ATLMike1234

They don't provide the boots on the ground but they set the policy and oversee it, and it's ultimately up to them to decide who will be allowed airside.

lolstebbo

That T1 rebuild also includes a sterile connection to IT-A, so it would cost Alaska nothing to have a connector between T2 and IT-A since.... it's already being constructed.

NoLaGent

The point already made is that the T2 lounge space will be available in 2020. The T1-IT-A connector is in the last phase of that construction and won't be done until 2022. There's already a sterile connection btwn T2-T1 (I had an LAX flight changed to gate 47 a couple of weeks ago, so made the walk), but until T1-IT-A is done, it's really a moot point.

tom911

Well, if Alaska decides not to build its own lounge in T2 in 2020, and if the Cathay arrangement still exists in 2022, we can all trek over to International A. Not sure that would be enough incentive for me to purchase a membership (an agent at LAX tried to sell me a membership last week and mentioned the access to the Cathay lounge at SFO, but she had no clue on the current logistics to get to it). Give me a lounge in T2 and I'll buy a membership (had one with AA for most of my 17 years with them).

Given the choice of trekking over to international to use a lounge for 30 mins before departure, I'd much rather stay put in T2 at an Alaska lounge. If you make it so easy to get into the Cathay lounge, similar to how the AA lounge access was at SFO at one time for Alaska (but nox VX) flyers, particularly during peak departure periods, wouldn't be surprised if they curtail or restrict access during late morning and late evening hours. I'll grant you it's a nice lounge (was in in there three weeks ago on the way to Australia with Qantas), but just not so sure they could handle a bunch of Alaska members at the same time they're dealing with Cathay and Qantas flights. Look at how Priority Pass impacted the Alaska lounges in Seattle, to the point they curtailed access. You just have to look ahead and wonder if the Cathay lounge becomes the primary lounge for Alaska flyers at SFO, with easy access through the secure areas in 2022, if we could see something similar there to prevent overcrowding.

worldwidedreamer

My understanding is that the very lovely AA lounge at SFO will be removed when AA moves terminals. I really don't see why they can't just change signs and make it an AS Club.

tom911

In the end it all comes down to dollars - can the airport make more revenue off a lounge compared to a new vendor (restaurant, bar, cafe, shop) in the same space. If you put a restaurant in that space with prime frontage real estate with liquor sales, likely they'll make more money off that than a fixed yearly payment for a lounge. If you look at the Napa Farms Market and the few restaurants/food vendors they do have, they seem to be doing pretty good business, and I can see the airport wanting to increase its revenue. Now, whether Alaska will be willing to pay enough money to counter what the airport would make off a restaurant, we'll have to see, but rents above the terminal in the new office space will surely be cheaper than rents along the main corridor in the terminal.

sergent

5 reasons you’ll love our new SFO lounge

Kacee

Chris McGinnis did a tour of the space, which will be on the 4th level of T2: Alaska SFO Lounge

Planned for 2020 opening. 8500 square feet, which seems pretty obviously too small.

brentyb

Glad to finally see a confirmed space at SFO, but its a shame its so far away. Hopefully its early 2020.

bbison

8500 doesn't seem that small. How big is the Admirals Club in T2, which I've always found a seat in? I'm sitting in a 9K square foot warehouse as I type this, it's bigger than all 3 T3 SFO United Clubs combined.

Now if it were LAX sized, then I'd be worried.

dayone

For reference, the old DFW Centurion Lounge was 9,000 sq. ft.

tom911

The Admiral's Club at SFO is just over 9,400 square feet.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...119344329.html

jsguyrus

This is such great news. It took over a year to become official but at least the end is in sight. It will certainly be so much nicer than the last AS Boardroom which was the size of a large closet.

Eastbay1K

While it may be nicer, it won't have the sense of "home" that I enjoyed on many years' worth of visits with the same few concierge I got to know quite well, even keeping in touch with some after their retirements.

Eastbay1K

Glass half full, folks. Besides, the Too Full for PP sign is already on order. You don't want that to be a wasted expense, do you?