and 650 Oneworld priority lounges. I have a newer review of United Airlines Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfBsyz1rtgs&t=439s It's in their Polaris Business Class. Our partners compensate us. is included in any Alaska Airlines first class fare, whether purchased with cash or miles (but not as an upgraded ticket). Alaska Airlines first class bottled water. God forbid economy on that flight as first was awful. It will be interesting to see what they do with the LAX/SFO service out of JFK as the market recovers. Just a few months ago Alaska Airlines added a "Soy Meets World" salad option on flights over 1,100 miles. Where AS does not compete well is in the transcon market in select markets, notably NYC, where frequency and frills count. I look forward to hearing your opinions. Our seats were exceedingly hard and uncomfortable and the arch of the back may fit someone but not ours. For example, they clarify that everyone, including those who are vaccinated, need to wear a mask over both their nose and mouth. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. But as it is always available while the other two options rotate Id choose ancient grains but only because Im not a beef eater. Here's how: Find your trip Guy gets sick as we're boarding on Fargo. She is the creator of travel and adventure site Terradrift.com and has written about travel and rewards for many publications, including American Way and Johnny Jet. Further, pillows and blankets . But everything that they did ended up bumping or pulling on the backs of our seats. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. And if you say "but HEPA", you clearly don't work in a hospital. text-align: center; 2023 Alaska Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. Trip Verified | Terrible attitude from the lady at 11am at gate D6. First class flyers get added perks like complimentary food and drinks, a dedicated flight attendant, access to lounges while on the ground and two free checked bags. First class on this aircraft was comprised of 34 seats, all seemingly brand-new and offering great amounts of privacy. **Day pass access to an Alaska Lounge location is subject to space availability. Help me choose my first class meal! You can often still get a sense of whether you have an ex-Alaska Airlines crew or ex-Virgin America crew in terms of their general service style. By selecting a partner link you agree to share your data with these sites. And I cracked up about your comment on the dots on the SFO windows. The best thing about Alaska First Class is you can actually get upgraded. Alaska's flight coverage Alaska serves 120 destinations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Belize. Our opinions are our own. If youve flown Alaskas first class lately, what was your experience like? As per Qatar Airways checked baggage allowance policies, there is no . Access is limited to passengers traveling on a paid First Class or a First Class award ticket* on flights operated by Alaska Airlines where one flight has a distance of at least 2,100 miles. text-align: center; If that isnt the most incredible service. I would not fly alaska over ANY airline right now! Check in and print your boarding pass 1 to 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure. Experience exclusive, First Class perks. Their 'entertainment' (on your phone) looks pretty complicated to get it work. It's essentially the same as domestic. This was my first Alaska Airlines flight in quite a while, and it was about as pleasant as flying nowadays can get. The exact offerings will vary by airline, but first class meals are always a cut above the rest. I flew BNA-SEA and had missed the news until after being handed a second can of the red blend. Alaska Airlines First Class: Seattle - Honolulu The Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA The United Island Hopper - Flight #1: Honolulu - Majuro The United Island Hopper - Flight #2: Majuro - Kwajalein The United Island Hopper - Flight #3: Kwajalein - Pohnpei The United Island Hopper - Flight #4: Pohnpei - Chuuk Available on all flights 1,100 miles and above. A general rule of thumb is that if the value-per-mile of a redemption is above 1.2 cents, it's a good deal. Alaska Airlines provides meals in First Class for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. AA SUCKS. If you mind me pointing out gramatical errors let me know and I'll stop, lol. When you book a first class ticket with Alaska, youll also earn 75% more Mileage Plan bonus miles than with the purchase of an economy class ticket. Oh hey, thats a good point. When I download the app, it works on my Kindle Fire. