Alaska Airlines just made one of the biggest moves in its history. On March 31, 2026, the airline officially unveiled its first-ever International Business Class Suites, a completely new premium long-haul product launching on brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. And honestly? It looks stunning.
This isn’t a minor refresh or a rebrand of an existing seat. Alaska built this from scratch as the airline pivots into full-blown international carrier mode, with nonstop service from Seattle to Europe and Asia rolling out this spring and fall. If you’ve been stacking points and waiting for a reason to care about Alaska’s premium cabin, this is it.
Let’s break down exactly what you’re getting, where you can fly it, and most importantly, how to book Alaska Airlines business class with points.
What Is the New Alaska Airlines Business Class?
Alaska Airlines business class on the 787-9 Dreamliner is the airline’s first true long-haul international premium product. They have announced fully enclosed suites with privacy doors, lie-flat beds, direct aisle access for every passenger, and a dining and amenity experience that’s clearly designed to compete with the best in the oneworld alliance.
This is a significant departure from what Alaska flyers are used to domestically. The airline has essentially built an entirely new brand within a brand here, pairing the West Coast hospitality Alaska is known for with a hard product and soft product that can go toe-to-toe with carriers like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines on the international stage.
The timing isn’t a coincidence either. March 31, 2026 marks exactly five years since Alaska joined the oneworld alliance, and the airline is using this anniversary to signal that it’s no longer just a domestic and short-haul carrier. With over 900 destinations now accessible through oneworld partnerships, Alaska is positioning Seattle as a major global gateway.
Alaska Airlines 787 Business Class Seat and Suite Details
The hard product is where Alaska is making its strongest statement. Each business class suite on the 787-9 features:
A fully lie-flat bed with a privacy door that closes to create a personal cabin within the cabin. Every suite has direct aisle access, so you’re never climbing over anyone regardless of where you sit. The seating area is lounge-style and spacious, converting into a true flat bed when you’re ready to sleep.
Entertainment comes via 18-inch HD screens (among the largest in any business class cabin) with access to over 1,500 movies and TV shows. You’ll also get noise-reducing headsets, personal power outlets at every seat, and wireless charging built into the suite.
For sleep, Alaska partnered with Pacific Northwest heritage brand Filson to create a premium bedding collection that includes a plush mattress pad, a soft sleeping pillow, a separate lumbar/lounging pillow, and an oversized duvet. The Filson collaboration extends to a collectible travel amenity bag available in two West Coast-inspired colors, made exclusively for Alaska Airlines. Inside, you’ll find Salt & Stone skincare products and other travel essentials. There’s also a custom reusable water bottle through a partnership with PATH Water.
This is a well-thought-out hard product. The Filson partnership in particular feels very on-brand for Alaska and gives the experience a distinctly Pacific Northwest identity that sets it apart from the more generic business class offerings you see on other carriers.
Dining, Amenities, and the Onboard Experience
The dining program is where things get really interesting, because Alaska didn’t just check the box on business class catering. They went full restaurant experience.
The meal service begins with a welcome course featuring a cheese and charcuterie board. If you’ve flown Alaska domestically, you’ll recognize this as an elevated take on their iconic Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter. It’s paired with an expanded beverage selection that includes Roederer Champagne, wines from producers like Stag’s Leap, handcrafted cocktails, West Coast craft beer, mineral water, and freshly brewed Stumptown coffee.
From there, it moves into an appetizer course followed by a main dining service with up to six entrée options tailored to each specific route. Flying to Rome? Expect roasted chicken with pasta carbonara. Headed to Seoul? Gochujang chicken with traditional banchan. There’s also a Chef’s (Tray) Table entrée option on every flight, developed with award-winning Seattle chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, featuring his signature short rib sourced from Klingemann Farms.
You can pre-select your meal through Alaska’s app before you fly, which is a genuinely useful feature that more airlines need to adopt.
The dessert service is a standout. Alaska is introducing a dessert cart (yes, a cart) featuring a customizable Salt & Straw sundae service alongside other artisanal desserts. Salt & Straw is a beloved West Coast ice cream brand, so this feels like another smart regional partnership that adds personality to the experience.
Before landing, there’s a pre-arrival beverage and a destination-inspired meal. Flights to London, for example, will feature a classic full English breakfast.
The whole dining arc feels intentional and layered. This isn’t just “pick chicken or fish.” It’s a multi-course experience designed to be one of the highlights of the flight itself.
Where Can You Fly Alaska Airlines International Business Class?
Alaska is launching international business class on the following routes, all departing from Seattle (SEA):
The European routes to Rome and London will be operated on the new 787-9 Dreamliners with the full International Business Class Suites product. Seoul and Tokyo (launching later this fall) will also feature the 787-9 and the full suites experience.
