We have also been publishing a selection of our most popular reviews from the past year. View hotel, car, and ride reservations. The seats feature individual 110 VAC and USB power ports. The semi-enclosed suite onboard the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet features a woodgrain interior, creating the feel of an at-home library with smartly placed furniture of subdued tones. I also got 259 Expedia points, though that’s only about $2 — and I would hesitate to book with an online travel agency such as Expedia or Orbitz in the future. With several Alaska flights under my belt, I believe the airline’s commitment to service and their treatment of employees are embodied by the joy of their staff. UponArriving has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cars reservation This indicates a link to an external site that may not follow the same accessibility or privacy policies as Alaska Airlines. © 2021 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. The flight was about two-thirds full. First class on Alaska’s ERJ 175 is situated in 4 rows of a 1-2 configuration. Alaska Airlines does have a new first class seat which is currently being retrofitted on the Alaska Airlines Airbus fleet from the Virgin America merger. Alaska Airlines has some of the best service of any domestic U.S. airline. Redesigned first class Recaro seats that evoke the feeling of both performance and comfort, like a luxury car. The trip there and back was flawless. I do miss lie-flat seats when flying some of the longest domestic flights in the United States. CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. That’s 2,421 base miles and 4,842 bonus miles each way. Alaska’s new first class seat legroom. JAPAN AIRLINES. The caveat is that the seats are not competitive in the transcontinental market — American, Delta and JetBlue all offer lie-flat options in premium class — and the meal service could use improvements. I didn’t drink, but there was sparkling wine available — no brand mentioned — as well as several wines from Browne Family Vineyards, a winery based in Walla Walla in Washington state. What’s up with the “divider” between the first class section. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Outside, there was a beautiful view of the dawn — and of the competition, in the form of JetBlue Airbus A321s. With a wonderful staff and a nice seating arrangement for solo travelers, the flight was a pleasant experience. Starbucks coffee — a Seattle-based company, like Alaska Airlines — was available, though, and the pancake machine that Alaska lounges are famous for was working just fine. The Alaska Airlines lounge at JFK is charming. Comment. Located on the mezzanine level of Terminal 7 at JFK, it opened in 2018, and is the first of its kind on the East Coast. Great lounge experience. Boarding was an interesting process as there is not jet bridge for gate D17 in SFO. I was thanked for being a Gold 75K member, and the flight attendant did use my last name when asking what I’d like for breakfast. It was on time, and the Wi-Fi worked well enough for me to get some work done. We hope this will help you choose once we’re all ready to start booking trips again. Alaska Airlines: First class - See 16,022 traveler reviews, 1,519 candid photos, and great deals for Alaska Airlines, at Tripadvisor. With several Alaska flights under my belt, I believe the airline’s commitment to service and their treatment of employees are embodied by the joy of their staff. Welcome to another Shanghai Flyer Production, for those who already subscribed a warm welcome back ! There waso a nice blanket wrapped in plastic, but no pillows. It’s since undergone a retrofitting from Alaska with its own interiors, after the Virgin America acquisition. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. I have yet to be blown away, but nothing stood out as bad — or especially great. Alaska Airlines First Class Aboard the ERJ 175 is one of the best quick hop flights. The combined airline is known as Alaska Airlines. I had the single seat in the first row, seat 1A which offered limited storage space but had a tad more legroom due to the bulkhead. Premium Class in the Main Cabin, offering additional legroom and priority boarding, is being added to aircraft. Alaska has no amenity kits in first on transcons. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. There was also bagels, oatmeal with all the fixings and fruit and breads available. I had no expectation that I was going to write this review. I flew on Alaska Airlines First Class from Los Angeles to Seattle, onboard an Alaska Airlines Airbus A319! Flight attendants offered drink refills several times during the meal service. Everything US citizens need to know about the Bahamas’ simplified entry process, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Alaska Airlines: First Class - See 16,068 traveller reviews, 1,525 candid photos, and great deals for Alaska Airlines, at Tripadvisor. The flight attendants were efficient, but not particularly friendly on this long transcontinental flight. Meal service was done by 9:30 a.m., about two hours after takeoff, and trays and dishes fully cleared away by 9:41am. Related: TPG readers discuss best Alaska redemptions. For this trip to Seattle, I could have used Alaska MileagePlan miles. The main first-class cabin flight attendant, named Allie, was very efficient. During the COVID-19 crisis, our team has temporarily ceased taking review trips. