Visiting a lounge at an airport is one of the best ways to pass the time until members of the flight crew are ready to welcome passengers aboard an airplane — and with that knowledge, many operators of lounges sell what is known as a day pass, which allows a person to enjoy the benefits and amenities which the lounge has to offer for up to 24 hours without actually having to pay for a monthly membership or an annual membership…
Standard Day Passes No Longer Sold at Alaska Airlines Lounges In…
…but if you are looking to purchase a standard day pass to enter a lounge which is operated by Alaska Airlines in the international airports which serve the greater Seattle, Anchorage, or Portland metropolitan areas, you are out of luck, as standard day passes are no longer sold at those lounges effective as of Monday, June 13, 2022 in order to maintain space for all guests.
Day passes may still be purchased for $60.00 at other Alaska Lounge locations — but they are valid only at the location of purchase.
Standard Day Pass Policies of Lounges Operated by Alaska Airlines
The policies of the standard day pass of lounges which are operated by Alaska Airlines include:
- Day passes are valid for 24 hours and only in the location where purchased. The following exceptions apply:
- Day passes sold or distributed before Monday, June 13, 2022
- Future use or additional guest day passes for Lounge Members
- Day passes for Active Duty military
- Gold 75K passes
- A day pass must be used in conjunction with same-day, ticketed air travel on any airline.
- One day pass is required per person — however, children younger than two years of age can accompany an adult member at no charge. Guests younger than 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
- Alaska Lounge access and the sale of day passes may be limited due to capacity restrictions.
- Day passes are non-refundable — however, if you purchase a membership within 30 days of purchasing a day pass, the cost of the day pass will be refunded to you. Limited to one day pass and applies only to first time members.
- Day passes are complimentary for personnel of the United States military who are traveling in uniform and ticketed to fly on an airplane operated by Alaska Airlines departing within three hours. All other Active Duty military personnel with valid identification may purchase a day pass at the discounted rate of $30.00. Available in all Alaska Lounge locations.
Eligible Alaska Airlines Visa cardholders can purchase a day pass for $30.00, which is a discount of 50 percent. A day pass must be purchased by the cardholder at a lounge using an eligible Alaska Airlines Visa credit card; and it must be redeemed on the day of purchase. Available only in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Final Boarding Call
I would not be surprised if the main reason as to why some people who are based in the greater Seattle, Anchorage, and Portland metropolitan areas acquired the Alaska Airlines Visa card is to take advantage of paying half price for a standard day pass instead of full price — but this new policy now all but negates that benefit.
Lounges in general — whether at airports or hotel properties — have been experiencing crowding situations primarily due to the pent-up demand to travel and the reduction in minimum eligibility requirements to achieve either elite status or a credit card which allows more people to use these lounges…
…so airlines and lodging companies are forced to conjure creative ways to reduce the crowding of their lounges while simultaneously appeasing to as many members as possible…
When not in a lounge at the airport, one of your other choices is to wait for your flight at a crowded gate. Photograph ©2022 by Brian Cohen.
