Alaska Airlines’ new JFK lounge is OPEN for business
Alaska’s lounges are a great respite from the crazy hustle and bustle of the airports, and with the Alaska lounges accepting a Priority Pass membership (in theory) there are plenty of options for entry.
Alaska wants to make their presence known in New York, and one of the last remaining factors is having a lounge. You can hardly consider yourself a premium airline and try and carry premium class passengers if you don’t have a lounge for those passengers to relax in before/after a flight.
Locations
Currently, Alaska has lounges in Portland, Los Angeles, Anchorage, and three in Seattle (one in Concourse N, one in Concourse D and a third one in Concourse C). The JFK lounge is a much-needed addition to the collection. Maybe San Francisco is next?
JFK Lounge
While the Portland lounge and Los Angeles lounge are in SERIOUS need of some updating, the JFK lounge appears, at first glance, to be Alaska’s attempt at stepping up their game.
We wrote about the new Seattle lounge when they opened and there were certainly some serious improvements (they did keep the pancake machine!).
The new lounge will feature, according to Alaska, “Fresh Bites, a Full Bar, a Barista, Fireplace, so comfortable you might miss your flight!”
Fresh bites. Full bar. Barista. Fireplace. So comfy you might miss your flight. The Alaska Lounge is now open in New York JFK – Terminal 7. #iFlyAlaska pic.twitter.com/vfhml4Kbr6
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) April 30, 2018
Check out the leather seats, the attention to detail. It looks GORGEOUS. We can’t wait to give it a try ourselves.
It would seem that they’ve got a full bar, and I hope that they don’t charge for their drinks. One of the downsides of the American Airlines lounges is they charge for the drinks. As is stands, the Alaska lounges offer a selection of free spirits and a few that are charged. They even charge for bottled water at their LAX lounge.
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- The Alaska Lounge offers our West Coast hospitality and a place to get away from the terminal. (PRNewsfoto/Alaska Airlines)
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- We included a fireplace to give more of a West Coast vibe, as well as some fun lighting fixtures and a custom sofa with power at every seat. (PRNewsfoto/Alaska Airlines)
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- With the top quality, complimentary food and beverage options, and the amazing view, guests will arrive to the plane refreshed and ready to go. (PRNewsfoto/Alaska Airlines)
The American Express Centurion lounges by comparison offer a full selection of every drink you could imagine and then some.
Here’s their schedule. I imagine that their early close on Saturday is because of their flight schedules. Otherwise, it seems like a very odd timing to close early just one day a week. As they increase capacity in JFK I’d love to see them keep the lounge open longer.
Sun-Fri:
5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sat:
5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
They’ve put a lot of thought into the lounge, I only hope it doesn’t run into an overcrowding situation like they have in Seattle. Much too often a sign is outside of the door that states “No Priority Pass allowed, only First Class and Alaska lounge card holders.” So while in theory the Alaska lounges are part of the Priority Pass network, all too often they are blocked for entry.
Good luck Alaska on the new lounge. I hope to visit before the new paint smell wears off.
Official PR release from Alaska Airlines’ Newsroom here.
April 30, 2018
American Airlines stopped charging for drinks in their lounges in 2008.
May 4, 2018
Hi Frank. They continue to charge for premium drinks in most of their lounges.