New Pricing and Tiers Announced for Alaska Lounge Memberships
Apr 8, 21, 7:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,773
New Pricing and Tiers Announced for Alaska Lounge Memberships
https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/2021-...by-summer-2021
In October 2021, Alaska Airlines will update its Lounge membership structure to give members more options and flexibility. Starting this fall, Alaska will offer two tiers for Lounge memberships: Alaska Lounge and Alaska Lounge Plus. With the standard Alaska Lounge membership, members will receive access to all Alaska Lounges they know and love when flying on any airline. With the optional addition of a Lounge Plus membership, members will also receive access to an extended network of partner airline lounges across the country when flying Alaska – including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs. Pricing will also be updated as follows, remaining as one of the best values for lounge membership in the industry:
- Alaska Lounge membership: $450 annually ($350 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)
- Alaska Lounge Plus membership: $600 annually ($500 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)
- New Lounge membership enrollments and renewals made before Alaska's two-tier structure goes into effect in October will be grandfathered into an Alaska Lounge Plus membership for the year.
Apr 8, 21, 7:38 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,773
This is a pretty steep price increase if you were using the MVPG or MVPG 75k discount to get the current membership. To keep the same benefits (via Alaska Lounge Plus) you'll pay $150 (MVPG) or $200 (MVPG 75k) more.
Now that the Alaska Lounges are open again to Priority Pass memberships I'm not sure at all what the value is here, other than guaranteed entry which at current travel volume seems unnecessary?
Now that the Alaska Lounges are open again to Priority Pass memberships I'm not sure at all what the value is here, other than guaranteed entry which at current travel volume seems unnecessary?
Apr 8, 21, 8:27 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,363
This is a pretty steep price increase if you were using the MVPG or MVPG 75k discount to get the current membership. To keep the same benefits (via Alaska Lounge Plus) you'll pay $150 (MVPG) or $200 (MVPG 75k) more.
Now that the Alaska Lounges are open again to Priority Pass memberships I'm not sure at all what the value is here, other than guaranteed entry which at current travel volume seems unnecessary?
Now that the Alaska Lounges are open again to Priority Pass memberships I'm not sure at all what the value is here, other than guaranteed entry which at current travel volume seems unnecessary?
I imagine they need to thin out the numbers a bit to account for increased access for OW partner elites.
Apr 8, 21, 8:40 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,301
This is terrible, and very bizarre considering the current environment. They essentially just raised the cost of the membership for a Gold75K by $150. I was probably going to cancel mine anyway, but this makes the decision really easy...
Apr 8, 21, 8:42 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska Gold 100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 225
Well, a $200 increase kind of sucks, so I dont see myself going for the Plus option. 90% of my travel is west coast and if there isntan Alaska Lounge, than Priority Pass should fill most of the gaps.
Did they abandon the upper level lounge at SFO or are they moving into the Admirals Club temporarily until the other one is ready?
Did they abandon the upper level lounge at SFO or are they moving into the Admirals Club temporarily until the other one is ready?
Apr 8, 21, 8:54 am
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,826
Well, a $200 increase kind of sucks, so I dont see myself going for the Plus option. 90% of my travel is west coast and if there isntan Alaska Lounge, than Priority Pass should fill most of the gaps.
Did they abandon the upper level lounge at SFO or are they moving into the Admirals Club temporarily until the other one is ready?
Did they abandon the upper level lounge at SFO or are they moving into the Admirals Club temporarily until the other one is ready?
Looks like they traded views for a slightly larger space (from 8500 sq feet to 10000 sq feet). Weird development.
Apr 8, 21, 8:56 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,826
AS has also been extending lounge memberships recently. I'm sure that didn't help the bottom line.
Apr 8, 21, 9:05 am
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG75K, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, AGR S+
Posts: 361
Or...they've been spending money on the Lounges, both new and existing, and haven't raised prices in over 10 years.
Apr 8, 21, 9:07 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,301
They essentially raised the cost of the membership for a Gold75K by $150. Perhaps to make a $350 Plus Membership for 100Ks seem like a new perk 
? With Priority Pass being accepted again, I was probably going to cancel my membership anyway, but this makes the decision really easy...
? With Priority Pass being accepted again, I was probably going to cancel my membership anyway, but this makes the decision really easy...
Apr 8, 21, 9:17 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SAN
Programs: AS Mileage Plan 100k, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 894
Ugh, I am a partner lounge heavy guy (Airespace here at home at SAN, United Club at DCA, AC at DFW). $150 more a year is painful. I'll just renew later this year like normal and be grandfathered in for a year.
But let's face it, this was done because AA has way higher prices for AC membership, and there was the potential of having a bunch of non-AS loyal customers using AL membership to get into the Admirals Club for cheaper.
But let's face it, this was done because AA has way higher prices for AC membership, and there was the potential of having a bunch of non-AS loyal customers using AL membership to get into the Admirals Club for cheaper.
Apr 8, 21, 9:23 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 62
No tier discount for higher status members? Terrible. Given Alaska’s presence in cities with an Admirals Club, big step backwards. . Wonder if “paid” reciprocal access will soon extend to Admirals Club membership. Off to speculate in the AA forum...
Apr 8, 21, 9:27 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,265
Overcrowding is going to be a double whammy for AS between the recovery of business travel and OW alignment w. AA in particular. If the pricing for AS does not match AA and lounges fill up, this creates real issues for OW elites + F/J passengers from non-US carriers where AS is paid for entry and has a contractual obligation to meet.
There are some very real advantages to OW for AS flyers, but they come with cost alignment too.
There are some very real advantages to OW for AS flyers, but they come with cost alignment too.