The one exception worth noting is Reykjavík. That route will be operated on a 737 MAX 8, not a 787-9, so it won’t have the full suites product. However, Alaska has confirmed an upgraded premium experience specifically designed for that route, which makes sense given the shorter flight time of around seven hours.
All routes are nonstop from Seattle, which is a big deal. Alaska is essentially building a mini international hub at SEA-TAC, competing directly with Delta’s Seattle operation and giving West Coast travelers a compelling alternative for European and Asian destinations.
How to Book Alaska Airlines Business Class With Points
Alaska’s international business class is bookable through Atmos Rewards (formerly Alaska Mileage Plan), and because Alaska is a oneworld member, you’ve got multiple transfer partner pathways to get into these seats.
Here’s how to think about it:
Direct through Atmos Rewards: If you’re earning Atmos points through Alaska credit cards or Bilt, you can book directly. Keep an eye on Alaska’s award chart for these new international routes as pricing becomes available.
Oneworld partner awards: Because Alaska is in oneworld, you can also book these seats using points from other oneworld loyalty programs. That means if you have British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles, or any other oneworld currency, you may be able to book Alaska’s business class as a partner award. This is huge for diversifying your points strategy.
Finding availability: Award space on brand-new premium routes can be tight at launch, so you’ll want tools to help you search efficiently. Seats.aero is excellent for scanning award availability across multiple programs at once. Roame is another option for visualizing where your points can take you. Both can help you spot openings as Alaska releases business class award inventory on these routes.
Credit card earning: If you’re building up a points balance specifically for this kind of redemption, make sure you’re maximizing earn rates on everyday spending. CardPointers can help you always use the right card for each purchase. And if you’re not already using Rakuten for online shopping portals, you’re leaving points on the table. Set it to earn Bilt points, hit $50 in spend, and you’ll pocket 5,000 bonus points just for signing up through our Cloud9Club link.
Oneworld Alliance: Where This Gets Interesting
Alaska’s oneworld membership is the engine that makes all of this work on a global scale. With oneworld, Alaska now connects travelers to more than 900 destinations worldwide on a single ticket. That means you can book a flight from Seattle to Rome on Alaska, then connect onward to destinations like Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Paris, or Venice on oneworld partners with your bags checked through the entire way.
Your Atmos Rewards elite status (or oneworld status) is recognized across every oneworld partner airline, which means priority check-in, extra baggage allowances, and lounge access wherever you go. International Business Class passengers also get access to Alaska’s own premium lounges plus oneworld partner lounges worldwide.
Here’s a detail that oneworld loyalists will appreciate: oneworld Emerald members get access to First Class lounges regardless of what cabin they’re flying. That level of top-tier status recognition is unique to oneworld and can make a meaningful difference in your travel experience, especially at major international hubs.
If you’re not familiar with the full scope of oneworld partnerships and how to leverage them, this is a great time to dig into that. The alliance connections multiply the value of every Alaska mile or Atmos point you earn.
Starlink Wi-Fi and What’s Coming Next
Alaska confirmed that Starlink is scheduled to be installed on the 787-9 Dreamliners this fall. Starlink is already live on select Alaska aircraft across the domestic fleet, and the speeds are legitimately impressive compared to traditional airline Wi-Fi.
Starting in May, you’ll need to sign in with your Atmos Rewards number to access Starlink on any equipped Alaska flight. Signing up is free and easy if you’re not already a member. And here’s the kicker: thanks to Alaska’s partnership with T-Mobile, Starlink will be completely free for all guests.
Free, fast, gate-to-gate Wi-Fi on a long-haul international flight is a significant perk. Once Starlink is installed on the Dreamliners later this year, Alaska’s international business class will have one of the best connectivity offerings of any carrier.
Final Thoughts: Is Alaska Airlines Business Class Worth It?
Alaska Airlines built something genuinely impressive here. The lie-flat suites, the Filson bedding, the multi-course dining with regional partnerships like Salt & Straw and Chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, the oneworld connectivity, free Starlink coming this fall. This looks like it will be a complete, thoughtful, premium product.
The real question for points and miles enthusiasts is how award availability shakes out. New premium routes often launch with limited award inventory, so if you’re serious about trying Alaska Airlines business class on one of these inaugural European or Asian routes, start building your strategy now. Get your points positioned in the right programs, set availability alerts through Seats.aero or Roame, and be ready to move when space opens up.
Alaska’s transformation from a beloved regional carrier into a legitimate global airline is one of the most exciting stories in aviation right now. And with this business class product, they’re backing it up with substance. The West Coast finally has a premium international carrier to call its own.
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