Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, Alaska Airlines business class has a lot to offer. These flights provide superior service, in-flight entertainment, and a comfortable place to rest during your journey.
You’ll find Alaska’s business class on Boeing 737-800, -900, and -900ER narrowbody jets. It’s also available on some regional aircraft like the Embraer 175.
Seats
Alaska Airlines offers a number of different seating options in business class. Some of these are standard recliner seats, while others feature lie-flat beds. There are also several variations on the seat itself, and you can choose from a wide range of fabrics and materials to create your own personal space.
For most flights, you’ll find the same premium cabin layout that you’d find in international first class on another airline – with recliner seats, comfortable footrests, and a four-inch pitch that allows you to stretch out. In addition, you’ll get complimentary alcoholic beverages and a larger seat tray with plenty of room to store your laptop and other items.
You’ll also get a USB port and an AC socket, which will make it easy to charge your phone or tablet without having to bring your own charger. You’ll also have access to high-speed WiFi if you want to watch videos on your phone or tablet while flying.
The new seats are part of an extensive retrofit of the aircraft’s narrowbody fleet, with the first of these being fitted to new Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets coming out mid-year. The rest of the Airbus fleet is set to receive them later this year.
These reimagined seats have been created by Recaro, which has previously supplied the carrier with its domestic business class product, but they will be rolled out to a third of its Airbus fleet – the ones that it acquired through its Virgin America take-over – as well as three new Boeing 737 MAX jets.
In-flight Entertainment
In-flight entertainment is a way for airlines to make their long-haul flights more enjoyable by offering their passengers a variety of options to watch movies, TV shows, music, and more. In recent years, many airlines have started to move away from physical seatback systems and towards streaming content through apps on devices that are connected to in-flight WiFi.
Inflight video games have become an increasingly popular way to entertain passengers, with some of them having a learning element. These games are often networked, which allows for interactive play between multiple passengers. They can range from trivia game series to language learning applications that teach a foreign word or phrase through interactive games.
Audio entertainment is also a major part of in-flight entertainment, with most aircraft having various channels for news, information, comedy, and music. Some systems offer pre-recorded shows, and others have DJs to give chatter, song introductions, and interviews with artists.
Alaska offers a variety of in-flight entertainment options for its business-class customers. Depending on the plane, they can watch movies and television shows through their Beyond Entertainment hub, or they can use the airline’s Gogo(r) entertainment app to stream content directly to their personal device.
They also have personal televisions (PTVs) that display live satellite television on long-haul routes, with some featuring closed captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers. Passengers can also connect their personal devices to the PTVs for music and video content.
Service
As a member of the Oneworld alliance, Alaska Airlines offers a variety of benefits that will make your trip much more enjoyable. You can enjoy complimentary in-flight meals, lounge access, and more. Plus, with a Mileage Plan membership, you can earn miles on every flight you take.
Business Class on Alaska airlines is a great way to travel for those who want to avoid the cramped, uncomfortable seats of economy class. You’ll find premium comfort on this route with a large first-class cabin, recliner seats, and free in-flight food and drinks.
The airline is also known for its friendly service, and its staff will always greet you with a smile. However, on our recent flight from Seattle to Boise, it felt like there was a lack of communication between the flight crew and passengers in the first-class area.
While most of the planes in Alaska’s fleet are equipped with satellite WiFi, it was surprising to see that free texting on a plane was not an option for our flight. This was a bit of a letdown given that the pilot announced that they had unlimited WiFi on board for $8.
In addition to satellite WiFi, you can watch free movies and TV shows with the onboard in-flight entertainment system. There are also stewards who rent tablets so you can keep up with work or play games.
Baggage Allowance
Alaska Airlines business class passengers enjoy one free carry-on bag and one personal item per ticket. This allowance varies depending on the ticket, destination, flight route, and elite member status.
A checked bag should weigh no more than 50 pounds and measure no more than 62 linear inches. Overweight and oversized bags, which exceed these limits, will be subject to fees.
In addition to the standard check-in baggage rules, passengers are permitted to bring along a personal item that is smaller than their carry-on but larger than their handbag or briefcase. These items include a purse, small backpack, or shoulder bag.
Travelers may also bring a baby stroller or car seat, which are both allowed at no extra charge. Assistive devices and mobility aids, such as walkers, crutches, canes, or wheelchairs are also allowed free of charge.
As an added bonus, Alaska Airlines also offers a 20-minute baggage guarantee for all flights. The airline will reimburse you $25 for a future flight or 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plan miles if your bag isn’t delivered to the baggage claim within 20 minutes of your departure.