to first focus on where they want to consolidate their flights, and then they can start searching for lounge space. This likely depends on the renovation in T1 completing. (This is also relevant for AA, whose flights are split too.)
Are you going to post about the ATL situation?