Coming soon: Alaska Airlines’ new San Francisco lounge
Now a Oneworld alliance member, Alaska's latest lounge will welcome Qantas travellers hoping between San Fran and Seattle.
By David Flynn, April 9 2021
Qantas partner Alaska Airlines will open an all-new lounge at San Francisco in the middle of 2021, and at around 900m2 (almost 10,000ft2) it'll be the largest outside of the airline's Seattle base.
And it'll be another option for Qantas travellers making the west coast hop between the tech and tourism hubs of San Francisco to Seattle when international travel resumes – especially now that Alaska Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance.
Alaska Airlines' new San Francisco Terminal 2 lounge will open mid-2021 (concept image).
But it's not the lounge which Alaska originally pitched in early 2019 to crown the top floor of SFO Terminal 2 sometime in 2020, with the promise of "stunning sights of the Bay and runway."
Alaska Airlines' previously-planned San Francisco Terminal 2 lounge (concept image).
Instead, Alaska will move into the T2 space previously occupied by the American Airlines' Admirals Club, following American's relocation to T1 – a decision which the airline says will mean the lounge can open as US domestic travel rebounds from the crippling COVID pandemic.
Alaska Airlines' new San Francisco Terminal 2 lounge will open mid-2021 (concept image).
"SFO has been the top-requested Alaska Lounge location by our guests for years," said Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines' senior vice president of marketing and guest experience.
Alaska Airlines' new San Francisco Terminal 2 lounge will open mid-2021 (concept image).
"So many people are dreaming of travel this year, so we want to open up our newest Alaska Lounge as quickly and efficiently as possible – and renovating this space in Terminal 2 allows us to do that."
Alaska Airlines' new SFO T2 lounge will feature a barista bar (albeit pouring Starbucks).
Travellers can expect "a wide selection of guest favorites like made-to-order pancakes, steel-cut oatmeal, fresh salads and hearty soups", with a barista pulling shots at an espresso bar and a fully-serviced bar featuring complimentary local craft brews, West Coast wines and spirits.
Read more: Alaska Airlines joins Oneworld – here's what it means for Qantas flyers
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.