The Popular US Airline Whose First Class Experience Feels Like Paying Extra For Economy Seats

Not all upgrades are worth the splurge. One of the pinnacles of luxury travel is booking a first class seat on a plane, but beware that not all airlines are made the same. While some offer lie-flat seats, hot gourmet meals, luxury amenities kits, and other perks, others are just glorified economy seats — at a higher price. It's up to you to do the research and determine if you should (or shouldn't) upgrade to first class the next time you fly.

Alaska Airlines (AS) first class is one of the ones to avoid. While it is not one of the worst in America, some reviewers feel you wouldn't have any less of an experience if you fly economy instead. Perks that come with this higher-than-premium class include a bigger and more comfortable seat with padding, up to 41 inches of legroom (more than any other U.S.-based airline), complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, priority boarding, and two free checked bags. It is also very easy to book with miles through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. And since AS doesn't have a business class option, this is the best you can get if you want a step up from premium economy. The seats are also arranged in a two by two configuration, so you don't need to worry about middle seats. Unfortunately, this is where the benefits end.

While there are some perks that come with an Alaska Airlines first-class ticket, some reviewers felt they were not worth spending hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars for the experience. Let's start with lounges, since a good airport lounge pass is one perk that makes first class worthwhile. While an Alaska Airlines first-class ticket does come with lounge access, only six airports have AS lounges, and with the exception of JFK, they're all on the west coast. Additionally, you must have an Alaska Lounge+ membership if you want to access any of the airline's partner lounges. So right off the bat, you most likely won't be able to access a major perk, but you're still paying a premium price.

The next issue lies with the seats. The first-class seats don't recline much more than economy's, and the airline does not offer lie-flat seats. Additionally, most aircrafts don't have seatback screens. Instead, AS offers in-flight entertainment options that can be accessed by mobile device, but it should be noted that some first-class seats don't offer any sort of phone or tablet holder on the seatback in older planes. If you want that perk, as well as a footrest, you'll need to book a seat on a newer aircraft. And while most airlines offer hot meals on long-haul flights, you can only get one on AS on flights longer than 670 miles, and many dishes require preordering online or through the Alaska mobile app before your flight. In some cases, first-class passengers are served additional snacks not available to economy passengers, such as chocolate chip cookies and granola bars.

Some Alaska Airlines first-class customers don't believe that the experience is worth the price tag. One writer for Business Insider shared that she paid over $2,000 for a first-class experience on AS only to realize "it wasn't much better than economy." Meanwhile, Reddit user @britlad007 posted that they didn't realize how unremarkable AS first class was until they traveled first class with a different airline. In response, user @blunsr shared that whenever they fly with their spouse, they prefer booking three premium class seats through the AS comfort seat program, rather than two first class seats. "I like their FC versus their other seat/cabin choices," they said, "but in actuality it's a very weak FC product." 

In another post, Redditor @browncactusAK noted a decline in AS first class service during their 4.5-hour flight from Seattle to Toronto. "There were no water bottles at our seats upon boarding," they wrote. "The flight attendant confirmed our meal choices but forgot to ask about drink preferences. There were no warm nuts or small towels, no snack basket available, and no follow-up to see if passengers needed water or drinks." User @GracieFord responded, "I think 'inconsistent' is the key term." So given these reviews, the general consensus is that while first class on AS is nicer than economy, it is not worth what it costs, and you will probably get more bang for your buck with first class on a different airline.