Lounge Review: Alaska Airlines Lounge at SFO, Terminal 1
Introduction
To be very truthful upfront - I wasn't expecting much when I heard Alaska Airlines was opening a new lounge at SFO. But after spending 30-45 minutes in their new Terminal 1 digs last week, I'm genuinely impressed and very excited about this domestic lounge. This feels less like an airport lounge and more like a cozy Bay Area coffee shop that happens to have runway views. It’s quite quaint and beautiful.
If you're flying Alaska out of SFO, you'll find the new lounge in Terminal 1 across from Gate B6. Look for Amy's Drive-Thru and you'll spot the entrance between Pack-N-Go and Proper Food. Head up one floor, and you're there. Simple enough. If you're connecting from another terminal, give yourself an extra 15 minutes. SFO's terminal connections aren't exactly intuitive, and the last thing you want is to rush through this space. However, connections are easy to get from one place to another.
The Lounge
This new space is a game-changer. At 11,000 square feet, it's about 55% bigger than the old one, and you can feel it immediately upon entering. I spent my first couple minutes checking out the quiet room, and I have to say - this is where Alaska Airlines really nailed it.
The main lounge area is well thought out. Instead of cramming in as many seats as possible, they've created distinct zones that cater to specific travelers. There's plenty of seating for solo travelers, couples, and small groups. The booth seating along the windows is particularly clever - each one has its own power outlets and USB ports, plus a small table that's actually big enough for a laptop and a meal. No more balancing acts required. It’s quite great really. People who want to work can work, and people who want to relax can relax. It’s a simple task but job well done here, Alaska Airlines!
Food & Beverage
Unlike some lounges that try to be full-service restaurants (and fail), Alaska's taking a different approach. Yes, there's some stuff you can pay for, but the free options are actually decent.
I showed up for breakfast, and the spread was solid. Fresh muffins, eggs, bacon, pancakes, granola, and a bagel station that had some various spreads. And those pancake printers? They've got two now. I may or may not have made too many pancakes just because I find these machines oddly fascinating.
The coffee situation deserves its own section. Similar to the American Express Centurion Lounge at Seatac, the lounge also provides a barista that serves any custom coffee, which was a massive win. Besides the standard self-serve stuff, there's a proper espresso bar with baristas who know what they're doing. I'm talking real latte art, perfect temperature, and they even ask if you want an extra shot. The morning I was there, they were featuring beans from a local Bay Area roaster - nice touch.
The bar setup is solid too. Unlike some lounges where the bartenders seem annoyed you're asking for anything more complicated than beer, these folks know their stuff. They've got a decent selection of local craft beers (Anchor Steam, naturally), and the cocktail menu features some fun San Francisco-inspired drinks. The Golden Gate (their take on a Negroni) was surprisingly good for airport standards.
What really got me was how they're handling sustainability. No more seas of plastic utensils and paper plates - they're using real dishes and actual glass jars for things like butter and jam. Even the napkin dispensers have these clever little signs about saving trees. It's not perfect, but it's a real attempt at cutting down on waste, which I appreciate.
The Wi-Fi is incredibly strong and usable - I clocked it at 50Mbps down, 20Mbps up. That's fast enough for video calls, streaming, or uploading those last-minute presentation tweaks. Power outlets are everywhere, including USB-C ports that can actually charge a laptop quickly.
The bathrooms are actually nice. Like, hotel-nice. They're kept spotless, well-stocked, and include those fancy hand lotion dispensers that make you feel slightly less dried out from all the airplane air. There's even a shower suite available - though I didn't test it out this time.
The staff deserves a mention. In my experience, lounge staff either act like they're doing you a favor by acknowledging your existence or go overboard with fake cheeriness. Here, it feels... normal? The check-in was smooth, the baristas were friendly without being overbearing, and when I had a question about flight times, the staff member actually seemed to care about helping. It's amazing how rare that can be in domestic US airport lounges.
Conclusion
If you're flying Alaska out of SFO, this lounge is a no-brainer and quite the place to be. It's not trying to be the fanciest lounge in the world, but it nails what matters: comfortable seats, good coffee, decent food, and enough space to actually relax. The fact that they've managed to make it feel distinctly San Francisco without resorting to cheesy cable car decorations is just a bonus.
During peak hours (around 8-10am and 4-6pm), it can get busy, though not nearly as packed as some other domestic lounges I've visited. The paid food options might seem unnecessary to some, and yes, occasionally you might have to wait a few minutes for a barista-made coffee. Ah yes, that barista-made coffee is definitely the selling point.
But these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise a solid addition to Alaska's lounge network. Whether you're a frequent business traveler looking for a reliable place to work, or a leisure traveler wanting to start your vacation right, this lounge delivers. I love it!