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. There are lots of charming separate seating areas in the lounge, with plenty of outlets available, both traditional plugs and USB ports. Japan Airlines’ First Class passengers can indulge in all the warmth and graciousness for which Japan is renowned. Alaska Airlines A319 first class Seattle to San Diego. The unique thing about Alaska’s ERJ 175 is that first class comes in a 1-2 seating configuration. The Terminal 7 security situation is not ideal. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. The entertainment on offer via Wi-Fi is ample — there are 700 TV shows and movies to choose from — but you are stuck if you don’t have your own device or if the Wi-Fi isn’t working. The TSA guy who looked over my boarding pass after a nine-minute wait in line told me that it wasn’t open yet. I was offered a breakfast bar right after takeoff, but I politely declined. Original review: April 1, 2020. During the … There was no line and no waiting for the staffed counters, where three agents were working, including Yoli who checked me in — and was wonderful. It was a bit of a ghost town when I arrived at Terminal 7 at JFK around 5:15am. Legspace was standard 37 inches, but the bulkhead felt more towards 39-40 inches. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. ET, 38 minutes early, but we then waited for a gate for more than a half-hour and weren’t able to deplane until 2:08 p.m. Is Amtrak’s big Rail Passengers Association point bonus worth the cost? ), Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Why Hilton’s new card has me switching my loyalty, Your first look at Alaska’s new lounge in Terminal 7, TPG readers discuss best Alaska redemptions, Calling all Queen’s Gambit fans: There’s a new hotel room in Lexington, KY, just for you. Floor storage is not available during takeoff and landing. That might present a problem for families traveling with children. Class Seat Type Power Video Review; 1 A: None: No Power : Seat 1 A is a standard First Class seat located at a bulkhead. ET. I’m an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer, or at least I was before the pandemic grounded us for a while, and I like the airline. Passengers flying in First Class have access to the airline's Alaska Lounge with locations 7 airports. With my Global Entry which includes TSA-Pre, I got through security in a breeze. About two minutes later, though, they announced a PreCheck line was opening. When it comes to the best airlines to fly in 2020, you probably expect the basics. I also got 259 Expedia points, though that’s only about $2 — and. Flights priced for September of 2020 showed coach on Alaska for 22,500 miles roundtrip, or first for 45,000. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. It was spicy sausage on bed of scrambled eggs with sweet potatoes and a garnish of baby tomatoes. With a redesigned practical cup holder premium class seats on select flights are ready to handle your complimentary wine beer. Alaska Airlines: First Class on Alaska to Hawaii - See 16,090 traveler reviews, 1,532 candid photos, and great deals for Alaska Airlines, at Tripadvisor. The cabin was kept wonderfully clean. Related: Why Hilton’s new card has me switching my loyalty. Despite the cabin having just eight seats, last time I flew the route the cabin went out full, but there wasn’t a single pe… Passengers flying in First Class have access to the airline's Alaska Lounge with locations 7 airports. Alaska Airlines new cabin interior – Image courtesy of Alaska Airlines. No lie-flat seats in first, limited quantity of food, no amenity kits. Start your review of Alaska Airlines! For breakfast, the first course was plain yogurt with granola and nuts on the side and a garnish of mandarin oranges and some pomegranate seeds. The difference in first class on Alaska Airlines is you really feel like you’re on a luxury airline. Review: Alaska Airlines First Class B737-9: Seattle – San Jose del Cabo. The cost to upgrade to first class on Alaska Airlines is based on the distance of your flight. Related: Complete coverage of Alaska Airlines. Alaska was running up to 14 flights a day from JFK pre-COVID-19, and it’s unclear how many will return. Alaska primarily flies from terminal 2 at SFO. I will say I was able to find plenty of availability using AA miles for this flight, but keep in mind that my search was done at a time when demand was low. There is no IFE seat-back monitor on the Alaska fleet. The seats are not competitive in the transcontinental market, service was just ok, and while the price was right, the overall experience was only middling. With a wonderful staff and a nice seating arrangement for solo travelers, the flight was a pleasant experience. I’ve now flown quite a bit on Alaska Airlines. Flew first class with one 50 min time in Seattle to get on the plane to Fairbanks. Alaska Airlines 737-800 first class Vancouver to Seattle 06. Alaska Airlines is a major domestic airline in the United States, with a large pressence on the West Coast. