Alaska Airlines Lounge Concourse C Now Open

Posted By Ben Nickel-D'Andrea on Jul 1, 2017 | 3 comments

The new Alaska Airlines Lounge Concourse C just opened their doors in SeaTac aiport yesterday, and -because I totally planned it this way I totally got lucky with the dates- I decided to pay them a visit on my way to Denver today. Here’s my review.

This new Alaska Airlines Lounge embodies everything we’ve been hearing about from the airline in recent months, and they seemed to have learned a bit from their merger with Virgin America. This new lounge is stylish. Like REALLY stylish.

Alaska Lounge Sign

Space and Style

As soon as you approach its doors, you can start seeing how much attention they’ve paid to every single detail. A hint of this was already visible on the temporary lounge they opened last year in the north satellite of the airport, near N gates, but this one is a clear improvement.

At the entrance, you’re greeted by your usual lovely Alaska lounge people behind two desks, and right behind you there is a gorgeous live moss wall, in a hint to Alaska’s Pacific North West history – and totally not inspired on the one from Centurion Lounge. Once you are inside, everything glows in Alaska Airlines blue hue, including furniture and lights. They did maintain some of the wood and other earthy tones that used to characterize the older lounges but nothing here reminds you of the early nineties, though. 

Since the lounge runs along the exterior walls of the C Concourse and is outfitted with giant windows, it is extremely well lit and offers amazing views of the planes moving around the airport. Something cool they added is window tinting that automatically gets dark when it’s mega bright outside and lightens up when it’s overcast. That’s pretty awesome (and yes, I am marveled by the simplest things). Get a seat in one of their modern couches and enjoy the view, you #AvGeek. 

I just walked around the whole lounge and ogled at people’s legs. Or at least that’s what it probably looked like. EVERY SINGLE COUCH is outfitted with power outlets. If you look under the bar – which as of right now has not stools – there are more power outlets and hooks to hang your belongings. 

Power in Every Seat

Food & Drinks

Food options are in keeping with all of the other Alaska Airlines lounges. This includes their trail mix and pretzels, cheese cubes, fruit, soups and salads. For all of you wondering, yes, there’s still the good ole’ pancake machine, an iconic staple known by everyone who’s transited an Alaska Airlines lounge in the past… 10 years? There’s also a coffee machine with local Starbucks coffee.

Where most of our adventures start! @AlaskaAir #BoardRoom https://t.co/XCbAiV3XjH #NMCLaborDay #Travel #75K pic.twitter.com/PA2J5SOs0C

— No Mas Coach (@NoMasCoach) September 2, 2016

As usual, they also offer free drinks ranging from beer and wine to some simple cocktails. If you want to upgrade you drink, there’s also top shelf liquor, but they come with a price tag. 

Alaska Airlines Beverage selection

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are really nice and spacious. They were super clean, but then again it’s their second day and the volume of people was really low. I’d like to see how they run once the lounge is packed full of people. Or rather, I really wouldn’t.

They do not have showers, which really is a missed opportunity. It feels like such a nice space should have everything it needs to rival its competitors, and that should have included at least one shower. Alaska has enough international partner airlines that it might warrant having one. 

Who can access the Alaska Airlines Lounge?

• Board Room Members.
• Anyone flying on a PAID First Class ticket on Alaska (aka not complimentary upgrades).
• Alaska Lounge Passes (MVP Gold 75K members get 4 each year).
• Priority Pass cardholders (which can can get through any of these Travel Rewards Credit Cards).
• Anyone willing to pay $45 for a day pass.
• Admirals Club members flying on American Airlines (or Alaska).

Unlike the past 7 times I attempted to enter an Alaska Airlines Lounge with my Priority Pass card, I was not denied entry this time. Alaska limits most of their lounges to external guests (anyone other than Board Room members, First Class passengers, etc) when they’re at an almost full capacity. Today was a very pleasant change, since I would have had to use one of my MVP Gold 75K free day passes instead to get in.

I asked at the reception and they mentioned they were not restricting access for now, but if any of the lounges did run out of space, they would start directing guests to any of the other lounges that still had room instead of turning them away. This for is great news.

When and where?

The new Alaska Airlines Lounge Concourse C is open from 5am to midnight, and, according to their own website, is located across from Gate C-9. Ignore that and go to Gate C16 instead, which is where the lounge is REALLY located. Hours of operations haven’t been posted on their website yet, but I managed to get one of their online twitter agents to provide that info to me, as well as the info on the Priority Pass app and at the checkin desk when I showed up today. 

Big shout out to Kari, Amber and Jessica who were nothing but friendly and passionate about their new place. Thank you! If there’s something that sets Alaska Airlines apart from the other airlines is their people. And their hideous bulk head row carpet thing in First Class. But mostly their people, who are THE BEST. Thanks again!

Are you excited to have yet another option for a lounge now that this new Alaska Airlines Lounge in Concourse C is open?