Phê Vé
April 11, 2026 • 3 min read
Alaska Airlines has reopened its lounge at San Francisco with Priority Pass access, but it comes with a steep fee. Let's explore the details and implications of this change.
Alaska Lounge San Francisco: A Fresh Change
The Alaska Airlines lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has joined the Priority Pass network, but there’s a catch: you’ll need to reach for your wallet each time you visit. This marks a significant shift after Alaska Airlines withdrew from the network in recent years.
New Access Conditions
Alaska Airlines has added Priority Pass access for its lounge at SFO amid a backdrop of reduced passenger numbers at this airport, allowing them to offer this access without worrying about overcrowding. However, don’t get too excited—this access comes with several limitations. You’ll need to pay a $15 fee each time you enter.
Specific Conditions
To access the lounge, you must be flying with Alaska Airlines or one of its partner airlines. Additionally, your stay in the lounge is limited to a maximum of four hours. Currently, this is the only Alaska lounge participating in the Priority Pass network.
Comparing to Other Lounges
This change marks an important development and reflects a new trend. Remember, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounge at LAX also joined Priority Pass, but with a fee of $35. It seems this trend could spread further in the future.
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Is This New Trend Really Positive?
While I’m pleased to see Alaska Airlines joining Priority Pass at SFO, I’m not particularly thrilled about this trend. Is it better than having nothing? Absolutely. But as I’ve mentioned, the greatest value of a lounge for me (at least in most airports) is a good cup of coffee.
Coffee Quality at Alaska Lounge
The Alaska Lounge at SFO serves fantastic barista-made coffee brewed from Stumptown espresso, making it worth a visit. But is it worth $15 for a cup of coffee? In my opinion, no. SFO has too many great coffee shops, and if it’s just coffee I’m after, I can easily find one of many options in the terminal for about $7.
Customer Concerns
What worries me is that the $15 fee might attract customers looking to “get their money’s worth.” They may end up consuming more food and drinks than necessary as a way to justify their spending. Conversely, when these lounges participated in Priority Pass in previous years, there were often long waitlists or many people turned away.
Conclusion
The Alaska Lounge at SFO is now part of the Priority Pass network, but only for a $15 fee, applicable to passengers flying with Alaska or partner airlines, and with a maximum stay of four hours. Overall, this provides more access opportunities, so I can say it’s good news. However, it also signals a less than positive trend: lounge operators believe they can charge more for a benefit that was already paid for.
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