Alaska Airlines Premium Class: The Guide

On prime of ordinary economic system class seating, Alaska Airways affords a number of courses of service on lots of its plane, together with top notch and premium class. So what makes Alaska’s premium class distinctive? Right here’s what you want to learn about flying Alaska Airways premium class, whether or not or not you’re reserving your journey with Alaska MileagePlan miles.

Questioning what kind of expertise you’ll be able to get pleasure from in Alaska’s premium class seats? You’ll get perks comparable to:

• Legroom. 4 inches of further legroom than what you’d get in common economic system class seats.

• Facilities. Free drinks, together with alcohol on flights exceeding 350 miles.

• Boarding perks. Premium class flyers get early boarding, plus first entry to overhead bins.

As a result of premium class rows are positioned within the entrance of the aircraft, proper behind top notch, additionally, you will be among the many first to deplane when you arrive at your vacation spot.

Don’t count on wider seats like in top notch, although; rows are nonetheless three seats throughout in premium, similar to in the primary cabin, and so they don’t provide any extra elbow room than normal economic system seats. Plus, the seats are nonetheless positioned in the primary cabin; there’s no separation between premium seats and economic system seats.

Nerdy tip: Should you guide a seat in row 6, which is the primary row of premium class behind top notch, you’ll be able to get pleasure from much more legroom, however there isn’t a seat again in entrance of you. Which means your tray desk shall be stowed in your armrest and there received’t be a spot to mount your leisure choices.

Alaska’s web site says you’ll be able to improve to premium class seats beginning at simply $15. Have in mind, nevertheless, that every particular person leg of the flight is charged individually.

For instance, on a flight from San Francisco to Honolulu, an improve on the Alaska Airways Premium class Hawaii fare was $17 for the leg from San Francisco to Los Angeles, $79 from Los Angeles to Honolulu, and $89 for the nonstop return flight from Honolulu to San Francisco.

On the upside, this affords the choice to improve for simply sure components of your journey.

The category of service is presently out there on:

• Boeing 737-900/900ER plane.

• Embraer E175 (operated by SkyWest) plane.

The variety of premium class seats varies from one plane kind to a different, however you’ll be able to count on:

• 24 seats on 900-series plane.

• 30 on 800-series plane.

On plane that don’t provide premium class, there could also be seats with further legroom out there within the Major Cabin, however these seats received’t include further facilities like free drinks or early boarding, so ensure you know what you’re getting if you guide.

Should you’d like all of the perks that come together with a better class of service, there are many methods to improve, comparable to:

• After reserving, utilizing the airline’s “Handle reservations” instrument.

• Throughout check-in (if seats are nonetheless out there).

MVP, MVP Gold and Gold 75K Mileage Plan elite members are additionally eligible for a free improve to Premium Class, relying on the fare bought. If that’s you, you’ll be able to reserve an improve on-line throughout reserving for no further price.

Should you had been hoping to improve to premium class utilizing your Alaska Mileage Plan Miles, you’re out of luck; upgrades can be found to buy in money solely. However for those who booked an award ticket on Alaska utilizing miles, you’ll be able to nonetheless improve to premium class and pay with money.

On lengthy flights the place you’d like to have the ability to stretch out a bit and luxuriate in a complimentary grownup beverage, plus keep away from the effort of ready in line to board or struggle for overhead bin house, an improve to Alaska Airways premium class seats could also be price it. But when early boarding and alcoholic drinks aren’t that vital to you, and having much less legroom in economic system seats isn’t a difficulty, the price of an improve might not be well worth the restricted perks.

Photograph courtesy of Alaska Airways.

You need a journey bank card that prioritizes what’s vital to you. Listed below are our picks for the greatest journey bank cards of 2022, together with these greatest for: