Alaska, Hawaiian detail new lie-flat suites debuting in 2028

Alaska Air Group laid out plans for lie-flat suites with sliding doors across both its namesake carrier and Hawaiian Airlines, aiming to put the combined airline group in direct competition with premium global carriers. The announcement came during the company's 2026 Investor Day, held Sept. 29 at Alaska's Global Training Center in Seattle, where CEO Ben Minicucci outlined the next stage of what the airline calls Alaska Accelerate — a shift the company describes as moving "from integration to activation" following its acquisitions of Virgin America and Hawaiian Airlines.

Travel writer Ali Wunderman, who attended the event and tried out cabin mockups in person, reported that Alaska's new flagship cabin, named Aurora, draws its theme from the night skies of the Pacific Northwest. The suites will come with sliding doors and will first appear on Alaska's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet starting in 2028. Alaska also plans a private check-in lobby in Seattle with a dedicated line to TSA, according to the report.

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Domestic routes get true suites for the first time

The more striking shift for travelers based on the West Coast is domestic: Alaska will install true Aurora Suites on at least 25 new Boeing 737-10 MAX aircraft beginning in 2028, marking the first time the airline has offered this suite product on select transcontinental routes rather than reserving it for long-haul international flying.

Hawaiian's equivalent cabin is called Leihōkū, a name the airline says translates to "lei of stars" and references the Polynesian wayfinders who historically navigated the Pacific using starlight. All 24 of Hawaiian's Airbus A330 aircraft will be refreshed from nose to tail, including 22 enhanced Leihōkū Suites installed in both international business class and domestic First Class, starting in 2028. Hawaiian also plans a dedicated Leihōkū check-in area in Honolulu launching in 2026, followed by a new airport lounge there in 2028.

What the cabins feel like

Wunderman, describing her hands-on experience with cabin mockups at the event, said she stretched out in each suite model while surrounded by projections meant to simulate a starlit night sky. Sliding the door shut, she settled in with over-the-ear headphones, a phone resting in a built-in stand and an entertainment screen within reach. Her assessment: "Both were built for enjoying a flight across the ocean, not simply enduring it."

Alaska's broader pitch at the investor event tied the new cabins to an expanded loyalty program and lounge network, part of a push the company frames as building a more global, premium and diversified airline following its Hawaiian integration. No fares or booking windows have been disclosed for either suite product. With the first aircraft not expected until 2028, Alaska Air Group is likely to release further specifics on routes, pricing and lounge locations as that timeline approaches — details travelers will want to watch for as the carrier moves its premium strategy from blueprint to boarding passes.