Alaska Air Group has unveiled the next phase of its push upmarket, including a nearly 41,000-square-foot lounge complex at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and a new Hawaiian Airlines lounge at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Opening in late 2027, the two-level Seattle facility will contain a 500-seat Alaska Lounge and separate 200-seat Aurora Lounge, making the combined space Seattle’s largest airline lounge.
The Seattle project will be followed in early 2028 by Hawaiian’s nearly 13,000-square-foot lounge at Honolulu, while Alaska will also open a 14,000-square-foot facility at 
San Diego International Airport (SAN) that year. The investments arrive as 
Alaska Airlines transforms from an airline historically centered on domestic narrowbody flying and recliner-style premium seats into a global carrier with widebody aircraft, lie-flat suites, and an increasingly premium international network following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.
The new Seattle lounge complex will occupy two levels of SEA’s expanded C Concourse, which opened earlier this year. The main floor will contain a 500-seat Alaska Lounge, retaining the carrier’s existing lounge-access rules, while the upper level will house a 200-seat Aurora Lounge specifically for Aurora Suites passengers traveling on intercontinental flights. Across the 700-seat complex will be an outdoor patio with a fireplace, private work pods, seasonal food, fresh pastries, a pizza oven, a coffee lab, and three premium bars.
Feature | Alaska Lounge | Aurora Lounge |
|---|---|---|
Location | Main level | Upper level |
Capacity | 500 guests | 200 guests |
Access | Existing Alaska Lounge policies | Aurora Suites guests on intercontinental flights |
Food | Locally sourced and seasonal menus | Made-to-order cuisine, à la carte dining, and tableside service |
Work facilities | Private work pods across complex | Private work pods across complex |
Bars | Part of 3-bar, two-floor complex | Part of 3-bar, two-floor complex |
Showers/wellness | Not specified | Private shower suites and wellness spaces |
The design has an obvious parallel at SEA. 
Delta Air Lines opened a separate-but-connected Delta Sky Club and Delta One Lounge in 2025, occupying some 24,000 square feet across two levels. Its Sky Club seats 180, while the upstairs Delta One Lounge has 150 indoor seats and another 70 on its terrace. Alaska’s new complex will therefore be substantially larger, adding another front to the two airlines’ long-running competition for premium Seattle travelers.
SEA Premium Lounge Complex | Total Size | Approx. Capacity | Premium Lounge | General Lounge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alaska, late 2027 | 41,000 sq ft | 700 | Aurora Lounge | Alaska Lounge |
Delta, opened 2025 | 24,000 sq ft | 400 | Delta One Lounge | Delta Sky Club |
The premium journey will also begin well before passengers reach Aurora. Upgraded Points reported how Alaska opened a dedicated SEA check-in area in April for Suites passengers and Atmos Rewards Titanium members, feeding directly into a TSA screening lane. Alaska Air CEO Ben Minicucci says that Aurora Suites guests will receive dedicated check-in and concierge service, effectively connecting premium check-in, security, lounge and aircraft into one product as the carrier expands internationally.
“We believe premium is more than a seat. It’s how guests feel from the moment they book their trip to the moment they arrive at the airport to when they’re in the air with us. Aurora for Alaska and Leihōkū for Hawaiian bring that vision to life in ways that feel true to the Alaska and Hawaiian brands our guests love, while raising the standard for comfort, service, dining and care throughout the journey.”
Hawaiian’s New Honolulu Lounge Will Open In Early 2028
Hawaiian Airlines will get its own major lounge upgrade in early 2028, when a nearly 13,000-square-foot facility opens in Honolulu’s Terminal 1. The new space will accommodate 200 guests, with access similar to the existing Plumeria Lounge and including travelers booked in the new Leihōkū Suites. Amenities will include locally inspired food and drinks, a signature local coffee experience, full-service cocktail bar, and private workspaces. Hawaiian’s existing Plumeria Lounge is considerably smaller at just over 3,000 square feet, making the forthcoming facility a substantial step up for premium passengers at the carrier’s home hub.
The timing is deliberate. Beginning in 2028, Hawaiian’s 24 Airbus A330s will receive entirely new cabins, including 22 enhanced Leihōkū Suites with lie-flat beds, privacy doors, and direct aisle access, while premium seating will increase from around 30% to 40% of each aircraft. Hawaiian’s A330s have long formed an important part of its long-haul operation, including routes linking Hawaii with North America, Asia and the South Pacific, but the overhaul will give the airline a much more competitive premium product both in the air and on the ground.
Airport | Brand | Approx. Size | Capacity | Opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle (SEA) | Alaska/Aurora | 41,000 sq ft | 700 | Late 2027 |
Honolulu (HNL) | Hawaiian | 13,000 sq ft | ~200 | Early 2028 |
San Diego (SAN) | Alaska | 14,000 sq ft | TBA | 2028 |
San Diego will complete the trio of major new projects with Alaska’s first proprietary lounge at SAN, planned at around 14,000 square feet and due to open in 2028. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 and amenities will include Signature Loungers, private work areas, locally inspired food, as well as a full cocktail bar and barista station. Until then, eligible Lounge+ members can use the third-party Aspire Lounge at SAN.
The expansion builds on an existing Alaska network of seven branded lounges across five airports: three at Seattle and one each at Anchorage, Portland, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Alaska has been steadily modernizing that network too: a new 14,000-square-foot Portland International Airport (PDX) lounge with more than 230 seats opened in June , following the debut of an 11,000-square-foot facility at 
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in 2024. The SEA, HNL and SAN projects therefore represent the next, and considerably larger, phase of an already accelerating lounge investment program.
Why Alaska Is Investing Heavily in Premium Lounges and Travel
The scale makes more sense alongside Alaska’s rapidly changing Seattle network. The carrier now plans to serve 15 long-haul international destinations from SEA by 2030, up from its previous target of 12. It already has seven long-haul destinations operating or announced which span both sides of the Pacific and Atlantic: Tokyo Narita, Seoul, Rome, London Heathrow and Reykjavik are operating, while Athens and Paris are due to arrive in May 2027.
Premium seating is being expanded at the same time. Alaska’s 787s will receive 34 Aurora Suites, while at least 25 Boeing 737-10s will eventually carry 12 lie-flat Aurora Suites for select transcontinental flights. Premium Reserve will now add a separate Premium Economy cabin to the 787, A330 and selected MAX 10 fleets — a striking shift from the recliner-style first-class cabins that previously defined Alaska’s narrowbody premium offering.
There is a clear financial incentive. Reuters reports that Alaska expects premium revenue to rise from about 36% of total revenue in 2026 to more than 40% by 2030. By comparison, Delta sets the bar for the industry with about 44% of its passenger revenue coming from premium cabins in Q2 2026. Alaska’s management also estimates that these premium initiatives could eventually add $3-$4 per share to earnings.
The Seattle and Honolulu lounges therefore form part of a much larger effort encompassing aircraft cabins, dining, loyalty, check-in and international expansion. Its infrastructure that Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines increasingly need if they intend to compete for the same high-value travelers as the largest US network airlines.
