Exploring the New Alaska Airlines Lounge at SFO – NerdWallet

Alaska Airlines’ new lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) opens Wednesday, July 24, as part of its move to the airport’s newly-expanded Harvey Milk Terminal 1. Everything about this lounge is bigger than the former Alaska lounge, which was located in Alaska’s old home in Terminal 2.

Clocking in at about 11,000 square feet, the new lounge is much bigger — adding about 55% more seating than its predecessor. San Francisco is a major hub for Alaska Airlines, so more space is a welcome improvement, especially as many lounges across the U.S. deal with overcrowding issues.

We went for a press tour a day ahead of the official July 24 opening. Here’s a preview of the new SFO Alaska lounge.

Spaces to relax and work at the SFO Alaska lounge

The lounge offers a wide mix of seating. One room is dedicated to peace and quiet. There, you’ll find a large mix of couches, booth seating and Alaska’s iconic recliners.

With the recliners, putting your feet up is encouraged.

Nearly all the seats are stocked with abundant power outlets.

Two private phone booths offer privacy for calls. They are first-come, first-served.

The lounging area is bright and airy with large windows on one side that overlook the airfield.

The dining area and back room with bar are primarily served by booth and counter seating.

Unlike many lounges with completely free food, the Alaska Airlines lounge serves a mix of paid and complimentary items. Luckily, the free stuff is robust enough to comprise a complete and healthy meal.

The salad bar has fairly standard toppings like onions and tomatoes, and it also offers protein options including chicken and tofu. Quinoa and noodles provide an option to make the salad even more filling.

Adjacent to the salad bar sits some complimentary hot foods. When we visited, there was orange chicken, vegetable fried rice and soup, though the menu rotates seasonally.

There’s also the Alaska lounge staple — the made-to-order pancake machine. That sits aside various toppings to dress up pancakes, including fig fruit jam and peanut butter. There’s also a toast and bagel bar, served next to toppings like guacamole to make avocado toast.

All the complimentary food options feel thoughtfully curated. There’s a range of healthy foods, which might be appealing if you’re about to sit on a long flight, but the fried stuff (orange chicken) might be more appealing if you’re trying to channel vacation mode.