FIRST LOOK: The new Alaska Lounge SFO brings Pacific Northwest vibes to the Golden state

The crown jewel of San Francisco International Airport’s swanky new Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is about to make its runway entrance. Hailing from the Northwest yet effortlessly local, casually stylish, and unequivocally Alaska, the new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco Airport opens tomorrow.

Ahead of the grand opening, Alaska invited guests and members of the press to preview the new space. Here’s what to expect.

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Where Is The New Alaska Lounge at San Francisco Airport Located?

Featuring cozy relaxation spaces, greenery, two art galleries, expansive runway views, and yoga rooms, the $2.5B Harvey Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport begs to be explored. But the Bay Area’s fanciest airport terminal is also remarkably efficient, and naturally outfitted with the latest tech.

For Alaska Airlines passengers departing from SFO, the journey from curb to club is a seamless one. Stepping off AirTrain/BART, travelers will find a new security checkpoint with so-called “Automated Screening Lanes” immediately outside the Terminal 1 AirTrain station. These next-generation lanes enable three to four passengers to place their personal belongings in bins simultaneously and automatically return bins to the front of the checkpoint, thus cutting wait times. Checking a bag requires a brief detour through the lower lobby, where self-serve baggage drop-off units—a first at San Francisco Airport—help expedite the process.

Once inside the secure area, it’s a short walk to the new Alaska Lounge, situated opposite gate B6, between The Club SFO (a brand-new Priority Pass lounge) and the American Airlines Admirals Club.

The Alaska Lounge will be open daily, from 5 am to 10:30pm, covering virtually every scheduled Alaska flight, including redeyes.

Connecting to or from an Alaska Airlines flight is also simpler than ever. With the completion of the new Harvey Milk Terminal 1, all terminals at San Francisco International Airport are now connected airside. Passengers connecting from American Airlines flights can reach Alaska’s gates and the new Alaska Lounge in minutes. Meanwhile, customers traveling onward with Alaska Airlines’ oneworld partners, such as British Airways or Cathay Pacific, can walk over to International Terminal A without leaving security.

A Brief History of the Alaska Lounge at San Francisco Airport

The new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport wasn’t on the airline’s roadmap just a few years ago. Before COVID, the Seattle-based carrier was located, oddly, in International Terminal A, and didn’t have its own club. Alaska Lounge members had access to the serene Cathay Pacific Lounge, which featured a noodle bar and elegant shower suites, even though back then, Alaska wasn’t a oneworld member, unlike Cathay Pacific.

As Alaska prepared to relocate to Terminal 2, the airline announced plans to build its own lounge and released a rendering of a luminous top-floor space with floor-to-ceiling windows. But the COVID pandemic and efforts to redevelop Terminal 1 (which was subsequently renamed Harvey Milk Terminal 1, in honor of San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official) triggered a game of musical chairs.

Ultimately, Air Canada opened a remarkable Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in the aforementioned rooftop space, while Alaska took over the former American Airlines Admirals Club on the lower level. Thus, the first-ever Alaska Lounge at SFO opened in August 2021.

While perfectly functional, the original Alaska Lounge felt hastily remodeled, and still featured hints of American’s original design. We now know why. The Seattle-based carrier had bigger plans. Just shy of three years later, the opening of the new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport marks the dawn of a new era for Bay Area travelers.

Alaska Lounge San Francisco Layout

From the concourse level, the new Alaska Lounge SFO looks deceptively modest, especially in contrast with the dramatic glass facade of the adjacent The Club SFO. But members and guests can look forward to an elevated experience a quick elevator ride away.

Located on the upper floor and spanning 11,000 square feet, the new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport is the airline’s second largest club systemwide (the Alaska Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma Airport North Satellite tops the charts, clocking in at an impressive 15,800 square feet.)

