Review: Alaska Lounge Seattle Airport (SEA)

To kick off the ultimate sector of my fast assessment journey to Germany, I visited the Alaska Lounge Seattle situated within the North Satellite tv for pc. That is thought-about by many to be Alaska’s “flagship” lounge, and it’s a lounge I’ve been wanting to go to ever because it opened in 2019.

This lounge didn’t disappoint. It’s bodily a surprising lounge with unimaginable views, barista-made espresso, and a no tipping coverage. The one space the place there’s some room for enchancment is with the meals choice.

Alaska Lounge Seattle location

I visited the Alaska Lounge Seattle situated within the North Satellite tv for pc. Particularly, the lounge is on the mezzanine degree, above gates N13-18. After clearing safety on the airport I turned proper, following the signage towards the N & S gates.

I then went down an escalator, and took the practice to the North Satellite tv for pc.

As soon as on the North Satellite tv for pc, I took the escalator to the primary concourse degree. Initially, I’ve to acknowledge how ridiculously stunning the North Satellite tv for pc is these days — I keep in mind how not-great this space was again once I lived in Seattle.

From there, the Alaska Lounge was straightforward to seek out. There was an escalator main as much as the Alaska Lounge simply 50 ft from the place you enter the terminal.

On the prime of the escalator, simply flip left after which maintain strolling straight forward, and also you’ll see the doorway to the Alaska Lounge proper there.

Alaska Lounge Seattle hours

The Alaska Lounge Seattle is open every day from 5AM till 11PM. That covers most departures, although I’d be aware that there was fairly a queue to enter the lounge at 5AM, given the variety of early morning flights that depart the airport.

Alaska Lounge Seattle entry necessities

Relating to guidelines for accessing Alaska Lounges:

• Paid Alaska Airways first-class passengers on flights of two,100+ miles get Alaska Lounge entry, whether or not they paid with money or miles (those that upgraded don’t qualify)
• These with an Alaska Lounge or American Admirals Membership membership get Alaska Lounge entry
• According to oneworld lounge entry guidelines, Alaska Lounges are commonplace oneworld Sapphire and oneworld enterprise class lounges

There’s a bit extra nuance to lounge entry insurance policies, so see my detailed information about Alaska Lounge entry. Personally I used to be accessing the lounge on account of getting a nonstop first-class ticket to Miami on Alaska Airways, although I even have an American Admirals Membership membership by means of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (assessment).

Alaska Lounge Seattle seating & format

The Alaska Lounge Seattle within the North Satellite tv for pc is 15,800 sq. ft, making it the biggest Alaska Lounge within the service’s community (at the very least as of now). The very first thing to notice is that the lounge has actually excessive ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling home windows all through, with superb views. That’s a big a part of what makes this place so nice, particularly for us avgeeks.

The Alaska Lounge is basically damaged up into three areas. Whenever you enter the lounge and switch left, you’ll discover a area that most likely takes up about half the lounge, which is devoted to stress-free and lounging round.

This space has a comfy hearth, and plenty of seating proper by the home windows, in an effort to watch all that’s taking place on the apron and runways.

There are additionally every kind of different seating preparations on this space, starting from couches, to bigger communal tables, to benches, to high-top tables. Virtually all of the seats within the lounge have shops, so it’s straightforward to maintain your electronics charged.

The opposite half of the lounge is designed extra for these seeking to eat and drink. The following room has a bunch of eating tables, communal tables, and even some cubicles.

Then the final a part of the lounge is the bar space, which needs to be one of many prettier bar setups I’ve seen at a US airline lounge membership membership.

There’s not simply seating on the bar, however there are additionally dozens of seats round it.

Whereas I used to be visiting early within the morning, I think about the views from the lounge are unimaginable later within the day, particularly if the climate is good.

Actually, what a stunning lounge. Pure gentle and views make such a distinction, and on prime of that the lounge has a very cozy format.

Alaska Lounge Seattle meals & drinks

What are the meals and drinks like on the Alaska Lounge Seattle? I’d say the meals is simply “meh,” whereas the drinks are excellent. The lounge has a buffet simply close to the doorway and to the correct.

Self-serve breakfast choices included a number of sorts of yogurt, fruit, granola, hardboiled eggs, cheese, salami, and oatmeal.

As we’ve come to anticipate from Alaska Lounge, there was additionally a pancake machine, which is all the time a enjoyable characteristic. There have been some pancake accompaniments (like maple syrup and peanut butter), in addition to Biscoffs and Nature Valley granola bars.

There was additionally a show case with some muffins, scones, and bagels, which one of many workers members by the counter will serve to you.

That’s the extent of the meals choice. I’d say the meals is fairly common for a US airport lounge.

What’s rather more spectacular is the drink choice in Alaska Lounges. As somebody who loves good espresso, I oh-so-appreciate how Alaska Lounges have correct barista-made drinks.

You possibly can order these both in mugs or to-go cups, and along with your most popular milk. I had each a cappuccino and a latte throughout my go to. Actually, that is one thing I worth greater than any meals choice you’ll discover in a home membership lounge, however I do know I’m within the minority there.

There was additionally a self-serve drink station with a Coca-Cola soda fountain, some drip Starbucks espresso, and an espresso machine. In case it’s not clear, I’d suggest not utilizing that machine, and as an alternative having a barista make you a drink. 😉

For these in search of alcohol, Alaska Lounges additionally achieve this significantly better than what you’ll discover at different airways lounges. In American Admirals Golf equipment you’ll simply discover low cost generic alcohol, with every kind of choices to buy-up to premium drinks. In the meantime in Alaska Lounges you’ll discover a wonderful choice of complimentary beer, wine, and liquor, with a specific give attention to native manufacturers. It’s so good to see an airline placing effort into its drink choice in that method.

What’s additionally good is that Alaska Lounges have an specific no tipping coverage. Regardless of that, the workers working in Alaska Lounges are constantly the friendliest I’ve discovered at any US membership lounge. Enormous kudos to everybody working right here.

So yeah, for those who ask me, Alaska Lounges have simply okay meals, however superb drinks… and I’ll take that!

Alaska Lounge Seattle loos

The Alaska Lounge Seattle has two separate units of restrooms, one on every finish of the lounge. Every of the boys’s rooms has three sinks, two stalls, and two urinals.

The Alaska Lounge Seattle doesn’t have showers. That’s honest sufficient when you think about Alaska Airways’ route community, although with the airline being in oneworld, I suppose there are most likely extra lengthy haul vacationers passing by means of this lounge.

Backside line

I’ve seen the Alaska Lounge Seattle within the North Satellite tv for pc hyped quite a bit, and it didn’t disappoint. The lounge is avgeek heaven, with unimaginable views of the airport, and plenty of pure gentle. On prime of that, the lounge has barista-made espresso, a considerate, domestically sourced choice of alcoholic drinks, and a no tipping coverage.

I’d say the one space the place the lounge can enhance is with the meals choice. And it’s not that the choice is unhealthy, it’s simply not superb.

Actually, give me good espresso and airplane views, and I’m a very blissful camper. That is positively amongst my favourite airline lounges in america.

What do you make of the Alaska Lounge Seattle?