Hawaiian, Alaska Airlines unveil details of new Honolulu lounge
Hawaiian Airlines is giving flyers an early preview of what its upcoming premium lounge will look like.
The Honolulu-based carrier (along with merger partner Alaska Airlines) shared two renderings and some new details of its upcoming premium lounge that will open at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) at the end of 2027.
The design will be inspired by Hawaii's natural elements and will include sculptures, pops of color and snazzy lighting structures to promote a relaxing environment.
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The lounge will be at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1 and will be five times larger than the airline's existing lounge in Honolulu.
More details, including access policies and opening timeline, will be shared closer to the opening. It wasn't immediately clear if Hawaiian plans to use this new lounge to replace its existing Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu, or whether this space would be additive. Furthermore, it's possible that Hawaiian (and Alaska) may limit this space to business-class flyers, but only time will tell what the airlines decide to do.
Right now, Hawaiian operates two different types of lounges in Honolulu: a Premier Club and a Plumeria Lounge. The Premier Club is open to elite frequent flyers, first-class flyers and club members, while the fancier Plumeria Lounge is limited to those flying in long-haul first class and select top-tier elite members.
It remains to be seen how Hawaiian adjusts these lounge access policies once they're harmonized with Alaska Airlines.
News about this upcoming lounge was first announced in December during Investor Day for the Alaska Air Group. Alaska Airlines, which recently completed its acquisition of Hawaiian, shared updates to its commercial strategy as the merger process gets underway.
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This includes turning Seattle into a long-haul global hub, redeploying Hawaiian's aircraft onto existing Alaska routes and more. One key aspect of this long-term plan is investing in premium travel experiences across both carriers, including airport lounges.
In addition to the new Honolulu outpost, the carrier will also open a "flagship international lounge" in Seattle and a traditional outpost in San Diego. Alaska still hasn't shared more about what flyers can expect when this flagship Seattle outpost opens, except that the new space will be significantly bigger than the airline's North Satellite lounge in Seattle, which currently measures nearly 16,000 square feet.
Of the three new lounges, we now know a little bit more about what the space in Honolulu will look like. Perhaps the airline will follow up with more details about the San Diego and Seattle spaces soon.
“We are reimagining the travel experience with spaces that showcase our dedication to guest satisfaction and the unique culture of Hawai‘i. Our new Honolulu lounge will be the first-of-its-kind within this space and will offer a modern oasis for our guests to enjoy," Todd Traynor-Corey, Alaska's vice president of guest products and experience, said in a statement.
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- 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.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
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
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 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.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $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.