Introduction
Here we are for yet another review of Alaska Airlines in Domestic First class. As I fly Alaska so often and have written many reviews in the past, I don't post Flight-Reports for the majority of my AS flights these days, hence there will be no review for the outbound flight from SAN to IAD. I did decide to write up a review for this return leg as it was my first time visiting the British Airways lounge in Washington-Dulles since it was renovated last year.
Routing
Flight routing
- 1AS322 - Domestic First - San Diego ✈ Washington - Boeing 737-900ER
- 2AS507 - Domestic First - Washington ✈ San Diego - Boeing 737-900ER
Check-in & Lounge
After spending the Memorial Day holiday weekend in DC visiting friends and family, we arrived at Washington-Dulles about 2.5h before departure.
IAD ready for Pride Month
As we'd checked in on the Alaska App and didn't have any bags to check, we headed straight to TSA Pre-check, where we were through in a few minutes despite it being a busy travel day. In my experience, I find that TSA Pre-check is much busier on weekdays during peak business travel times than over weekends and holidays.
Once through to airside it was quite crowded. We made our way to the underground train heading to the B Concourse where the Alaska Airlines gates and the British Airways lounge are located.
The British Airways lounge is located right across the escalators coming from the train in the B concourse.
Lounge access rules for Alaska Airlines First class customers on domestic flights are a bit complex, but more generous than the other major US carriers who don't allow lounge access at all on domestic flights, except for premium transcons (i.e NYC<>LAX/SFO). First class passengers on Alaska-operated flights may access Alaska Airlines lounges for flights longer than 2,000 miles; however, as there is no Alaska lounge in Dulles, technically there is no lounge access unless you have oneworld Elite status to access the BA lounge. But that Elite status can't be with either Alaska or American Airlines as both those carriers do not grant lounge access to their members on domestic itineraries–this is true for all US carriers.
Luckily as we all hold British Airways Gold status (oneworld Emerald), we have access to all oneworld airline lounges, even on domestic US itineraries in any cabin. This includes American Airlines Flagship lounges and oneworld First class lounges.
We were greeted by a very friendly lounge agent who somehow remembered that I used to frequent the BA lounge in IAD frequently even though it had been years! Impressive.
The layout of the lounge hadn't changed, but it had been completely refreshed with new flooring, decor, and furniture. The new tables have integrated power and USB ports, a welcome change.
The wall of wines separating the Club Dining room from the rest of the lounge is still there. As we were not flying BA in Club World, we did not have access to the Dining room. In general, there's much better food than the main lounge.
Though there were quite a few seats open in the main gallery of the lounge, there were no three seats together so we headed to the far back of the lounge where it was much quieter in the bar area.
This is the only part of the main lounge with Tarmac views. The Club Dining Room and First class Dining rooms also have tarmac views, but have limited access, as mentioned earlier.
Settled in with a glass of bubbles.
There's really not a whole lot to eat if you don't have access to the Dining Rooms–mostly just finger sandwiches and snacks. No hot options in the main section. It was fine as we weren't hungry in the middle of the afternoon and knew we'd be getting dinner on board.
The restrooms had also been redone.
Our inbound aircraft was coming from LAX. Nice to get the oneworld livery!
The aircraft parked at the gate right under the lounge–very convenient!
Boarding
Since the gate was just right under the lounge, we only left a few minutes before boarding time.
The Priority Boarding group was called as soon as we got to the gate so we queued up and went right on.
This aircraft is one of the few 737-900ERs with newer cabins. These are not fully new cabins, like the newest 737 MAX 8 cabins with new Cradle Recliner seats, but rather refreshed cabins with new carpeting, sidewalls, bulkheads, and bins, but with the same seats with new seat covers.
Even if the seats are not new, the cabins look so much nicer.
There are 16 seats in the First class cabin in a standard 2-2 configuration. As usual, we selected seats in the last row.
The F cabin ended up completely full as an Elite upgrade filled the last open seat. It's exceedingly rare to ever have empty seats in Domestic First class.
Even the Economy cabin was looking nice and new.
Friendly cabin crew welcomed us on board and offered pre-departure beverages as soon as we settled in.
The seats have a convenient additional cocktail table that pulls out from the centre console if additional space is needed.
Legroom is very good with a 41 inch seat pitch–the best legroom of any US carrier in Domestic First class, which typically offer 36-38 inch pitch.
Some European Star Alliance action a few gates over.
As usual, there is an informational guide on available drinks as well as the Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment in the seat-back pocket.
Since entertainment is streamed to personal devices, it's important to have power sources. Each seat in both cabins is equipped with a 110v universal power outlet and a USB port.
The Wi-Fi and IFE are available from gate-to-gate.
As a T-Mobile customer, I have complimentary access to full streaming-capable Wi-Fi throughout the flight.
