Since the transcontinental journey from New York to Seattle clocks in at more than 2,000 miles, youd need to redeem between 12,500 and 50,000 Alaska miles to book, depending on availability. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="5" tpg-rating-max="15" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-meal="0" meals-purchase="Yes" comp-alcohol="No" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. [flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="10" tpg-rating-max="15" screen="8" movies="25" tv-shows="6" live-tv="No" tailcam="No" wifi="1.07" wifi-2="45" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. (Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy). Plus, choose from an ever-rotating selection of West Coast brews every time youre onboard. As you board the plane, the Main Cabin seats are lettered, from left to right, F, E, and D, the aisle, then C, B, and A. Nothing exciting here anyways - Alaska somehow still decided not to install lie-flat seats for planes operating transcontinental flights. SFO Terminal 2 has PreCheck and CLEAR right next to the regular TSA security checkpoint. For this trip to Seattle, I could have used Alaska MileagePlan miles. TV series included titles like "Friends," "Black-ish," "Empire," "The Simpsons" and "How I Met Your Mother." There was a lot of choppiness which delayed the service once we took off. This diagram shows the seat map for our Airbus A321 (neo) aircraft. Immediately, it became clear this airplane was new. There are few routes in the US that are more competitive than the ones between New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco. Yes I booked a First class LAX-SFO leg with AS later in the year. Alaska Airlines has increased its Boeing 737 MAX 9 order to 68 planes, with an option for a further 52. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. As you board the plane, the First Class seats are lettered, from left to right, F and D, the aisle, then C and A. Log in below. Airbus A330-200. 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. This flight was no different. The rest of the food was okay. Having flown every other economy product on flights between my home in NYC and San Francisco save for one, I figured it was time to try Alaska out on a recently retrofitted, former Virgin America, A321neo (short for "new engine option"). Alaska Airlines Premium Class is an excellent value value and provides a good amount of legroom, as well as free drinks and an extensive selection of food. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Alaska Airlines announced that its extending elite status validity, (We love Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. There are 3 lavatories: one at the front of the First Class cabin (on the left when facing the front of the plane), and two at the very back of the Main Cabin (one on each side of the aisle). Doesn't look as sturdy as the seatback model in economy. That's $648 each way and is competitive with JetBlue, and among the lowest cash prices you'll find for transcontinental first class. A spring mechanism above effectively gripped tablets and prevented them from falling. It was an unexpected pleasure to be treated to a little more legroom and free drinks on my final mileage run segment. E-ticket numbers consist of 10 or 13 numeric characters. Not gross or inedible, just not fresh and a pretty small portion. United, for example, charged an egregious $35 for a flight pass on that recent coast-to-coast flight. Despite the woeful exchange rate, cash remains the best option for most domestic F flights in the US - prices are far less than J in Australia, and the SC earn on AA can often be quite lucrative. It became famous in the industry and currently boasts decent income. Note: as we gradually reconfigure our planes over the next few years, this seating configuration may vary; this is how the plane looks after retrofitting. They collected our entertainment devices at 12:55pm. Alaska does not pretend to be something it is not. A second test got me to 67 for download and 52 for upload, still plenty fast. Check in and print your boarding pass 1 to 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure. With about a water service per hour, Alaska is paying attention to the little things, and it shows. Indeed, considering the miles you're earning are based on actual distance and can be used for some of the best partner awards in the world, I will seriously consider Alaska on my next transcontinental trip.. We have also been publishing a selection of our most popular reviews from the past year. I had been sure to check in and get my electronic boarding pass the day prior. Provided by seatmaps.com. TV shows were sorted by channel and genre and included cartoons. It ended up cheaper than an economy ticket + 2 checked bags. In 2018, Alaska Airlines and Virgin America merged in a $2.6 billion deal. But I had anticipated that, and chose the earlier flight out of SFO for this very reason. So the business (First) IFE holder is built into the tray table? 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. Check here before booking an award fare. The First Class cabin has 8 seats in rows 1 and 2 of the plane. Convert your points into Virgin Australia Velocity Points, and more. