Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are getting new business class suites, a premium economy cabin and new airport lounges, Alaska Air Group announced Tuesday at its 2026 Investor Day in Seattle. The company, which bought Hawaiian in 2024 but still runs the two as separate brands, is betting that travelers will keep paying more to sit up front.
The New Suites
Alaska's Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the planes it flies to Europe and Asia, are getting new Aurora Suites. For the first time, Alaska will also put lie-flat suites on some of its narrow-body jets. They'll go on new Boeing 737 MAX 10s and could appear on key coast-to-coast routes as soon as 2028.
Hawaiian is getting its own upgrade. Each of its 24 Airbus A330s, the widebody jets it flies to the mainland and beyond, will get new Leihōkū Suites with sliding privacy doors and lie-flat beds. Those jets are also getting all-new interiors from the first row to the last.
Premium Economy
Both airlines are adding a premium economy cabin called Premium Reserve, a roomier middle option between economy and business class. It debuts in 2028 with 35 seats on each 787, 28 on the A330s and 12 on the 737 MAX 10s.
New Lounges and Check-In
New premium lounges are planned in Seattle, Honolulu and San Diego, including a 13,000-square-foot lounge in Honolulu. Starting in 2027, top-tier Titanium elites and travelers in the new suites will also get private check-in areas and dedicated fast-track security lanes on eligible routes.
Changes to Atmos Rewards
Atmos Rewards, the loyalty program Alaska and Hawaiian now share, is changing sooner. Starting Thursday, members will choose whether to earn miles based on distance flown, ticket price or number of flights. That choice matters, since long-distance travelers on cheap fares and short-hop business travelers on expensive tickets will each come out ahead under a different option. An Atmos debit card is also planned for early 2027.
Why Alaska Is Doing This
Behind all of it is a push to make Alaska a global, more premium airline. By 2030, it plans to serve at least 15 long-haul international destinations. It also expects premium revenue to exceed 40% of its total by then, up from 35% today.
Most of these changes are still a few years away, with airport projects largely arriving between 2028 and 2029. The Atmos earning change is the one travelers will notice first, so it's worth picking the option that fits how you fly before your next trip.
