Luxury Travel

Alaska Airlines Family Travel Review: Is the First Class Upgrade Worth It When Flying with Kids?

By Living Golden Hour

Alaska Airlines Family Travel Review: Is the First Class Upgrade Worth It When Flying with Kids?

A couple of weeks ago we went to Disneyland as a family: my husband, our 4-year-old daughter, our 6-month-old baby and me. Just thinking about being on a flight of more than 3 hours from Guadalajara (GDL) to Los Angeles (LAX) with a baby in my arms made me a little nervous, even though we already have quite a bit of travel experience.

If you’re planning a similar trip, here I’ll tell you about the wins, the secrets we discovered, and how we managed to make the journey much lighter (and whether it was really worth paying the extra).

📋 Check-In: A hidden benefit for families

We don’t usually check bags, so getting the electronic boarding pass a day early is always a must. However, when traveling with a lap infant, the app told us we had to go to the Alaska Airlines counter no matter what.

When we got to the airport 3 hours before the flight, we ran into a tough reality: the general line was so long it spilled beyond the assigned space. Waiting that long on your feet with a baby and a small child is no easy task. I decided to approach the staff to ask if there was a priority line for families with infants, and the answer was a resounding yes! We went straight through a special access point, which saved us a ton of stress.

💡 Travel tip: Never leave with the doubt. Many airlines have priority lines for families that aren’t always clearly marked. Always ask!

🛫 The big surprise: A last-minute First Class upgrade

Our original tickets were in Premium Class, where the three of us were traveling together in the same row (my husband, my older daughter and me with the baby). When we got to the counter, we decided to ask if by any chance there was any space available in First Class that we could buy.

To our surprise, the answer was yes and the cost was only $120 USD. We paid for the seat and were ready for the trip.

💡 Travel tip: The staff told us that leftover First Class seats open up 3 hours before the flight. If you get to the counter early, don’t be afraid to ask if an upgrade is possible.

Despite the excitement of the upgrade, the truth is I wasn’t so sure it would be the best option. Since it was just a single seat for me, I didn’t know who I’d have next to me, and I was worried that breastfeeding might be a little uncomfortable with a stranger beside me.

🧳 Boarding and the stroller logistics

One of my biggest doubts was how we’d handle the boarding flow being separated in different cabins. Fortunately, the Alaska Airlines staff was incredibly empathetic: even though my husband and my older daughter had Premium Class tickets, they let them board with me and the baby in the first group (Pre-boarding / First Class).

Being able to get on the plane with the calm of first class gave us the perfect amount of time to settle our carry-on backpacks and get everything ready to keep my 4-year-old entertained during the flight. We also left our stroller right at the plane door (gate check) with the peace of mind that they’d hand it back to us in the same jet bridge immediately upon landing at LAX (and they did!).

💡 Travel tip: Remember that you can check the stroller and the car seat completely free on practically any airline. Plus, the diaper bag counts as an extra personal item, so it doesn’t come out of your allowed carry-on.

✈️ During the flight: The experience in row 4

When I got to my seat in row 4, I discovered I had the window, and I also confirmed my suspicions: I had a man right next to me on the aisle.

The breastfeeding situation wasn’t so comfortable for me in that scenario. Plus, being at the window, if I needed to get up to change a diaper or stand up with the baby, I had to ask permission. What is undeniable is that the seat was roomier and more comfortable than the one in Premium Class.

📱 Onboard entertainment (and a super Wi-Fi hack)

Unlike other airlines, these planes don’t have individual screens. But living in the digital era, where everyone brings their own device, this wasn’t a problem at all:

🍕 Food and Drinks: The real test

I got excellent hospitality service. From the moment you reach your seat, the staff offers you all kinds of drinks and keeps up constant attention throughout the journey. They pamper you with premium snacks like little dishes of almonds or nuts.

The First Class ticket includes hot meal service (normally you can choose between options like pasta, a burger or enchiladas). The bad news is that, since I bought my upgrade at the last minute at the counter, I could no longer reserve the dish I wanted and I ended up with the enchiladas. In my opinion: I can’t say they were bad, but they weren’t tasty either…

📝 Final thoughts

In the end, my baby slept practically the whole flight, which let me entertain myself on my phone, enjoy good drinks and a decent meal.

✨ The best of the trip:

  1. Unlimited internet for only $8 USD (shared).
  2. The great legroom.
  3. The impeccable drink service.
  4. The stroller delivered in less than 2 minutes upon landing in Los Angeles.

🤔 Was the $120 USD for the First Class seat worth it?

Giving my honest, personal opinion: the truth is, no.

On the return flight we all traveled together in Premium Class and it was much more comfortable for me, especially because the baby wasn’t bothering a stranger next to us and I was accompanied by my family.

🔜 Coming soon: In the next blog post I’ll tell you the full review of how our family experience went on the return flight with Alaska Airlines in Premium Class!