Alaska Airlines has among the highest frequencies of service from the mainland United States of America to the Islands of Hawaii. Today’s flight would have us travelling to Hawaii in Alaska Airlines First Class from Seattle to Kona in Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 series product. Its been a while since we have travelled to Hawaii n Alaska Airlines First Class, so let’s see what is new, and what has stayed the same since our last trip.

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This post is one chapter on my trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, United States of America. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: Alaska Airlines First Class B737-9: Seattle Tacoma International Airport – Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole

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This flight was purchased through an Alaska Airlines Famous 2 for 1 Companion Fare. We purchased this flight in upgradable space and received an upgrade to First Class at the time of booking. We credited these flights to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

The Alaska Airlines First Class product is fairly familiar to us, and this would mark our twentieth journey in the Alaska Airlines First Class Cabin.

For the return flight, please see our review Alaska Airlines First Class Kona – Seattle

Connecting at Seattle:

We arrived in to the airport on Alaska Airlines First Class Bellingham – Seattle. We killed off a three hour layover at the new American Express Centurion Lounge Seattle. Access to the Centurion Lounge was provided courtesy of the American Express Platinum Card, since Alaska Airlines doesn’t offer upgraded First Class tickets access to the Alaska Lounge. As I’ve reviewed the new Centurion Lounge Seattle recently, I won’t be reviewing again this time around.

Alaska Airlines does not provide Alaska Lounge access to those on upgraded First Class tickets (U Space). If you’re travelling on a fully paid fare or an Alaska Mileage Plan International First Class redemption, you’ll have access to the flagship Alaska Lounge Seattle. This is a great and modern looking lounge, with an Icelandair Saga Busines Lounge Reykjavik styled fireplace. It is worth a visit to the Alaska Lounge if you happen to have access.

Our One World Emerald status wasn’t any help here, as we were travelling domestically and didn’t qualify for International Lounge Access.

Boarding Alaska Airlines:

After spending time at the American Express Centurion Lounge, we wandered over to the North Satellite. The Seattle Tacoma International Airport North Satellite looks much better after it’s renovation, and looks like a place that I’d actually enjoy spending some time in.

We located gate N3, which was tucked off in the corner of the bright terminal. Our plane was waiting for us on the ground and it was a few minutes wait before. we started boarding.

Boarding started right at 5:00 PM, which was the time marked on the boarding card. After calling for serving and retired members of the Military, First class was given priority boarding with all other Alaska Airline Mileage Plan elites called all at once. We headed down the jet bridge and boarded the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 series aircraft.

Alaska Airlines
First Class (U)
SEA (Seattle Tacoma International Airport – Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole)
AS 807
August 9, 2023
Booked: Boeing 737-900
Flown: Boeing 737-900
Departure: 5:40 PM

Arrival: 8:50 PM

On Board Alaska Airlines First Class:

The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 represents Alaska Airlines newest aircraft. Despite this, Alaska Airlines has outfitted these aircraft with their older puffy leather seating up front for its first class travellers. Interestingly enough, Alaska Airlines hasn’t yet gone with slim line seating in First Class for their current generation of aircraft. As a result, this must add a little more weight than would otherwise be the case.

Alaska Airlines First Class travellers will have access to four rows of First Class in a 2 – 2 configuration.

These seats are really comfortable for relaxing in, although for a long haul flight beyond five hours, they are a little less than idea as a result of their limited recline feature. I also find the space between the seats to be a little compact and less spacious than it could be.

Each seat offers an individual power port that contains both a three prong outlet and a USB charging slot. This is rather inconveniently located in the centre console, making it a little difficult to see what you are plugging into, unless you happen to be a contortionist.

The table for the seat extended from the arm rest. This configuration is pretty typical for narrow body jets of this type.

Each seat offered individual air nozzles with three nozzles for two seating positions. This added a great deal of comfort for the flight.

Pre-Departure Services:

It is never reliable on whether you actually get offered a pre-departure beverage on Alaska Airlines. In this case, we didn’t get offered a pre-departure bevreage while we waited for the airlines to board the rest of it’s passengers.

Instead, waiting for us on the seat was the usual lonely Alaska Box of Purified Water. MrsWT73 doesn’t care much for the taste of these, whereas I don’t particularly mind them.

The arm rest doesn’t feature any additional storage, unlike seats we’ve seen on American Airlines or Air Canada which can easily accommodate a laptop underneath a shelf.

A thin blanket was also waiting for us on the seat. The light blue blanket provided a little warm for the longer afternoon flight.

The blanket was welcomed, although I wished it was a little thicker in texture. It didn’t add a whole lot of warm throughout the flight. Being seated against the fuselage wall, I tended to get a little cold on the flight.