The Flight
Boarding wrapped up on time and we we pushed back a few minutes later.
A Breeze A220 had just pulled in to the gate next door a few minutes before we pushed back. I've always wanted to try them, but they don't really fly to any destinations I need to visit from San Diego.
That's one sexy livery right there.
As it was a quiet time for departures at IAD, it was a short taxi to the runway and we were off.
Cabin crew were up and out in the cabin shortly after takeoff offering drinks and taking meal orders. The friendly flight attendant confirmed our pre-ordered meals. I ordered an Espresso Martini for the apéritif. The FA recommended it with Irish creme and she was right! It made it even better!
It's like an iced coffee…but more fun 🤣
Pre-meal drinks were served with warm nuts.
There were five different dishes to chose from for pre-order, with some very nice options. For those who didn't pre-order, there were three options to choose from on board.
Alaska don't offer child meals in First class, which it a bit of a shame, but the Fruit & Cheese plate is always a decent option for our six-year-old.
I'd pre-ordered the Moroccan Chicken, which was delicious and creative. It's nice to have to different and bold flavours on a plane.
Moroccan Chicken
Roasted chicken breast, herbed pearl couscous, Ras-el-hanout roasted baby carrots
Toasted almosnds with a tomato & apricot chutney
I usually find to the Salt & Straw ice cream flavours they serve on Alaska to be a bit weird and I rarely like them, but this pistachio with ricotta cheesecake swirl was very good.
There's plenty of time to watch a movie or two on this almost-six-hour flight. Luckily there's a ton of content on the streaming IFE with hundreds of movies, TV shows, documentaries, music, and children's programming.
We all had something to entertain us on the long transcon flight.
We took an unusually northerly route; however winds must have been favourable as we were still due to arrive ahead of schedule.
There was still a lot of snow in the Rockies despite it being almost summer!
Flying over the Western US on a clear day is always a treat for the eyes with beautiful and varied landscapes. Here we have canyons near Arches National Park.
More snow-capped mountains
Glen Canyon National Recreational Area through which the Colorado river runs
Lake Powell
Just a bit further along the Colorado river was the star of the show, the Grand Canyon!
As we made our descent and neared the Pacific coast, it got cloudier as we were in full "May grey" and "June gloom" mode in San Diego—it's not always sunny in Southern California (well, 90% of he year it is…it's just been a particularly gloomy May and June this year).
Despite the clouds, the views on landing in San Diego were spectacular as always. I never tire of this view as it's so unique to land at an airport so close to the downtown core.
We arrived at the gate a good 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Without checked bags, we were out to the car and on our way home before the plane's original arrival time!
Another nice flight with Alaska.
I wish I could look like you. I need your charisma.
when are you flying with me on tway?
Alas, no charisma here. But what I lack in charisma I make up for with crippling anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and extreme awkwardness! 😉
I don't see T'way's cabins in my near future (I needed to double-apostrophe again). I'm happy living vicariously through others on that experience. After all, that's what our lovely corner of the interwebs is for! But never say ever...I may T'way one t'way or t'nother ...mmyeah I tried
Thanks for stopping by
Oh no no no, don’t sell yourself short like that your lack of charisma is absolutely magnetic.
I read that sentence and felt a strange mix of self-identification and concern. Like… are we the same person, or am I reading my own emotional resume out loud?
Also, your use of “T’way one t’way or t’nother” made my soul physically leave my body.
I’m not even mad. That pun was so cursed it looped back around to genius.
You’ve just weaponized apostrophes in ways the English language wasn’t emotionally prepared for.
And hey, you say you’ll avoid T’way but mark my words one day you’ll be lured in by a ₩52,000 fare and a schedule that makes zero logistical sense.
And just like that, you’ll find yourself 3 hours delayed in Gimpo next to a man eating kimbap with his entire soul and a child kicking your seat like they’re training for the K-League.
And you’ll think of me.
And you’ll whisper, “I t’wayed too close to the sun.”
Anyway, your reports are always a mix of ✈️ + 😵💫 + 🤷♂️ in the best way, and I’m glad we’re both rotting in this charming little flight report corner of the internet together.
If we ever make a support group, first badge goes to “Charisma: 0 | USB Anxiety: 100.”
Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing this AS transcon experience, which is pretty much the best you can do into SAN direct from east coast without any wide-body offerings. I’ve been tempted to try them SFO-EWR since they price themselves competitively given their hard product, but the shackles of *A are hard to break.
< This is the only part of the main lounge with Tarmac views.
Yay, noon buggy spotting. On one hand, I guess it is good they restrict access to the dining room, but not in your case when not actually flying long-haul. A fancy offering without much substance.
Yeah, amazing what some wrinkle release can do to those old cabins when compared to the saggy seats on UA B739s.
Catering on AS always makes UA look bad, it’s amazing what some effort and attention to details can do to elevate the dining experience.