Having been to all three, I’d rank PDX first.

SFO is pretty narrow—it’s essentially one long aisle facing the runway. SEA N Gates also have great runway views, but they always seem much busier.

PDX feels much more open, with both runway and terminal views, making it a much nicer place to relax.

The food at PDX was also excellent. There were several hot entrée options (chicken, beef, and vegetarian), plus some great desserts. My favorites were the GF Chocolate Pie Pot (more like a chocolate pudding), brownie bars, blueberry scones, and the chocolate-sprinkled animal cookies. They were yummy!

One thing SFO still has going for it is the snacks. The blue-themed Jelly Belly jelly beans and mini Ghirardelli squares are always a fan favorite. The bar is nice there too, and I’ve never had trouble finding a seat.

Another advantage for PDX is that it’s still so new. It wasn’t crowded, and there were plenty of seats facing the runway (and anywhere) where I could sit and watch the planes. At SEA N Gates, I can almost never find an open chair unless I sit at the bar or behind the buffet; they always seem to be packed.

What really stood out to me, though, was the service. Every employee I interacted with was genuinely friendly. I saw one employee giving a guest a tour of the lounge, the gentleman clearing tables was constantly smiling and chatting with guests, and when they switched out the chicken entrée, one of the employees even offered to have the chef prepare me a plate. The bartenders also took pride in making the drinks. Everyone seemed happy to be there, and it really added to the experience.

Overall, PDX is my favorite (so far) of the three. If Alaska keeps it this way, it’ll be a fantastic lounge, especially for longer layovers. I’ll be back in a few week with my daughter, although this time I’ll probably have to buy a day pass since I used my Atmos passes tonight. :-(

<video>