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. Alaska Airlines doesn't offer a business class experience for passengers. The airline offers a variety of meal options to choose from, all of which are delicious and satisfying. I bought a ticket on Friday morning leaving from PDX to MSP. Ive flown a number of AS flights since mid-Feb. F is given choice of fruit and cheese or breakfast / turkey sandwich depending on time of day. Alaska Airlines has upgraded all of their Boeing 737-800, 900, and 900ER aircraft seats to include in-seat electrical outlets and tablet holders. American Way, Hemispheres, CultureMap, JohnnyJet, and more. Choose your meal from the menu and add it to your cart. When I search Matrix ITA, I only see TPA-SEA. Or fly private. That's how it was presented, though I'm not sure if in the galley it came out of a can or bottle. PHP 2,000 / USD 40 . That means, it might be a challenge (even for you AvGeek pros) to ensure you will be flying with the new first class. For all other cabins or classes of service on Alaska, only a carry-on is included. Image source: The Motley Fool. Executive Class. Last minute. They also get expedited check-in and express security screening at select airports. Please check in at the airport 3 hours prior to departure. You will always have someone by your side if you work as a First Class flight attendant. My only complaint about Terminal 2 from an avgeek perspective is that black-dotted windows, which makes it tough to plane spot. I will renew MVPG and he 75K on our next trip. NerdWallet values first class Alaska Airline miles at, But those flights can also require up to 70,000 miles depending on availability and route popularity. Surgeons wear masks during surgery despite HEPA. A one-ounce bar of chocolate made by jcoco will be provided to MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K members. Earn more miles. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. Alisha McDarris is a freelance travel writer and photographer. They'll say our research shows people prefer to watch on their own devices. Self-service check-in is not available for Havana. For example, when traveling for an extended period of time, these advantages can be extremely beneficial. Alaska Airlines Premium Class. When I would get upgraded via Delta (back when they were speaking) I noticed they never gave a pre-departure cocktail, after takeoff they would ask what you wanted to drink, and then bring it out when they brought their meal - always a cold meal. I have looked at availability from SEA-DTW As an Alaska elite (mid-tier) I have to say that some experiences are good and others not so much. These seats, on the other hand, have a lot more room and are a lot more private. No live TV is available. I bought a ticket on Friday morning leaving from PDX to MSP. Learn how your comment data is processed. They were super friendly, and did a great job striking a balance between providing personable service and minimizing contact. No problem. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Everyone from coach used the restroom especially when we had to use it. Couple of meals from last week AS25 op N288AK Boston Seattle 7:00-10:20 4/14/22 I was upgraded about a day before departure, so I was able to pre-order . #gallery-3 img { I have looked at availability from SEA-DTW or SEA-MSP (and various other longer flights) and there is literally NO first class upgrade seat availability. First class meals are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and include vegetarian options plus alcohol. 2 reviews Daniel Strongin (United States) 30th January 2023. Not sure what the fourth one Ben's referring to is. The food itself is decent, but not being able to pre-order it on flights that are 6-7 hours long is just inexcusable. #gallery-3 .gallery-caption { After the meal, chocolate chip cookies were served. Arrive late in MSP and will miss only flight into Mexico from LAX by AA. And if you want to pay with miles instead of cash, Alaska Airlines first class offers a comfortable experience you can book using, Luxury seating, plenty of legroom, priority boarding, and free checked bags are just a few of the perks of flying. Meals by region U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Central and select South America flights South America Europe Asia Australia / New Zealand Order food online and enjoy onboard You can reserve meals* starting 30 days (and up to 24 hours) before flights with meal service. I had a feeling the cheese platter was the same one you could buy. @Lucky You say youll take Alaska over UA any day of the week, is this saying youd take Alaska first class versus UAs new Polaris class like you did ORD>SFO? First Class Group A (Million Milers, MVP Gold, and MVP Gold 75K) Group B (MVP members and guests in Premium Class seats) Group C (Main Cabin in the back) Group D (Main Cabin in the front) Group E (Saver) I can see them permanently getting rid of it. Very good review of the current first class product. Also you commented about the nice cushy 1st class seat. Like, out of a bottle?? Boarding. Our next door neighbor was supposed to sit for our puppy. We have partnered with Boxed Water to provide First Class guests an alternative to single use plastic by using paper-based cartons that are 92% renewable. The new highly touted 1st class seat in my opinion is rock hard thin seats. First Class seating | Alaska Airlines First Class Luxury seating with spacious legroom and priority boarding at check-ins, these are just a few of our favorite things. Aer Lingus flights now earn Tier Points in the British Airways Executive Club, Delta Removed Me From Delta One Suites and How I Fixed It. Your review is nice although, I flew FLL-SEA 2 days ago. United Airlines usually also flies this route, but its suspended at the moment (and even if it werent, Id pick Alaska over United any day of the week). It was not worth it. EasyBiz