The expansion comes in the nick of time. Todd Traynor-Corey, Managing Director – Guest Products at Alaska Airlines, noted in his opening remarks that the airline industry is currently experiencing a huge surge of demand for premium products—both on the ground and in the air. Airlines and airports are struggling to meet demand, and real estate remains scarce. The redevelopment of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 allowed Alaska Airlines to move into a fresh new space, a blank canvas that the carrier was able to mold into a bespoke club.

At just about 10,000 square feet, the former Alaska Lounge in Terminal 2 wasn’t dramatically smaller than than the new club. And yet, the new lounge features 55% more seating than its predecessor—approximately 250 seats vs. 150—while feeling significantly much more spacious. What’s the secret?

First, it’s the daylight. The expansive views. The horizon in the distance. Featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, the Alaska Lounge is bathed in California sunshine. And the location on the upper level of the terminal offers a superb vantage point over the airfield, with views of the widebody jets parked at International Terminal A.

The smart seating arrangement plays a role, too. The designers have carved out plenty of recessed booths, which are cozy and private, yet remarkably space efficient. Alaska has also phased out underused features, such as the fun but underutilized SF Giants-themed family room at the Terminal 2 club, which occupied valuable real estate.

But the layout is ultimately the key. The new Alaska Lounge is essentially long and narrow: from the upper floor lobby, the club stretches in two directions, revealing a succession of spaces, all with different vibes and features—unlike the older club, which was essentially one large open space. Let’s take a closer look at the design.

Alaska Lounge San Francisco Design

The new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1 will feel immediately familiar to the airline’s frequent flyers. Conceived in partnership with Williams Duff Architects, a San Francisco-based design firm, the club expands upon the blueprint of the widely acclaimed flagship Alaska Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma Airport North Satellite, with a variety of thoughtful additions and local touches.

On the right-hand side of the upper-level lobby, you’ll find a living room-like space, dubbed “Take a Breath,” just like at Seattle’s flagship club. Carpets, smooth curves, oak slats, and an island of greenery give the room a homely and tranquil vibe conducive to rest or relaxation. The stylish color palette, dominated by blues and greens, is a nod to Alaska’s brand identity and the airline’s home in the Pacific Northwest.

Fortunately, the designers have resisted the temptation to cram as many seats as possible (for a counter-example, visit the United Club near gate E3), favoring instead a creative layout with a variety of seating options. You’ll find cozy nooks and booths at the periphery of the room; highly-private, cushy cube chairs at the center, and a row of Alaska’s eye-catching signature loungers facing the window wall.

Power outlets and USB ports are available at most seats (at 90% of the seats, to be precise), though they’re not always visible at first glance: if seated at one of the cube chairs, look underneath on the floor.

In a first for Alaska Airlines, the club boasts two sound-proof, fully-enclosed “TalkBox” booths for phone calls or meetings, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis, without a reservation. Outfitted with a seat, a desk, and power outlets, and featuring just enough space to work—but not enough for anyone to want to linger—TalkBox booths offer a space-efficient solution for customers who need to make business calls on the go. While the two booths are bound to be popular and realistically unlikely to be available, they’re a welcome feature which we hope the airline eventually introduces systemwide.

The “Take a Breath” zone is gorgeous, and far exceeded our expectations, considering the underwhelming rendering that Alaska had shared on their web site. The only signature design feature that didn’t make the cut is a fireplace.

Let’s make our way back to the upper floor reception area and keep exploring. At first glance, the decor might feel more mundane, but the attention to detail remains remarkable. Separating the lobby from the main lounge area is a partition made of propeller blades, another Alaska signature feature borrowed from the flagship club in Seattle.

Then, on the left side of the lobby is the “Help Yourself” zone flanked by a dining area, which is where you’ll find food and beverages. (There is also a barista station—more on this amenity below.)

Design-wise, this section of the lounge is more vibrant and dynamic, featuring several large dining booths for four guests, a plethora of intimate booths for two, several traditional dining tables, and ample tabletop seating along the windows.

The highlight of the decor in the dining area is a mural depicting the fog rolling under the Golden Gate bridge. Designed in partnership with ModernMetals, this eye-catching etched metal piece doubles as an acoustical barrier separating the dining room from the adjacent restrooms.

