Is this new space the best Alaska Airlines lounge in the country?

Alaska Airlines has a new home in the newly renovated Harvey Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and has opened a luxury lounge to go with it. I would argue that it is the best of the nine Alaska resorts in the country. As we first reported in June, the Seattle-based carrier moved its SFO operations from Terminal 2 to the new Terminal 1, named after gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk. That move coincided with the opening of a brand new 11,000-square-foot lounge.

I had a chance to check it out on a few recent stops at SFO, and it gives the flagship Alaska Lounge at Seattle’s North Satellite a run for its money.

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Alaska’s resort at SFO

The Alaska Lounge opened in June at SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1. It’s across from Gate B6 and not far from the new The Club in the SFO lounge, which I reviewed last month.

The new American Airlines Admirals Club is a 10-minute walk down the terminal.

The design of the Alaska Lounge is elegant and modern. Once you enter the sliding glass doors, you will find a large lobby with a bank of elevators that will take you up to the actual lounge.

When you get off the elevators, friendly staff at the check-in desk will greet you. I had a great interaction on both of my visits. One agent even offered to take my guests’ names to automatically check them in when they arrived later. This way, I didn’t have to wait and I could start enjoying the living room.

I visited once in October and once in November. There were no lines to check in, and the lounge was almost empty. The lounge is open daily from 5 am to 10:30 pm

Alaska Lounge SFO entry requirements

Entry requirements for the new Alaska Lounge are more limited than in previous years when they only allowed entry to Priority Pass cardholders. That might help explain why it’s not so crowded.

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Those with an Alaska Lounge or Alaska Lounge+ membership can enter for free. (Alaska+ membership also provides access to a network of partner lounges, including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs, Qantas Club locations and other United Clubs.)

Those with American Airlines Admirals Club membership can also use the Alaska Lounges when flying on a same-day American- or Alaska-bound flight. That includes owners of Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees). Note that you will need to show a physical card in some cases.

Related: The Complete Guide to Alaska Lounge Access

Single-entry passes will also be available for sale for $60 per person, but only as space is available. Given how few people I saw when I visited the lounge, I bet passes will be available for sale more often. To purchase the pass, you will need to fly on Alaska, a Oneworld airline or one of Alaska’s global partners such as Icelandair or Starlux.

Finally, you can also use the lounge if you are a first class passenger with paid or award tickets on flights of 2,000 miles or more.

There are several additional ways to access this lounge. See the list of Alaska Airlines lounge policies and rules for more information.

Related: Alaska Visa Signature card review

Alaska Lounge SFO facilities

Another highlight is the large wrap-around bar where bartenders make cocktails like Alaska’s famous bloody mary and also serve West Coast wines and beers. Among the top shelf options are Jim Beam, Crown Royal and Maker’s Mark whiskeys as well as Aviation and Bombay Sapphire gins.

The new lounge measures 11,000 square meters and has 55% more seats than the old Terminal 2 lounge.

You won’t find showers here, but there are large, clean restrooms with Salt & Stone products from La Bottega.

There are plenty of seating and lounging areas, including four-top tables, a single desk-like setup and comfortable back seats with views of the tarmac.

There are also rear sofa seats and private booths for soundproof work areas.

My favorite seating area was the long row of lounge-style seats where you could get a view of the airport … or a few ZZZs.

There wasn’t a fireplace feature like you’ll see in other Alaska Lounges, but there were a few communal couches that looked cozy.

The lounge is also wheelchair accessible.

I really enjoyed the variety of places to live and work.

Alaska Lounge SFO Restaurant

The Alaska Lounge at SFO has a rotating menu of snacks and small bites. Fresh fruit and oatmeal were available along with other breakfast items. Deli meats and cheeses were also available. One time I visited, there was also vegetable fried rice.

Of course, there’s also a popular Alaska Lounge feature: the Popcake machine. The automatic pancake machine is now standard in Alaska Lounges. Yum.

As has become the norm at Alaska Lounges, there was a barista station where you could order an espresso or grab a cake to enjoy in the lounge.

There was also a beverage station offering two premium Eversys coffee machines, a Coca-Cola soda machine, tea and a few other treats. This lounge serves coffee and espresso from San Francisco-based Ritual Coffee Roasters. This company is independent and woman-owned, and is a great touch for the San Francisco resort scene.

I loved the self-serve candy station, featuring Ghirardelli chocolates, Alaska Air-colored jelly beans, M&Ms and fortune cookies made by the Oakland Fortune Factory.

One of the more endearing nods to San Francisco was a large mural on the wall of the main restaurant.

I really liked all the Bay Area tributes that are spread throughout the resort, from the art to the food and drink selection.

Bottom line

The SFO has really upped its game in the lounge area. The three lounges in the new T1 alone make hopping a fun activity if you have access and time before the flight.

While I loved the new Priority Pass lounge, the Club, it can get crowded. That hasn’t been a problem so far at the new Alaska Lounge (nor has it at the nearby Admirals Club, for that matter).

I definitely recommend checking it out the next time you’re passing through SFO.

It doesn’t have massage chairs, lounges or showers, but then again, most Alaska Lounges don’t. The San Francisco Alaska Lounge is my new favorite.

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