While many airports are designed to be exclusive and luxurious experiences, there are multiple ways for those outside the one percent to gain access.
Flying business class will usually automatically come with access to any lounge the airline has at the terminal. Some airlines offer it as a perk with earning status while others sell access to anyone traveling on a same-day ticket (American Airlines (AAL) Admirals Club is well-liked for precisely this reason).
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That said, higher numbers of visitors in the post-pandemic travel period have left some airlines struggling to maintain the luxury standard for which they want their lounges known. In 2023 and early 2024, there were multiple social media discussions around long lines and chock-full lounges.
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In the fall of 2023, Delta Air Lines (DAL) earned the ire of its customers when it tried to both make it more difficult to earn the loyalty status necessary to access its lounges and lower how many times those who do have status can come in. While the outcry pushed CEO Ed Bastian to apologize and backtrack on how many entries status gives, the airline still went ahead with the changes in principle.
This is the latest airline to raise the cost of lounge access
Alaska Airlines (ALK) , which has nine lounges at different airports in its hub cities, both sells day passes and allows frequent travelers to join an annual “Alaska Lounge” membership in which one can both enter and bring family members anytime one has a same-day ticket with the airline.
The cost of the basic membership, which was formerly $550 for the year, will be raised to $595 on Feb. 1, 2025. The Alaska Lounge+ membership, which offers access not just to Alaska but also airline partner lounges, will be raised from $750 to $795.
“Occasionally, we need to adjust our pricing to make sure that quality stays at the level our members appreciate and to keep pace with the improvements we’re making,” an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said in a media statement on the changes.
While there are other ways to get Alaska lounge access (it is included automatically with a business ticket and one can also get it through the airline’s high-earner credit card), purchasing membership is unusually the fastest and easiest way. Citing lounge crowding and rising expenses, Alaska had previously also upped prices for the membership program in November 2023.
Elite status, which starts after earning 20,000 miles with the airline, also gets one discounts on the annual membership
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Here are some other lounge price increases you should know about
For those with certain high-earner Capital One credit cards, there are a number of Capital One lounges in cities including Dallas and Washington, D.C.
For those without the card, the cost of a day pass was raised from $65 to $90 last August. Australia’s flagship carrier Qantas Airways (QUBSF) has also recently upped the price of its lounge network membership by as much as 20%, while Air New Zealand (ANZFF) followed with similar hikes for its Koru network program.
When it comes to Alaska’s program, the expanded membership offers access to both Qantas and American Airlines lounges. With Alaska recently completing its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, the latter’s lounges at airports in places like Honolulu and Maui will also be part of the wider lounge network.
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