It’s great to see Alaska incorporate commissioned artworks in the design of their lounges, as that’s an area in which the airline has traditionally under-invested compared to key competitors. (Delta, in particular, curates a growing art collection on display at Sky Clubs worldwide.)

There are plenty of other noteworthy design details. The column wraps made of perforated metal are particularly interesting. They hide ducts and drain lines while subtly echoing the opposite art installation, adding a further industrial touch to the ensemble.

Keep walking through the dining area, and you’ll reach the “Cut Loose” zone: the bar. (Okay, we’re still surprised that Alaska’s legal team has signed off on this moniker!) The space, once again, follows the blueprint of the Seattle-Tacoma flagship lounge, sporting a vibrant central bar and cozy upholstered booths at the periphery.

“Cut Loose” will obviously be a popular area, not only because of the complimentary libations, but also because of the atmosphere. Warm tones, semi-private nooks, and the convivial wraparound bar give the space genuine appeal and style.

Alaska Lounge San Francisco Amenities

Alaska has been remarkably consistent when it comes to lounge amenities, so, for the most part, you’ll find just what you’d expect at the new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1: light fare, soft drinks, complimentary house wines and well drinks, and handcrafted espresso beverages. But the new flagship California location brings a few extras.

In terms of food, Alaska has made significant strides (along with virtually every competitor.) Simply put, you can enjoy a full meal at the Alaska Lounge, with a welcome emphasis on healthy options that many travelers have been demanding. This focus aligns with the prevailing trends at San Francisco Airport, where locally grown, freshly prepared food is the norm.

With this in mind, Alaska offers a substantial salad bar featuring quinoa salad, crudités, brussels sprouts, beets, edamame, mushrooms, and plenty of accoutrements, along with several protein options like grilled chicken and tofu. In addition, the new Alaska Lounge has a small hot buffet. Today’s selection included orange chicken, Thai-style chicken soup, and vegetable fried rice. The menu wasn’t curated specifically for the media preview and is supposed to be representative of what guests will experience.

Then, there’s the little extras and traveler’s favorites, such as a sourdough bread bar along with spreads (garlic avocado, roasted red pepper dip) and candy jars stocked with Bay Area treats. Oh, and let’s not forget about breakfast: the beloved pancake machine, a signature amenity that has long defined Alaska Lounges, is naturally a fixture of the new club. In fact, there are two pancake machines, as the amenity is as popular as ever.

Sweets would be welcome, too. Alaska does offer a variety of pastries (more on this below), but there aren’t any dessert options otherwise. Perhaps a dessert tray will make an appearance when the lounge officially opens to the public.

If you’re craving comfort foods, Alaska has you covered, too, but at an extra cost. A variety of hot items are available for purchase, including margherita pizza ($10), a cheeseburger with tater tots ($12), chicken tenders with fries ($10), chicken teriyaki potstickers ($12), and tater tots or fries ($5.)

Given the generous complimentary spread, the appeal of the for-purchase menu might be somewhat limited. Besides, the complimentary options feel more gourmet than the food-for-purchase fare, but options are always good to have.

On the beverage front, you’ll find a Coca-Cola freestyle machine allowing you to craft virtually any soda or juice concoction, plus tea, coffee, and infused water. Unfortunately, infused water is only available in “Take a Breath” zone.

The bar serves a variety of complimentary local beers and wines, as well as traditional cocktails. Premium beverages are available for purchase.

The Alaska Lounge SFO was designed with sustainability in mind, and aims at receiving a LEED Gold certification. The club uses exclusively reusable items and service ware (with a few exceptions, such as to-go cups for patrons who request them.)

The lounge features two elegant and brightly-lit male and female restrooms, as well as gender-neutral facilities, which are stocked with Salt & Stone soap and moisturizer.