We ended up waiting at the gate for about twenty minutes as a result of inbound connecting passengers that were delayed. We had about five connecting passengers (and their luggage) that were trying to make this last flight of the day.

During this wait, the dinner and drink orders were taken while on the ground in Seattle.

In Flight Entertainment:

Alaska Airlines offers in phone flight entertainment. This is accessed through the Alaska Airlines home page on the wifi sign in screen.

Alaska Airlines offers free messaging and texting, which is a nice addition for those that need to stay connected with friends and family.

Alaska Airlines has done away with the complimentary tablets previously offered in First Class. If you don’t bring your own device, you’ll be without any video entertainment for the flight.

Departing Seattle:

We set off about twenty minutes late and headed out towards the Seattle Tacoma International Airport runways. On the way, we had some great plane spotting opportunities. We were able to see the Alaska Airlines Pixar plane.

We also saw an Asiana Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-4 and a Cargolux Boeing 747-4. There is always such interesting aircraft on the ground in Seattle, Washington.

Being a pleasant summer evening, we had great views departing Seattle Tacoma International Airport. It was a treat to actually be able to fly this route through the summer months, as it’s typically a dark wintery evening on our past flights to Hawaii.

The Meal: A Two Course Dinner.

Once we were airborne, we were offered our dinner meal service.

For those that had downloaded the Alaska Airlines App, customers would have. had the ability to pre-order food up to twenty four hours prior to the flight.

I ended up pre-ordering the Huli Huli Chicken, while MrsWT73 pre-ordered the Fruit and Cheese Plate. I have typically found that ordering food in advance on Alaska is a better move than risking it with whatever surprise is otherwise brought on board.

Alaska Airlines didn’t present a printed menu. Instead, the drink menu for First Class was found in a flyer in the seat pocket. Today’s wines were featured by Ste Chapelle, along with a variety of spirits and beers.

The selection was reasonable and about what I might expect for a five hour flight in domestic first class.

Unique to the Alaska Airlines Hawaiian flights, a Passion Fruit Orange Guava drink was offered with a splash of rum or sparking wine was made available. These were paired with warmed macadamia nuts, which were not salted. This was presented at about one hour into the flight.

While we waited for the dinner, the flight attendants passed out the State of Hawaii questionnaire.

Dinner arrived a leisurely two hours into flight, or at 8:40 PM PST. Given that I had pre-ordered the Huli Huli Chicken, I had no issues getting my preferred choice.

Most of the other passengers ended up with blackened cod. which smelled up the cabin a little bit. It reminded me of those using fish in the microwaves at the work cafeteria kitchens. I would highly recommend pre-ordering on the Alaska Airlines First Class, if your travels take you through the First Class cabins.

The Huli Huli Chicken was small in quantity but reasonably tasty despite it being a little bit dry. The quinoa salad was lightly seasoned with just enough dressing so that couscous stuck to leaves.

MrsWT73 enjoyed the fruit and cheese plate. She described it as being exactly what she needed for a light dish before turning in for a small nap.

I was also presented with a small lemon tart for dessert. While I wouldn’t get stuffed with dessert, it was nice to finish with something sweet.

Overall, with great thanks to the ability to pre-order food, it a reasonable meal offering. Alaska Airlines typically provides a smaller meal service. This meal was no exeption.

After the meal, since I didn’t feel like holding up my device for several hours while I watched a movie, I turned in for a bit of a nap.

The Second Service: A Snack Basket.

Alaska Airlines provided a second service about ninety minutes from landing. I ended up sleeping through this. However, MrsWT73 offered to collect me a bag of Himalayan Pink Salt popcorn.

I ended up taking this small bag off the plane with me to the hotel room for a snack later in the trip.

Arriving into Kona:

After a six hour flight, we arrived into Hawaii. We had an immediate approach into Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole.

Upon landing at Kona International Airport, we disembarked the plane directly on to the apron. Kona International Airport does not have jet bridges, and all planes empty into an open air terminal.

Even the gate areas at Kona International Airport are outside. We passed by the departure gate and wandered over to baggage claim to collect our luggages.

We picked up our two checked bags and headed off to Hertz Kona prior to self driving to The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Baggage service was prompt, and there was no need to use Alaska Airlines twenty minute baggage service guarantee.

My Thoughts on Alaska Airlines First Class:

Alaska Airlines First Class service between Seattle and Hawaii was about as comfortable as you might expect for getting to the islands. While Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 service isn’t anywhere near United or Delta that use widebody aircraft on some routes to Hawaii, this will be about as comfortable as you might expect for a flight to Kona.

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If you travel on Alaska Airlines First Class to Hawaii, what keeps you coming back each time?

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