Lounges

Alaska Airlines announces plans for Virgin America

Airlines, Airplanes, Lounges, Loyalty programs,

Photo by Harriet Baskas

It comes as no surprise, but Alaska Airlines announced its plans for the Virgin America name and brand and has decided that it’s going to keep the Alaska’s name and logo and retire the Virgin America name “likely sometime in 2019,” according to a company statement.

That’s bad news for those who love the Virgin America overall brand, vibe and amenities. But the good news is that Alaska Airlines is keeping its word and bringing some of the best Virgin America amenities forward.

Alaska says it will adopt “enhanced in-flight entertainment, mood lighting, music and the relentless desire to make flying a different experience for guests” as part of an overall goal to create “a warm and welcoming West Coast-inspired vibe.”

Alaska says it will adopt some other Virgin America touches including introducing music by new artists  on planes, in airport lobbies and at gates (2017); redesigning the cabin with new seats and amenities (2018) and introducing new uniforms by fashion designer Luly Yang (mid-2019) for flight attendants, customer service agents, pilots, mechanics and ground crew.

Alaska also promises to upgrade the Wi-Fi connectivity fleet-wide, add more premium seats, expand the lounge network and offer other new amenities you can read about here.

What do you think?

Art in Delta Air Lines’ Seattle Sky Club

Lounges,

delta-sky-club-seatac-2

Delta Air Lines recently opened an impressive, 21,000 square foot Sky Club at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with seating for more than 400, 30-foot ceilings, direct runway, tarmac and (weather permitting) Mount Rainier views.

Amenities include six (!) complimentary shower suites, spa services (for purchase), foods and beverages that include local items such as Beecher’s ‘World’s Best’ Mac & Cheese, and some great art including this piece by Rebecca Coles (in the spa area) made from postage stamps.

delta-sky-club-seatac-8

Orlando Int’l Airport gets The Club lounge

Lounges, ,

ORLANDO Loungewide

Orlando International Airport has lots to entertain travelers waiting for a flight, but those who want a bit of extra pampering now have The Club at MCO as an option.

The 11th in the string of lounges operated by Airport Lounge Development (ALD), the new 8,000 square-foot open-to-all-travelers lounge at MCO is located on Airside 4 near gate 91 and will be open daily from 6:00am – 9:30pm.

Inside the lounge there are spaces for working or holding meetings, private restrooms with showers, a children’s zone with Xbox games and TV, complimentary snacks and beverages, high-speed WiFi and bar service.

Day passes to The Club at MCO are $35 and entry is also available to Priority Pass, Priority Pass Select, Lounge Club and LoungeKey Members with existing memberships.

ORLANDO KIDS

New: JetBlue’s outdoor lounge at JFK T5 – with dog walk

Lounges, , , , ,

A good week for fans of airport lounges.

Seatac_Lounge

Courtesy American Express

On Tuesday, June 30, American Express opened The Centurion Studio at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the sixth lounge the company has opened in airports across the country. (The others are in Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York’s Laguardia and Dallas/Fort Worth International).

You must have certain credit cards to gain entry to SEA’s Centurion Studio and the other lounges in the American Express system, but all screened passengers will be welcome at the outdoor lounge JetBue is opening today up on the roof of Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Called, appropriately enough, T5 Rooftop, the space is designed by Gensler and is open to all passengers who have cleared security. Promised: views of Manhattan and the adjacent TWA Terminal – and the first airside, post-security, rooftop dog walk.

I’ll be venturing out there as soon as it opens today – but in the meantime, here are some snaps shared in advance by JetBlue.

1_JetBlue © Paul Rivera

© Paul Rivera,

3_JetBlue © Paul Rivera

© Paul Rivera

Centurion Studio lounge opens at SEA

Lounges, , , ,
Photo: Harriet Baskas

Photo: Harriet Baskas

American Express opens its newest Centurion lounge today at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Seatac_Lounge

Photos courtesy American Express

Called The Centurion Studio because its smaller (“cozier” in real-estate parlance) than Centurion lounges already operating in LAS, SFO, DFW, LGA, and MIA, this lounge is on Concourse B (by Gate B3) and includes a great view of the airfield and beyond as well as comfortable seating, charging stations, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and a menu of locally-sourced food and beverage items from places such as Macrina Bakery, Theo chocolate, Jones Soda,the Georgetown Brewing Company and Caffe Vita.

centurion wall (2)

Photo: Harriet Baskas 

SEA’s Centurion Studio will be open daily from 5a.m – 10 p.m. and, because of its size, will not be accessible on a one day pass. Instead, access is complimentary and limited only to Platinum Card and Centurion Members, and their immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 18 years of age) or one travel companion. (More details here.)

Photo - Harriet Baskas View out the window at the Centurion Studio

Photo – Harriet Baskas
View out the window at the Centurion Studio

 

“We are delighted to have American Express bring this new airport lounge concept to Sea-Tac”, said Mark Reis, Managing Director of Sea-Tac Airport. “With this opening, there are now seven lounges across the airport to serve and accommodate our airport’s growing passenger levels.”

Those other lounges include The Club – two all-access spaces on Concourse A and in the South Satellite – that you can get into on a day pass for $35.