We didn’t expect to see showers, and indeed, there are none. Even the airline’s flagship lounge at Seattle-Tacoma airport lacks showers. In this regard, Alaska falls a notch behind the competition—most other lounges at San Francisco airport, with the notable exception of the three United Clubs, do feature showers. Then again, airport lounge design is all about compromises. Alaska has chosen to favor seating and other amenities over showers, which is a reasonable choice considering the airline’s West Coast-centric network.

(Note that if you’re a Priority Pass member, you can shower at the adjacent The Club SFO lounge, though the privilege will cost you $25.)

Alaska Lounge SFO Coffee Shop

We can’t write about an Alaska Lounge without emphasizing the expansive coffee options. Alaska’s coffee game is top-notch, and the new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco airport sets the standard once again.

At the heart of the club is a full-service, complimentary coffee shop, staffed by talented baristas. Guests can savor their favorite hot or cold handcrafted espresso beverages, served either in a porcelain or a to-go cup. In San Francisco, the airline has teamed up with Ritual Coffee, a Bay Area favorite, adding to a long lineage of local partners.

To complement the offering, patrons can help themselves to a variety of complimentary indulgent pastries. The blueberry muffin really hit the spot this morning. Oh, and there might even be a stash of everyone’s favorite Biscoff cookies, too.

Should you be in a rush, you can still get your coffee fix. You will find two espresso machines, along with drip coffee. Once again, the little extras are remarkable—Alaska offers a variety of syrups, along with various milk and sugar options.

Handcrafted coffee is a feature that used to be the exclusive domain of high-end, ultra-premium international airport lounges. Alaska deserves credit for consistently bringing this luxurious amenity to their domestic clubs.

It’s also worth pointing out that Alaska is the only US airline that prohibits tipping at their lounges. Complimentary coffee, wine, cocktails are truly free. And somehow, Alaska baristas and bartenders always rank among the friendliest, most amenable lounge employees that we’ve interacted with.

Who Has Access To The Alaska Lounge SFO?

The new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1 follows the traditional Alaska and oneworld access patterns. The club welcomes:

Alaska used to offer complimentary lounge access to all First Class passengers. While that is no longer the case, Alaska Airlines First Class customers traveling on flights shorter than 2,000 miles can purchase a discounted day pass for $30, which is quite competitive, considering that United charges $59 and American $79.

Economy passengers can purchase a day pass for $60, space permitting (the Terminal 2 lounge did not sell day passes.)

Note that the American Airlines Admirals Club is located steps away from the Alaska Lounge. Alaska Lounge+ members and Admirals Club members are welcome to visit either lounge (or both!) prior to their travels. Alaska Lounge members, however, do not have access to the Admirals Club.

Struggling to decipher airport lounge access rules? Use our Lounge Access Wizard or install our free app. Enter your flight details, credit cards, and memberships, and we’ll tell you where you can relax along your way.

Bottom Line

The new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport is a fantastic addition to Harvey Milk Terminal 1 and a major upgrade over the original Terminal 2 club.

There’s no shortage of competition at SFO Terminal 1: both American Airlines and Airport Dimensions (a subsidiary of Collinson, the company behind Priority Pass) operate clubs a stone’s throw away from Alaska’s new home. And frankly, there isn’t a bad lounge at Harvey Milk Terminal 1. But the Alaska Lounge has all sorts of little extras that make us swoon: panoramic tarmac views, an elegant and refined decor, cozy recliners, private workspaces, a complimentary coffee shop, and the friendly service that the Seattle-based carrier is known for. And with substantially more seating than its predecessor in Terminal 2, the new club will hopefully meet peak-time demand.

The new Alaska Lounge cements a trend: at San Francisco airport, the underdogs beat the dominant carrier on their home turf. While United’s Polaris Lounge for intercontinental business class passengers remains in a league of its own, the Alaska Lounge, American Airlines Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, and Air Canada Lounge all offer a superior experience compared to the United Clubs. The new Alaska Lounge is only raising the bar.

We can’t wait to see what’s brewing in Portland: Alaska is putting the final touches on a new club in the City of Roses.

The author traveled to San Francisco as a guest of Alaska Airlines.