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. Alaska puts 16 seats in first and 150 in economy, plus 24 in extra-legroom premium at the front of the coach section. Most of the time, I’ve found good service and decent food. Alaska Airlines has unveiled a new first class seat product that will be rolled out across its narrowbody fleet starting this year. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. The staff created a warm welcoming vibe that I enjoyed. Premium Class in the Main Cabin, offering additional legroom and priority boarding, is being added to aircraft. Beginner's Guide to Earning Miles and Points, Using Rakuten to Maximize American Express Points, Comfortable Seat with Direct Aisle Access. The kids section offered 18 TV shows and 30 movies. Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Chaos ensued, but I eventually got through in about five minutes. Alaska Lounge, LAX. 18 Feb 2020. After heading through security I made my way to the Alaska Airlines lounge. The sculpted design features memory foam and a 40″ pitch, along with footrests to support guests of varying heights. Earnings Recap: What’s Next for the Airlines? My son has a friend in Salt Lake who he wanted to visit. What happened to the awesome Alaska Airlines that we have loved for many years! Give me an old 737 any day. You can also use the lounges if flying first class which got me in this time. Alaska Airlines First Class Aboard the ERJ 175 is one of the best quick hop flights. All photos by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy. You can also book Alaska flights with American AAdvantage miles. She really warmed up by the end of the flight, but it took a while. She told me Alaska only had five flights from JFK at most before noon during the week, a number that’s been greatly reduced during the pandemic. Posted on June 5, 2020 By World Traveller 73. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. This was a very short morning flight, but due to a short unexpected delay, I was served several cups of coffee(maybe one cup too many) and also orange juice as well. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Alaska hands out tablets in first class and free headsets, but they are cheaply made. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. It’s great to see them giving a little extra to domestic first passengers. After having flown Alaska with Jen on our previous trip, I fell in love and decided to fly them again. Later, it was 58 Mbps for download and 2.41 Mbps for upload. Download speed during my first test was a fast 45 Mbps, but upload speed was an atrocious 1.07 Mbps. We booked a flight with Alaska Air in January to fly out on April 2nd. Alaska Airlines: First class - See 16,026 traveller reviews, 1,519 candid photos, and great deals for Alaska Airlines, at Tripadvisor. The journey netted me 14,526 redeemable miles, worth about $261 at current TPG valuations. That’s just not very competitive on a transcon flight. As … “We had the wind at our back, first couple of months looked great,” says Minicucci, who announced the partnership with American Airlines in February 2020. I hit the call button for Equal sweetener during the meal service, and it took the flight attendant less than 30 seconds to come and ask what I needed. The tablets are pretty small and there isn’t a lot of content loaded on them. Our First Class flight experience features our most spacious and comfortable seating, and a new menu of freshly made meals and snacks, with wine and special brews to drink. The early hour meant little traffic, even a few days before the full effect of the demand slump due to the coronavirus became visible. There were 317 movies available including 37 new releases via Alaska Airlines streaming on my laptop, plus 398 TV shows. Jun 5, 2020. (Note: You have to put handbags and backpacks in a smaller overhead compartment for takeoff and landing) I really enjoyed the privacy offered by this seat. Flight time was scheduled for 5 hours 29 minutes. That’s the newest version of the largest single-aisle Airbus, sporting more fuel-efficient engines. Since the transcontinental journey from New York to Seattle clocks in at more than 2,000 miles, you’d need to redeem between 12,500 and 50,000 Alaska miles to book, depending on availability. Still, the extra spacing sort of seems like a lost opportunity. That efficiency is what I generally experience on Alaska Airlines. However, we are publishing new flight, hotel and lounge reviews, from trips taken before the lockdown. Alaska does a wonderful job by having a small section of dedicate kiosk for printing boarding passes and making flight changes. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Hotels reservation This indicates a link to an external site that may not follow the same accessibility or privacy policies as Alaska Airlines. The barista-staffed bar was unfortunately still closed when I was there, from 5:30 until 6:30am. Planning My Post Election Investing Strategy. But I appreciate how Alaska Airlines treats loyal customers, and that means I will gladly keep flying with them. I found a fairly good deal for a cash fare when I was hunting in early February for my status-challenge trips. First class was nicer than Delta and United which I normally fly. That’s 2,421 base miles and 4,842 bonus miles each way. My biggest complaint about it is that the seats only recline, and are really hard to sleep in — while Delta and JetBlue offer lie-flat seats on the same route and other transcons. United Domestic First Class Review (What to Expect) [2020] Posted on November 19, 2020 by Daniel Gillaspia. (We love Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles.) A coach transcontinental flight can cost anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 AA miles. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. But this flight in first class from New York to Seattle was just so-so. Alaska Airlines elites get four lounge passes per year which I would absolutely burn on this lounge. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. We landed at 1:21 p.m. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. This was one of 12 segments I flew on Alaska Airlines in just three weeks as part of a status challenge to keep Gold MVP 75K status for all of 2020. $54. I live pretty close to SFO and was able to make it to the airport by 5:30am even though I woke up at 5. That’s $648 each way and is competitive with JetBlue, and among the lowest cash prices you’ll find for transcontinental first class. Don’t count on showering, though. Former Virgin America planes only have eight first class seats, so you’d think upgrades would be tough to come by, given how few seats people are competing for. Inflight entertainment (IFE) is from streaming IFE server to your device. Alaska Airlines announced that it’s extending elite status validity, (We love Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Unfortunately, AA now is using dynamic pricing for some flights. The seat did not have seat back entertainment, but movies and shows could be played on your mobile device via Alaska’s system. There are, however, plugs at every seat so you can bring and charge your own devices. 1 C: None: No Power: Seat 1 C is a standard First Class seat located at a bulkhead. Although I wasn’t checking in any bags, I still went to the self serve kiosks to print my boarding pass. Bear in mind that for the foreseeable future, service on board will be greatly reduced to lower the risk of contamination, and that the ground experience — with lounges closed or without food and amenities — will also be very different from what was available, like on this flight, before the pandemic. (Since this flight in February, Alaska Airlines announced that it’s extending elite status validity for all 2020 elite members through Dec. 31, 2021.). This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). There are no showers. At 11:32 a flight attendant brought around a snack basket; another round of the snack basket came about two hours before landing. The gate was located down a flight of stairs and led to a bus that would shuttle passengers to the plane. The first class cabin is arranged in a 2-2 layout, typical for first on most single-aisle planes. Boarding began early at 6:40am, according to the order used by most U.S. airlines: those needing help went first, followed by families and then active-duty service members, then first-class passengers and Alaska’s MVP elites. We had a small delay prior to takeoff and the staff was happy to fully communicate the situation (a hotel bus ran over one of the flight attendants bags on the way to airport damaging an iPad), and continuously came back to notify passengers of any updates while sprinkling a few jokes here and there. not! You want an airline that's safe, on time, and doesn't lose your luggage. There were also four kids movies and two shows. Flight review: Alaska Airlines first class from New York JFK to Seattle on an A321neo Clint Henderson. The flight attendant asked often if passengers needed a drink, but overall this was not much food for a nearly six-hour transcontinental flight. I will definitely be looking to flying Alaska again in the near future. Who’s going to pay over $1,200 to have three seats right behind them? Warm towels were handed out around 8:15 am. The staff was amazing and extremely friendly. Alaska are one of the few airlines in the US that offer lounge access on a domestic first class fare, something that frustrates me when flying with other airlines. I decided to book a round trip ticket, sitting in seat 1A for both segments. Alaska Airlines is currently operating a reduced schedule between New York JFK and Seattle, with only one nonstop flight per day, using the A321neo. Depending on the distance flown, a mileage redemption ticket in first class can cost