Alaska and Hawaiian Unveil Lie-Flat Suites, Premium Economy and New Lounges
Aurora and Leihōkū suites will anchor a premium overhaul that includes a new Premium Reserve cabin and expanded lounges in Seattle and Honolulu.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are preparing a major upgrade to their premium travel offerings, with new lie-flat suites, a dedicated premium-economy cabin and larger airport lounges. Announced September 29, the plans introduce Aurora for Alaska and Leihōkū for Hawaiian, giving each airline a distinct flagship experience as their shared parent expands its ambitions.
For travelers, the changes will create more choices between standard economy and a fully flat bed. The rollout will span several years: major lounge openings are planned for late 2027 and early 2028, while the new Premium Reserve cabin is scheduled to enter service in 2028.
Lie-Flat Suites and a New Premium-Economy Cabin
Alaska’s redesigned Boeing 787-9s will feature 34 Aurora Suites, with 40 planned for the future 787-10. The Dreamliner suites will offer privacy doors, direct aisle access and seats that convert into beds. Entertainment and convenience features include 19-inch 4K screens, Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging.
The airline also plans to install 12 Aurora Suites on each of at least 25 Boeing 737-10 MAX aircraft. Scheduled for select transcontinental routes in 2028, these will bring lie-flat seating to Alaska’s narrowbody fleet for the first time.
Hawaiian will begin refreshing its 24 Airbus A330 aircraft in 2028. Each will receive 22 redesigned Leihōkū Suites with privacy doors and lie-flat seating. The changes will increase the proportion of premium seats on those aircraft to approximately 40%, compared with 30% today.
Both carriers will introduce Premium Reserve, a separate premium-economy cabin positioned above their existing Premium Class offering. Seats will have 38 inches of pitch, enhanced recline, leg and calf rests, and 16-inch 4K OLED screens, alongside upgraded dining.
Premium Reserve will provide 35 seats on each 787-9 and 787-10, 28 on the A330 and 12 on select 737-10 aircraft. Sales are expected to begin in summer 2027, ahead of the 2028 rollout. Travelers booking earlier departures should distinguish these future products from the cabins currently available.
New Lounges Extend the Upgrade Beyond the Aircraft
At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Alaska Air Group plans to open a nearly 41,000-square-foot lounge complex in the C Concourse in late 2027. It will combine a 500-seat Alaska Lounge with a separate 200-seat Aurora Lounge reserved for passengers flying in Aurora Suites on intercontinental services.
The Aurora Lounge will include showers, wellness facilities and made-to-order dining with table service. The broader complex will add amenities including work pods, a coffee lab and a patio with a fireplace, expanding the ways passengers can spend time before departure.
Hawaiian’s new lounge in Honolulu is scheduled for early 2028 in Terminal 1’s Mauka Concourse. Covering nearly 13,000 square feet, it will accommodate approximately 200 guests.
The investment follows the airlines’ integration of their app and shared systems. Together, the cabin and lounge plans show how the group intends to develop a more consistent premium journey while retaining separate brand identities. Aircraft assignment, travel date and lounge eligibility will determine which elements passengers can actually use.
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