Alaska Airlines unveils big cabin retrofits, adding premium seats to Boeing 737s
Premium demand is surging, and Alaska Airlines is betting that travelers will want to splurge on premium seats for the long haul.
The Seattle-based carrier announced Wednesday that it would add new first-class and extra-legroom seats to its aircraft as part of a retrofit program covering its Boeing 737 fleet; the fleet will add 1.3 million premium seats to its schedule each year.
The retrofit program will span 200 Boeing 737-800, 737-900ER and 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The first plane to undergo a cabin revamp will be pulled from service for retrofitting in September, and the entire retrofit process is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
You'll find an aircraft-by-aircraft breakdown of the cabin retrofits at the bottom of this story, but highlights include adding four first-class seats to the Boeing 737-800 fleet, bringing the total to 16 new recliners in the pointy end of the jet. (This news was already announced earlier this year.)
Going forward, the only mainline jets to feature 12 first-class recliners will be some Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737-700 aircraft. (It's interesting that Alaska didn't announce plans to harmonize the number of first-class seats across its 737 MAX 8 fleet, an aircraft that will presumably be in the carrier's fleet for many more years to come. Alaska has previously said that all of these jets will eventually feature 16 first-class seats "at a later date.")
The retrofitted Boeing 737-800s will offer updated Recaro first-class recliners with additional legroom, a footrest (a rare and excellent touch for domestic first-class), a seatback device holder, a winged headrest, universal power outlets and USB-C charging ports. These seats will also feature built-in cup holders, along with additional recline and larger tray tables.
No other first-class cabins are being updated with new products as part of this announcement, but Alaska is expanding its Premium-class footprint. Alaska is adding six Premium-class seats on its Boeing 737-900ER and Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, increasing this cabin from 24 to 30 seats on both jets.
These extra-legroom economy seats include 4 additional inches of pitch compared to standard economy seats. They also include alcoholic drinks on flights longer than 350 miles and priority boarding.
Alaska says that Premium-class and economy-class travelers on all the retrofitted fleets will enjoy device holders, cup holders, USB-C charging ports and winged headrests. The airline also said it will continue offering four lavatories across its Boeing fleet.
The carrier decided to invest in this project "in response to growing demand from our valued guests ... Our Premium Cabin performance continues to support what we believe to be a structural shift in higher demand for premium products," according to its statement.
Alaska isn't the only airline to notice an upmarket shift in its traveler profile. For years, Delta Air Lines has leaned into a premium-focused strategy that has landed it at the top of the pack among U.S. airlines across multiple dimensions. United Airlines' new "Next" brand campaign launched in 2021 and is highlighted by a nose-to-tail refresh of almost the entire domestic fleet, elevating the premium experience for travelers.
In the second quarter of 2024, Alaska announced that its first-class and Premium-class revenues finished up 8% and 6%, respectively, with a first-class load factor hitting 71%.
While these new premium seats may pad Alaska's bottom line, they should also be good news for elite travelers looking for more award and upgrade space. With a higher proportion of premium seats, Alaska Mileage Plan members might begin noticing that upgrades clear just a little more frequently than before.
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 retrofit
- First class: Increases from 12 to 16 seats
- Premium class: Retains 30 seats
- Number of aircraft being retrofitted: 59
- Timeline: Starts in early 2025, completed by summer 2026
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER retrofit
- First class: Retains 16 seats
- Premium class: Increases from 24 to 30 seats
- Number of aircraft being retrofitted: 79
- Timeline: Starts in fall 2024, completed by summer 2025
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 retrofit
- First class: Retains 16 seats
- Premium class: Increases from 24 to 30 seats
- Number of aircraft being retrofitted: 80
- Timeline: Starts in spring 2025, completed by summer 2026
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.