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. [flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="11" tpg-rating-max="15" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="No" turndown-service="No" /]. What Is The Difference Between Economy And Business Class? Please enter your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number or select another option to look up your reservation. Alaska Airlines operates three versions of the A320 aircraft. The 35-inch pitch is roomy, and it is especially nice if you do not have . American Airlines. WhatS The Price Difference Between Economy And Business Class? cons="No lie-flat seats in first, limited quantity of food, no amenity kits." By selecting a partner link you agree to share your data with these sites. You can read about my status match/challenge and how it all began here. View the current offers here. Flight review: Alaska Airlines first class from New York JFK to Seattle on an A321neo, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Related: Why Hilton's new card has me switching my loyalty, [flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="15" tpg-rating-max="20" tail="N925VA" age="3" departure="7" departure-2="30" duration="5" duration-2="29" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. The Alaska Airlines Airbus A321 features seats in a 1 cabin configuration. And travelers take note: Do your reading and be sure to download the necessary app to stream content before your flight. Alt text for the Airbus A320-214 seating configuration before retrofit, Alt text for the Airbus A320-214 seating configuration after retrofit, Alt text for the Airbus A320-214 (sharklet) seating configuration before retrofit, Alt text for the Airbus A320-214 (sharklet) seating configuration after retrofit, Alt text for the Airbus A321 (neo) seating configuration before retrofit, Alt text for the Airbus A321 (neo) seating configuration after retrofit, Alt text for the Airbus A319-112 seating configuration before retrofit, Alt text for the Airbus A319-112 seating configuration after retrofit. I wouldnt get it again; maybe try the fruit and cheese platter if you're hungry. You deserve more spacetreat yourself to Premium Class. Alaska Airlines is the only US carrier to allow First class passengers access to its lounges on domestic itineraries-this is one of the many reasons why Alaska is becoming my preferred carrier since moving to the West Coast. What Is Included In Business Class Flights? Second, Alaska uses a distance-based award chart for its airline partners, and it's here that you can find incredible value for award redemptions, especially in premium economy, business and first class, like JAL . See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. It's a shame much of the innovation for which VX was famous has been lost following the AS takeover. I took a seat and enjoyed some of the excellent planespotting views afforded by SFO -- they were running the classic parallel departures from 28L/R and 1L/R. During the COVID-19 crisis, our team has temporarily ceased taking review trips. It's almost borderline flying this equipment type over 5 hours, but indeed we did. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="27" tpg-rating-max="40" movies="489" tv-shows="65" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. The Airbus A321-200neo is an aircraft produced by Airbus for Alaska Airlines and has the following seat configuration: 16-0-24-150. 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 credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. I'm not a fan of the seats in first class; if I'd been trying to sleep, those seats would have made me grumpy. Chaos ensued, but I eventually got through in about five minutes. The hummus tasted about as good as it looked: texturally sound, but I found it to be too tangy and overall unappealing. The American Airlines Airbus A321 features 181 seats in a 3 cabin configuration. It was spicy sausage on bed of scrambled eggs with sweet potatoes and a garnish of baby tomatoes. A mesh pocket provided extra storage and was significantly less gross than nonmesh pockets that collect all types of crumbs and residue. Flight 1024 departed from Gate 51B in Terminal 2, with boarding set to begin at 12:30 p.m. Coming from the Fillmore District, I gave myself 30 minutes to get to SFO by Lyft, and even with TSA PreCheck and CLEAR, aimed to arrive nearly two hours early to visit a lounge and have enough time to take photos of the terminal. Alaska Airlines elites get four lounge passes per year which I would absolutely burn on this lounge. Nevertheless, the small size provided larger-than-normal space and thus visibility between the seatback and the table, so I could access a carry-on bag under the seat in front without leaning into a seatmate. Finally at 1:34 p.m., we pushed back and slowly proceeded to Runway 1R. Width . Qantas top-tier Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers plus Qantas Club members are able to use Alaska Airlines lounges at Seattle and Los Angeles provided they are travelling on an Alaska flight which connects to or from a Qantas international flight a non-uncommon pattern for Australian business travellers headed to the home of Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing and other giants. Please check in at the airport 3 hours prior to departure. There are two galleys: one at the front of the First Class cabin, and one at the back of the Main Cabin. If youve forgotten your password, simply enter your email address As with most A321s, there were lavatories in the middle and back of the cabin (with those in the front reserved for first-class passengers). Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Providing complimentary services and amenities to its Business Class customers is easy, as there are plenty of good options such as fresh, flavorful food and drink, as well as larger, more comfortable seats, a personal workspace, and travel kit options.Each airline offers something different to customers when buying a Business Class ticket, including how lavish it is. If youre having trouble getting a seat, ask an agent. Alaska's Airbus fleet of A319, A320 and A321 aircraft are being updated in phases this year and by early 2020, 36 percent of the mainline fleet will feature the new cabin interior - including the entire Airbus fleet, Boeing 737-700s and three new Boeing MAX 9 planes. Yes, thats right: complimentary cocktails, beer, and wine come with your Premium Class seat. THE SEAT. Please select a 'look up reservation' option. The Verdict: Alaska Airlines 737-900 Premium Class. 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. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). There are lots of charming separate seating areas in the lounge, with plenty of outlets available, both traditional plugs and USB ports. Headphones are available for purchase for $3, but that's included if you go in for the tablet. Flights priced for September of 2020 showed coach on Alaska for 22,500 miles roundtrip, or first for 45,000. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. And, unlike some airlines, content resumed where I had left it when exiting playback to check the inflight map. While other airlines predominantly use internationally configured widebodies or specially configured narrowbodies, this is the standard configuration for Alaska's A321neos, so whether you're flying across the country or on a shorter intra-West Coast hop, you'll get the same product. Sign up for our daily newsletter and check out our updated beginners guide. The e-ticket number entered is invalid. Passengers can hold their little belongings on their knees. Alaska and Sichuan Airlines operate several connecting flights, but only partly. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. American Airlines has unveiled its brand-new . Board early, access overhead bin space and be among the first to deplane. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night, My first cruise to the Galapagos: The good, the bad and the absolutely adorable. As you board the plane, the First Class seats are lettered, from left to right, F and D, the aisle, then C and A. When you see a seat you would like to upgrade, talk to a flight attendant. A very nice guy outside the lounge was checking in guests, but I've also seen some really rude people staffing that entrance. Alaska puts 16 seats in first and 150 in economy, plus 24 in extra-legroom premium at the front of the coach section. Without a tablet, I watched on my laptop, and made sure to visit the Alaska website before the flight to see what I needed ensure it would work. Already have an ET account? The tablets are pretty small and there isnt a lot of content loaded on them. Terminal 2 stocked a decent assortment of seating, but the power outlets weren't as bountiful. Decent food. Tablets are collected 30 minutes prior to landing. Sweet chili-noodle salad with garlic-ginger beef. The cabins will also be fitted to Alaskas factory-fresh Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets, the first of which is due out of the hangar mid-year. Related: TPG readers discuss best Alaska redemptions. cons="No lounge (yet), no special transcon amenities, no built-in screens, no free meals, and the for-purchase food was unappealing." The planes on firm order will be delivered between 2021 and 2024. Didnt receive an activation email? One of the most remarkable airplanes in its arsenal is Airbus. The First Class cabin has 16 seats in rows 1 -4 of the plane. Five minutes after entering the PreCheck line, I was through security. Airbus A330-300. Since I had already checked in with a boarding pass on my phone, I proceeded directly to security. To view trip details, change seats, change dates or times for select reservation types, or cancel a current reservation, use your confirmation code. First class on Alaska Airlines doesn't just include wider seats with more legroom but also provides priority check in and boarding, two free checked bags, complimentary snacks, meals, and alcoholic beverages, and access to lounges at six of their primary hub airports. Based on the seating chart, this would be a nearly full flight on Alaska's largest airplane, the A321neo. Alaska Airlines doesn't offer a business class experience for passengers. They say you can do it in flight, but I'd do it before to be safe. To apply the value of an unused ticket towards a new reservation, use your e-ticket number. To make the flight even more convenient, you can locate your carry-on bags on the shelves located above each seat. Power 12 years in a row, but notably, its fleet lacks built-in inflight-entertainment screens and relies on a bring-your-own-device model, unlike other major players on these routes. There are 3 lavatories: one at the front of the First Class cabin (on the left when facing the front of the plane), and two at the very back of the Main Cabin (one on each side of the aisle). The First Class cabin has 8 seats in rows 1 and 2 of the plane. Talking point: have you given up on airport WiFi? Alaska Airlines first started its real transition towards an all-Boeing fleet in November of 2020 when it announced a transaction that would lead to the swap of 10 Airbus A320ceos from Alaska's fleet in favor of leases for 13 new Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft from Air Lease Corporation. There are two galleys: one at the front of the First Class cabin, and one in the Main Cabin, behind row 33. SpaceX: American Aerospace Manufacturer And Space Transportation Services Company, Get A Business Class Upgrade On Your Next Finnair Flight: Tips And Tricks. The Business Class cabin in the American Airlines A321T is set out in a 2-2 layout with each pair of seats angled slightly towards the aircraft's windows. To accommodate its BYOD passengers, Alaska has incorporated nifty design features into the seats to hold a smartphone and tablet (more on that in the next section). When you fly in first class, youll usually be offered a luxurious lounge before boarding your flight; economy class passengers must sit in overcrowded waiting areas once theyve boarded the flight.The first class passengers board the plane first before any economy class passengers. The seats were clean and plush (at least as plush as domestic economy seats can be), with minimal use. Economy has 127 seats in a 3-3 config; Premium economy has 38 seats in a 3-3 config; First class has 16 seats in a 2-2 config; this is pretty standard for these aircraft. These cost both regular ticket tickets and miles-based awards. Curious about food on this route, I asked for a salad. Alaska Airlines Airbus A321 Seat Maps. There's first class, premium, and economy cabin onboard. Perhaps the one consolation of an SFO delay is the great airline traffic at the airport. And, many flights on these routes are equipped with aircraft sporting international configurations or special transcontinental setups meant to one-up coast-to-coast competitors. Alaska chose to use blue ambient lighting on board as the sun set, creating a pleasant cabin experience for us folks in economy.