Just like our trip out to San Diego, our return was also in Alaska Airlines First Class though this flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800. Let’s see how an eastbound flight at night goes with ATX Jr.
Booking
After a long weekend in San Diego we needed to get back to Austin. We initially picked San Diego as we were looking for a city that had direct, reasonably priced, First Class flights from our home in Austin. Ultimately, we ended up booking our two roundtrip First Class tickets with a lap infant for $1,032 total via the Alaska website.
Pre Flight
After dropping off our rental car we arrived curbside at San Diego International Airport (SAN) Terminal 2 and made our way inside. I’m not sure if we entered through the wrong door or what but, we had to follow the terminal signage and head up a small side escalator to find the check in area. This can’t be the way most passengers come through the terminal.
Alaska operates a hub in San Diego so it was easy to spot their check-in space. There was only one passenger ahead of us in the priority lane so we had our bags checked and boarding passes in hand a few minutes after we arrived at the airport.
After clearing security we headed to the Aspire Lounge. While I thought we could access it thanks to my OneWorld Emerald status, as it accepted Admirals Club and Alaska Lounge memberships but we ended up using the Priority Pass membership from my Amex Platinum Card for entry. We likely should have skipped the lounge as it was worn and overcrowded.
Boarding
Our flight to Austin was departing from Gate 30. Like our arrival gate on our outbound trip, this gate was also shoehorned into a corner along with multiple other gates. Four flights were trying to depart from the gate area at the same time which caused some crowding.
Boarding started slightly behind schedule with a couple of preboard passengers. Alaska doesn’t allow families traveling with small children to preboard but, since we were flying First Class, we were able to board with the Priority group.
Alaska Airlines
AS 342
SAN-AUS (San Diego International – Austin-Bergstrom International)
Seat: 3D (First)
B737-800 (N586AS)
Scheduled: 6:23p-11:29p
Actual: 6:11p-11:03p
Alaska Boeing 737-800 First Class Seat
Alaska’s First Class cabin on the 737-800 consists of 12 seats spread across 3 rows in a 2-2 configuration. The airline is currently adding more premium seats fleetwide, and the 737-800s will have an additional row added to bring the total First Class seats up to 16. With retrofits not slated to begin until early 2025, our flight still had the old Barcalounger style seats, which are very comfortable.
I assigned us seats 3D and 3F, the last row on the right side of the aircraft.
There was plenty of legroom for my 6’2″ frame
Alaska Airlines doesn’t offer any seatback entertainment on any of its narrowbody aircraft, and this plane didn’t have a seatback device holder either. While I am a big fan of seatback IFE, I’d at least appreciate a device holder, similar to what you’ll find on American’s narrowbody aircraft, instead of nothing at all.
The aircraft operating our flight, N586AS, was over 17 years old and its age became evident looking around the rest of the seat. Between the seats is a small tray table that could hold a couple of drinks and smaller items though part of the plastic had been chipped off.
A second, smaller tray can be pulled up and out if extra space is needed.
Closest to the window (or the aisle depending on your seat) you’ll find the tray table hidden inside the armrest. There was also some cracking from wear and tear here as well. When released, the tray table can either be fully extended or folded over in half, depending on your needs.
110V and USB-A power outlets were located between each seat underneath the beverage tray.
Individual reading lights and air nozzles were located above each seat. The cabin also had Alaska’s signature carpeted bulkhead wall at the front of the cabin, though I didn’t think to get a picture on this flight.
Departure
As boarding was underway, the flight attendant working the First Class came through with a tray of pre-departure beverages. Water and mimosas were offered which I thought was odd for a Sunday evening departure. Though I didn’t think it was odd enough to stop myself from getting one.
Though we had a completely full flight, and boarding was slightly delayed, we “departed” more than ten minutes ahead of schedule though we didn’t push back from the gate until after our scheduled departure time. The cabin crew used this time to perform the manual safety demonstration.
The flight attendant making the announcements also stated that Economy passengers could use the First Class lavatory as long as they waited behind Row 6 until it was available. I’m not sure if one of the rear lavatories was out of service but I can’t ever remember hearing this announcement before. The Captain also addressed the aircraft but his voice was so quiet and muffled I couldn’t hear what he said.
We finally pushed off the gate and began our taxi out to Runway 27.
San Diego International Airport is one of the busiest single runway airports in the world so we had to wait a few minutes before we were cleared for departure. We turned onto Runway 27 and were airborne over Point Loma 12 minutes after pushback.
We headed west out over the Pacific Ocean near Mission Bay before pushing through the clouds and looping back east to head towards Austin.
In-Flight
Once we were above the clouds, twenty minutes after take off, the First Class flight attendant came through the aisle taking and confirming meal orders along with drink orders. We both pre-ordered our meals so I didn’t get the list of what was still available by the time our row was reached. For drinks, I had Alaska’s loud Cruiser IPA while Mrs. ATX had a glass of red wine and some sparkling water with lime.
Twenty minutes after the beverages were served, roughly an hour after take off, a small bowl of snack mix containing nuts and pretzels were served.
Our meals were served an hour after take off. I decided to roll the dice once again on an airplane hamburger. It was much better than the last burger I had on a plane, though that isn’t saying much, but the bun was rock hard. It had likely been left in the warmer too long but it was decent. Also, listen up airlines, chips are a better alternative to fries at 30,000 feet.
Mrs. ATX had the pasta dish which she said wasn’t bad but wasn’t memorable.
Both meals were served with a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie.
After the trays were cleared I headed to check out the forward lavatory. It was a standard 737 lavatory and didn’t have any additional amenities though it was kept clean throughout the flight.
Back at my seat, I fired up my laptop and paid the $8 fee for a full flight Wi-Fi pass. Unfortunately I was unable to get Outlook to connect meaning I couldn’t get much work done inflight. Instead, I switched over to my phone and watched some TV shows via Alaska’s streaming IFE offering.
Throughout the remainder of the flight, the flight attendant working our cabin came through and continuously offered refills. A snack basket was also brought around with an hour and a half remaining inflight. I was still full from dinner and Mrs. ATX was asleep so we passed on the snacks.
Arrival
We had a strong tailwind on this flight and began our descent into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport two hours and fifteen minutes after departure. We touched down on Runway 18R just before 11:00p local time and had a short taxi over to our arrival gate where we pulled in next to a Delta Airbus A320.
After deplaning, I had to wait a few minutes in the jet bridge for ATX Jr.’s gate-checked stroller. Once that was brought up, I caught my first glimpse of our plane since we didn’t have any windows at our gate in San Diego and we headed off to baggage claim to collect the rest of our luggage and head towards the house.
Summary
Alaska Airlines First Class on the Boeing 737-800, and the whole fleet really, is never going to be mistaken for cutting edge amongst the major U.S. carriers. However, for the second flight in a row, the food and crew were above average. With a premium retrofit on the way, the First Class seats should improve and as long as they continue with the service standard I experienced on my flights this trip, I’ll continue to fly with them when the opportunity arises.