Alaska Airlines Aurora Premium Reserve 2028

Alaska Airlines will introduce the Aurora lie-flat suite and Premium Reserve premium economy across its Boeing 787, 737 MAX 10, and Hawaiian Airlines A330 fleets starting in 2028. The airline is creating a dedicated sub-fleet of at least 25 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft in the Aurora configuration, with the first expected to enter service that year. This marks a major push to capture growing premium demand on domestic and long-haul routes following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.

The new mini-suites carry the Aurora brand on the Boeing fleet, while premium economy will be branded Premium Reserve across both Boeing and Airbus types. Alaska announced the Aurora experience on September 29, 2026. The airline will make other adjustments to capture growing premium demand on domestic and long-haul itineraries.

Aurora Suite Details

The Aurora configuration features lie-flat seats with privacy doors, direct aisle access, and 19-inch 4K screens on widebody and select narrowbody aircraft. Aurora will be Alaska's most elevated onboard product, also including exclusive check-in, concierge service, and access to the new Aurora Lounge in Seattle. The livery design is inspired by the northern lights and Alaska's natural beauty.

On the 737 MAX 10, Elevate Aircraft Seating will provide the forward cabin seats with its Ascent narrow-body product. These seats are angled away from the center aisle and include a 19-inch 4K entertainment screen, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless, USB-C, and AC power. Notably, the Aurora seats on the MAX 10 fleet will not include a privacy door. The configuration includes six rows of lie-flat 'Aurora1' seats in a 1-1 layout, three rows of premium economy in a 2-2 arrangement, and economy class in a 3-3 setup, carrying 159 passengers total.

On the 787 Dreamliners, the updated Aurora cabin is the widebody version of the Elevate Ascent product in a 1-2-1 layout. Outboard seats face the windows and the center pair are angled towards each other, all featuring privacy doors. The 787-9 fleet will carry 34 mini-suites, while the 787-10 will have 40. Hawaiian's A330 fleet will receive new interiors from first row to last beginning in 2028, featuring 40 percent premium seating, up from 30 percent today. The updated Leihōkū Suites will feature 22 lie-flat beds in a 1-2-1 layout, appearing to be the Collins Aerospace Elevation platform.

Premium Reserve and Lounge Expansion

Premium Reserve adds a new premium economy option across the 787 and A330 fleets and select 737-10 MAX aircraft, debuting in 2028. The seats offer 38 inches of pitch, wider seating, enhanced recline, leg and calf rests, and 16-inch 4K OLED screens. On the MAX 10s, Premium Reserve appears nearly identical to the current 737 first class seat but adds a headrest privacy wing. These will be the first Alaska Airlines 737s to carry in-seat entertainment systems. Premium Reserve will be available for purchase next summer.

On the 787s, Premium Reserve will fly in a 2-3-2 layout with five rows for both Dreamliner variants. The reconfigurations will reduce the 787-9's total seats to 279, down from 300 today. Alaska Airlines executives confirm a notable decision for the main economy cabin on new aircraft. "They will not include IFE screens in the economy class cabins," they said, citing concerns about seat certification timelines. The carrier is actively exploring the business model around seatback screens.

The ground experience is also expanding. A new 13,000-square-foot Hawaiian Lounge in Honolulu will open in early 2028. The new Seattle Aurora Lounge will open in late 2027, becoming Seattle's largest lounge with nearly 41,000 square feet. It will feature a 500-seat Alaska Lounge, a 200-seat Aurora Lounge, an outdoor patio with fireplace, private work pods, and premium bar areas. The first Aurora-configured MAX 10 aircraft is expected to join operations in 2028.