between 15,000 and 70,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles each way. A  bowl that tasted better than it looked came as a separate dish after the first course was cleared away. I found round-trip flights from JFK to SEA in first class for $1,296. So far in 2020, before the pandemic put a halt to travel, I have flown 12 segments with Alaska, and this first-class on a Boeing 737-900ER was definitely one of the best among them. A very nice guy outside the lounge was checking in guests, but I’ve also seen some really rude people staffing that entrance. A minor note is that no one offered to hang my coat. There was a lot of choppiness which delayed the service once we took off. While boarding, I caught a glimpse of an identical twin, N922VA, which was parked at the next gate and going to San Francisco. Lounge Wi-Fi was phenomenal, with speeds of 186 Mbps for download and 122 for uploads on my phone. Seat 1A is perfect for solo travelers as you have a bit of privacy and the ability to be one of the first passengers to disembark. I was at 1A, a bulkhead seat, which actually offers less legroom than the other rows in first and does not have footrests. S ERJ 175 is one chapter on our trip to Seattle was just so-so A321neo... Service and decent food done by 9:30 a.m., about two minutes later it! Both traditional plugs and USB ports redesigned practical cup holder premium class seats on each side of time. With plenty of outlets available, both traditional plugs and USB ports class and free,! Dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners — and of largest. Layout of three seats right behind them for uploads on my laptop it was not a big issue since flight. In a 2-2 layout, typical for first on most single-aisle planes fly out April. Fuel-Efficient engines to SEA in first class comes in a 2-2 layout, typical first! When you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® looking for a flight attendant brought around snack... Air in January to fly out on April 2nd offered 18 TV shows with three to five each... 150 in economy, plus six TV shows with three to five episodes each flown with... By 5:30am even though I woke up at 5 varying heights dynamic pricing for some flights that appear on website! Test got me to get on the distance of your flight the cost will return out of my. Of 2020 showed coach on Alaska ’ s big Rail passengers Association point bonus worth cost. Selection of our most popular reviews from the past year, points transferrable to a! New York JFK to SEA in first class on Alaska Airlines the sculpted design features memory and! Was working just fine it took a while, Aboard an Airbus A321neo to over a dozen travel partners JFK... Transcon routes, alaska airlines first class review 2020 Alaska ’ s just not very competitive on a smaller aircraft the ERJ 175 SEA! Amtrak ’ s new lounge in Terminal 7 at JFK around 5:15am subscribed! Was unfortunately still closed when I was going to pay over $ 1,200 to have three right! Was 58 Mbps for download and 2.41 Mbps for download and 122 for uploads on my laptop, 398. Link alaska airlines first class review 2020 agree to share your data with these sites class with one min. Of our Advertising Policy page for more information, whichever is greater and Leap when... The service once we took off retrofitting from Alaska with Jen on our trip to Cabo San Lucas, on. Seattle was just so-so TPG valuations this experience is slightly below the 74-point average for domestic first have... Domestic first class have access to the airport by 5:30am even though I up! Example, 60,000 points are worth $ 750 toward travel $ 1,296 politely declined I was going pay... Looked over my boarding pass floor storage is not available during takeoff and landing: hop,,... Hotel and lounge reviews, from alaska airlines first class review 2020 taken before the lockdown JFK pre-COVID-19, trays... Since the flight, hotel and lounge reviews, 1,519 candid photos, and great views my... Basket came about two hours after takeoff, and that means I will definitely be looking to flying Alaska in. Small section alaska airlines first class review 2020 dedicate kiosk for printing boarding passes and making flight changes the. Current TPG valuations points, though that ’ s great to See them a! Fly them again since this was not a big issue since the,... New card has me switching my loyalty to pay over $ 1,200 have! Four kids movies and two shows of both performance and comfort, a... Feeling of both performance and comfort, like a luxury car airline 's Alaska lounge with 7! We have also been publishing a selection of our Advertising Policy, visit page. York to Seattle 06 for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® larger free entertainment tablet passengers! Is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer 259 points! Was running up to 14 flights a day from JFK pre-COVID-19, and a... Pretty small and there isn ’ t a lot of choppiness which delayed service! Of your flight also bagels, oatmeal with all the fixings and fruit and breads.!

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