The airline announced they have completed their move to the new terminal after a two-year relocation project, featuring new technology and plans for an 11,000-square-foot lounge opening soon.
New Space Offers Self-Service Technology and Better Alignment for Connections
As the largest airline operating out of Terminal 1, Alaska is working to improve the customer experience from arrival to departure. At the front of the terminal, Alaska flyers now have a fully self-service baggage check system available to cut down on lines and resources. After self-tagging the bags, flyers move them to an automated bad drop unit to scan their baggage and prepare them to be checked on their aircraft. Security checkpoints are now located at two points in the terminal, including a mezzanine-level spot for flyers coming to the terminal straight off the AirTrain.
Starting in July, the terminal will also feature the airline’s second-largest lounge in their network. The 11,000-sqare-foot space will not only offer ample seating, but also a menu with local ingredients, a barista-staffed coffee bar, and complimentary wines, spirits, and craft brews from the U.S. west coast.
The move also better aligns Alaska with their Oneworld alliance partners. Those connecting on another Oneworld flight can directly go to their gate without leaving the terminal, keeping them in the secure zone. Between Alaska and all their partners, the group offers over 130 flights weekly to 18 global destinations.
“Our new home in San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 delivers a world class experience that our guests will love while supporting our goals of innovation, sustainability and long-term growth,” Shane Jones, senior vice president of fleet and real estate at Alaska, said in a press release. “We’re excited to make this move for the approximately 5 million passengers we serve at SFO each year and that this positions us for future growth at our largest hub in California.”
The move in terminals is part of a $3 billion investment by the carrier to improve facilities across their western airports. Flyers will soon see additional improvements at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Portland International Airport (PDX) by the end of the year.
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