discount and companion fare codes, Available on all flights 670 miles and above (including between SEA/PDX and SFO, SJC, OAK, LAS). Unfortunately no Sun Liquor. Flight distance can be found in the flight details or summary section of an itinerary. Yep, coffee was available on request. There are foot rests, tablet holders for your electronic devices, cupholders and seats with up to a 41-inch pitch, meaning you can recline in comfort. Hot food will be available to those in first class. (MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K) are not subject to this limitation. Pre-ordering of coach meals has been possible for quite some time with the apps. I believe Alaska has the best domestic first class service. My GF and I wanted an extra night at the Park Hyatt NYC and I burned a ton of miles to fly JFK-LAX. I have one more Alaska Airlines flight scheduled for this year and I am usually not based in the US. The Priorities For Alaska Airlines Going Foward The graphic below touts Alaska Airlines as having the fewest cancelled flights from June through November 2022. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. It is probably better to eat a cheese plate than a polenta dish with a side salad of kale and quinoa. Does anyone remember the Junkers G.38 where passengers sat inside the wings? How did the experience on board Ibiza go? Alaska Airlines first class legroom is noticeably more generous than on other US carriers. We were in a panic, must have been somewhere over CO. We asked We are fond of Alaska due to our experience. With Alaska, they have about 50 of their 71 Airbus converted and when asked they told me that they are "still discussing plans for the 737-800/900 fleet interiors.". float: left; There are many perks to flying first class on Alaska, including more legroom, early boarding, and complimentary alcoholic beverages. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Let me see what I can do. I wish I had been flying several days later, because Alaska Airlines joined oneworld as of March 31, and on that date Alaska and American introduced a reciprocal upgrade program for elite members. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. to Alaska at a 3:1 ratio. The redeye is usually the second flight that only operated during peak seasons around the holidays. Please enter your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number or select another option to look up your reservation. AS942 - Honolulu to Seattle (HNL-SEA) 18 April 2022 Boeing 737-890 - N533AS Seat: First Class 1A Departure: 08:00 Arrival: 16:55 Most of first class was already seated as I had missed the start of boarding. So while noise cancelling headphones helped, it was the adults that disturbed our experience. margin: auto; All items are offered as individual servings. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. While Alaskas 737s dont have seatback entertainment, there is a library of TV shows and movies that you can stream to your personal device. You can select any of the three meal options that you want. How did I book us? passengers can order their meal up to 24 hours before their flight. Just head to Alaskas website, type in your travel dates and locations, select Use miles and hit Find flights. You can view an award calendar or daily schedules to find the award flight you want, including first class flights. ). I wrote separately about breakfast on a 1500 mile flight. I think this was a very big 1 off. Each bag must not weigh more than 50 lbs (23 kgs) and not exceed the maximum dimensions of 62 inches (157 cms) including Length+width+height. EasyBiz discount and companion fare codes. @ Pat -- Indeed, JetBlue is the outlier, and I wouldn't consider JetBlue to offer "standard" first class seating, which is why I added that caveat. Lounges. At least it is a hot food. I have a membership, so was able to stay productive throughout the flight. They are designed to be more filling and offer a greater variety of food choices. I have flown AS transcon in F about 10 times this year, mostly SFO-EWR and back. With minimum status I can book an exit row at time of booking (not valid for saver fares). What gives? I personally have flown over 1 million miles and believe I have some basis for informed observation. Nuts are served onboard and meals can contain other allergens. I realize they don't serve SFO-TPA and they weirdly don't market the seats as either business or first, but they're just one of probably many with more legroom. @ Michael Lashchuk -- Thanks! The old seats are great, they look so dated but they're so comfortable with all the padding. If you are traveling through Seattle, Id recommend stopping by either the lounge at Concourse C or the one in the North Satellite, which are new, modern and spacious. Seats/suites. Also you mentioned the bulkhead design. Liquor is back as of Tuesday. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. Titos, Tanqueray, Woodford Reserve, Jack, Baileys, and the two Fremont Brewing beers (Lush IPA and a Pilsner). Business class is still the best option if you want to travel with the most comfortable seat on a plane. Even calling customer service ahead of the flight will not help. Id take a connection before having too fly that again. And 6:45-7 hours in air. Entres include a winter squash & apple frittata for breakfast or braised top blade beef with fennel after 10:00 am. I flew BNA-SEA and had missed the news until after being handed a second can of the red blend. When booking an upgrade, you will be able to select free upgrade seats on some qualifying fares. And if you want to pay with miles instead of cash, Alaska Airlines first class offers a comfortable experience you can book using Alaska Mileage Plan miles. I really think that ahead of the Oneworld partnership, they went in and quietly removed it on longer flights. Heres how to get the most out of every first class award booking with Alaska: NerdWallet values first class Alaska Airline miles at 1.2 cents. 2. *applies to fares booked in C, D, E, J, or I class. But what i have noticed is that it is nearly impossible to use your status (i.e. Check it out. Here are our picks for the. To my surprise the link said to call customer service which I did to find out why I wasnt able to do early checking. If you hold a confirmed first-class ticket, you will receive an email from Delta 3 days before departure asking you to pick your meal choice. Short & Medium Haul. The seats were comfortable, the Wi-FI was fast, and the overall soft product was good. . Pre-ordering a meal on a domestic flight is something you dont really find in Europe. Plus, earn 75% more Mileage Plan bonus miles with your First Class ticket purchase. Emirates reported a 154% increase in vegan meals served onboard from 2021 to 2022. When you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points, you will be given a 5,000 mile bonus courtesy of Marriott. Armed with that knowledge, which one would you recommend I try? We were in a panic, must have been somewhere over CO. We asked the lead flight attendant if they were going to fly back to SEA and they did not, but the captain would. As soon as he landed, he texted my next door neighbor who were already waiting at the airport to pick up the key. Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below. 2023 Alaska Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. I dont know about you but I prefer watching on a screen in the seat back at eye level. Flight attendants and gate agents are consistently great. Stretch out in spacious, custom-designed seats. It is possible to purchase items from the airlines in-flight menu if you prefer. When you book a first class ticket with Alaska, youll also earn 75% more Mileage Plan bonus miles than with the purchase of an economy class ticket. Its pretty simple at the time we were flying, Alaska Airlines was the only airline flying nonstop between San Francisco and Tampa. There are a variety of meal options available, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher meals. Purchasing Alaska miles should be your last resort. Alaska Airlines' first class seats offer more legroom than any other U.S. carrier (if you omit airlines that offer lay-flat seats and suites). That means transferring 60,000 points will get you 25,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles. Flat seats. ET. Please check in at the airport 3 hours prior to departure. The fruit and cheese plate is the same one sold in coach, just with better plating. Ive gotta say, the quality of both dishes was fairly good (I mean, at least compared to Uniteds chicken sandwich). Available on all flights 2,140 miles and above (Hawaii and coast-to-coast). Related: Hot, plated meals are officially making a . "Apparently the AIRLINE has 41 of pitch" Theres a real convenience to flying nonstop, particularly when I had mom with me. First Class passengers on select flights over 2 hours can pre-order meals on flights (subject to availability) by using the Alaska app or online at alaskaair.com. Cathay Pacific and Qantas Airlines both offer expensive first class services that may have exceptional mile redemption values if booked using an Alaska award flight. Alaska Lounges are currently only open at six domestic airports, but they will be expanded. Excellent service at check in, at the gate, and on board. Start your meal with a fruit bowl or appetizer salad (depending on departure time), then choose between a hot entre or our Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter. While we flew United Airlines first class on the outbound (with a connection), we returned nonstop on Alaska Airlines. Qatar Airways. Sum of 3 dimensions. If you were upgraded to first class, however, you will not be given access. First Class International: not so good. Premium class flyers join first class ticket holders with access to perks like free beer, wine, and cocktails, extra legroom (compared to main cabin), seat selection, a free carry on, and the ability to board and deplane early. Apply for an Alaska Airlines US Visa Signature credit card, Apply for an Alaska Airlines US Business credit card. But my experience was far from yours. Not sure how much you fly Alaska. There is no specific dress code for first class passengers on Alaska Airlines. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. That means transferring 60,000 points will get you 25,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles. Food served in first class on Southwest is generally of higher quality than food served in economy class, which is a benefit for those who can afford it. I kind of have to laugh at the European-sized cans as a European I can say those are cocktail-sized mixer cans, not the standard by far, European sized cans are 330ml and only slightly smaller than the US standard can. To keep the food safe, only cold meals and beverages with heat are permitted. I also quickly peeked into the economy cabin, which looked reasonably comfortable. Please select a 'look up reservation' option. All complimentary. I dont like too use call button, but after three hours I want water. If youre flying first class, you might as well enjoy all the perks, including kicking back in an Alaska or partner lounge if theres one available. This is about the most impressive meal service Ive seen on a US airline outside of premium transcontinental routes since the pandemic started. ? Granted My last Alaska Airlines First class flight was in November 2019, so of course pre-pandemic. That fruit plate and stale cold sandwich just does not cut it. Although that's the old 1st seats. Alaska need to up its food game in (packed) coach now. This indicates a link to an external site that may not follow the same accessibility or privacy policies as Alaska Airlines. Or is this just a slow rollout across the fleet? Read more. Luxury seating with spacious legroom and priority boarding at check-ins, these are just a few of our favorite things. @Lucky - I agree that these "old style" seats may be the most cushy among US carriers, but I don't think that it's fair to say "So as far as standard domestic first class seats go, it doesnt get better than this." Got cheese plate, which was good but tossed at all passengers. Alaska Airlines offers a variety of food and drink options for passengers travelling in First Class. SFO and LAX are seasonal I believe. Apply for an Alaska Airlines US Visa Signature credit card, Apply for an Alaska Airlines US Business credit card. Much different vibe when flying the other majors. I'm guessing that AS is not offering tablets for streaming in First? Ive also seen abundant recent examples where booking 5-10 days out, F is available on transons for only $60-180 more than the cheapest main cabin fare. If you are an Alaska Airlines Mileage Member, you have a chance of being upgraded to first or premium class based on the route, season, and time of day. Alaska Airlines will offer just one beverage service in the main cabin no matter the length of the flight and axe fresh meals on medium-haul flights through the end of January 2022 after flight attendants raised concerns that they were at increased risk of COVID-19 infection with the return of pre-pandemic levels of inflight service. Spirit Airlines Airbus A319-100 aircraft flies in a one class configuration with 145 seats of Economy Class. I've got minimum status (MVP) on Alaska, but since September have managed to get an upgrade to First on four of six flights. Alaska is currently remodeling its Seattle and Portland lounges and expects the expansions to be completed in the summer of 2022. The only thing that ruined this particular flight was that there were two lap babies that were noisy. Feast your eyes on first class meal service. And they constantly knew my name. Check award travel miles against the cash price to find out if booking with miles is a good deal. The main cabin of Alaska Airlines has a few rows of premium seats in the front. Small sachets or shaker containing condiments (usually salt, pepper, and sugar) are supplied to customers. Alaska first-class meal (Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines) 0. According to Alaska Airlines' senior product manager of food and beverage, Jessica Johnston, there are usually around 30 entre choices for first class in any iteration of Alaska's. As usual, I would never recommend buying miles speculatively, as it is not a good value, but it is an option if you need to top off your account to have enough miles for that redemption you have in mind. First class on Alaska even gets its own dedicated flight attendant. First class passengers are always the first to board, plus the first to deplane once they reach their destination. On top of that, the seats are very well padded. Food for thought there, thanks for that much appreciated! My family of 4 MVPs (Alaska's lowest level) all got upgraded both directions SEA-ATL in March. Booking a first-class meal on Alaska Airlines is an excellent way to enjoy a delicious, quality meal during your flight. All others are awful. Also, during this day and time, expect schedule changes. What is going on?? Of course, they check the DOB and they made us wait for long time to change the DOB on the ticket. One Alaska first class sweet spot could be for flights between 1,401-2,100 miles in distance. In addition to the protein platter, those in the MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K tiers will enjoy other great amenities. The presentation is also more refined, with an emphasis on quality over quantity. Thanks! Nonetheless they keep charging premium prices for the route. float: left; > Read More: American Airlines 777-200 Business Class Review [DOH-JFK] 8. I paid 1490 one way and it was the most uncomfortable flight ( even in first Ive been on in years ) and attendant rude and out right mean when Id ask for a water.