Alaska Air Group has confirmed details of its long-awaited premium economy cabin, and it will carry one name across two airlines: Premium Reserve. Both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will use the branding, even though their business class products differ (Aurora Suites at Alaska, Leihōkū Suites at Hawaiian).

The rollout covers three fleets. Every Alaska Boeing 787 will get 35 Premium Reserve seats in a 2-3-2 layout across five rows. Hawaiian's Airbus A330s will carry 28 seats in the same 2-3-2 configuration over four rows. Around 25 Alaska Boeing 737 MAX 10s — the same premium subfleet getting lie-flat seats up front — will have a smaller 12-seat cabin in a 2-2 layout across three rows.

The spec sheet reads like a solid, modern premium economy rather than anything radical. Passengers get 38 inches of pitch, a wider seat than standard economy, extra recline plus a leg and calf rest, and large tray tables with storage pockets. Entertainment comes via a 16-inch 4K OLED screen with Bluetooth, and every seat gets both AC power and USB-C charging. An upgraded meal service and amenities round it out.

Timing matters if you're plotting a booking. Tickets are expected to go on sale in summer 2027, with the cabin entering service in 2028. By then, new Alaska 787s should arrive with Premium Reserve already fitted, existing 787s will be retrofitted, Hawaiian's A330s will begin their reconfiguration, and the premium 737 MAX 10s should start deliveries and enter service. The A330 retrofit timeline is the open question — no word yet on how long that will take.

For travellers, this fills a real gap. Alaska and Hawaiian have been two of the last holdouts without a proper premium economy, which meant flyers on long West Coast-to-Hawaii routes or transcontinental 787 flights had to choose between standard economy and a full business class fare. Premium Reserve slots a middle option between the two — more legroom, better food, a bigger screen — typically at a meaningfully lower price than lie-flat business. It's especially relevant for Hawaii-bound holidaymakers who want extra comfort on a five-to-six-hour flight without paying business class money.

The product itself isn't groundbreaking — 2-3-2 and 38-inch pitch is now the industry norm — but the breadth of the rollout matters more than the specs. With three fleet types getting the cabin, Premium Reserve should be widely available across Alaska's long-haul and Hawaii network within a couple of years.

Story via One Mile at a Time.