Burbank's new terminal is open: one checkpoint, indoor bag claim, outdoor boarding and still no lounge

Hollywood Burbank Airport moved every passenger into its new terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The building covers 355,000 square feet and takes over from the old terminal for all arrivals and departures. Alaska Airlines marked the day with a feature on its newsroom that walks through what changes for travelers.

The short version: check-in, security and bags are now under one roof. Boarding is not. You will still walk across the tarmac and climb the stairs to your plane, a tradition Alaska says travelers love most.

One hall, one checkpoint, one baggage claim

According to Alaska, the new terminal has a single central ticketing hall, a single TSA checkpoint and a single indoor baggage claim.

After security, Alaska says passengers will find places to eat and shop, plus digital flight displays and seating set up for work. The airline also says every seat has a power outlet. If you have spent time hunting for a working plug at an older gate, that last point may matter more than anything else on the list.

Outside, the airport now has separate lanes for arrivals and departures. Alaska says the split is meant to help traffic move more smoothly at the curb.

Boarding stays on the tarmac

Many airports that build a new terminal add jet bridges. Burbank chose to keep outdoor boarding and deplaning. Alaska calls the short walk across the ramp part of the airport's charm. It is also a practical point for travelers. Pack a light layer for winter evenings, and if you need help with stairs, ask for assistance when you book or at the counter.

Alaska has flown to Burbank since March 1981, more than 40 years. The airline did not give new route or schedule details in its post. It also did not say how many gates the new building has, or which airlines sit where. Check your airline's app on the day you fly.

Is there a lounge?

Not one that has been announced. Alaska's post does not mention a lounge, and Lounge Frog does not list any lounge at Burbank. We noted the same gap in our guide to lounges at secondary airports. That guide also covers Oakland, Midway and other close-in airports where the lounge choice is thin or empty.

For now, the new terminal's seating and outlets are the upgrade. If you count on a lounge before a flight, the nearest options are at the big airport across the basin.

Where to wait if you want a lounge

Los Angeles International is the obvious choice for travelers who want lounge access in the region. Alaska's own room there is the Alaska Lounge in Terminal 6, which we rate 3.8 overall. It admits Alaska Lounge members and eligible oneworld travelers. LAX also has a long list of airline and card lounges across its terminals, all on its airport page.

That trade-off is the core Burbank question. Burbank is closer for much of the San Fernando Valley, and the lines are usually shorter. LAX has the lounges. The new terminal makes Burbank more pleasant to pass through, but it does not change that basic choice.

What to know before your next Burbank trip

• Use the new terminal for all arrivals and departures from Oct. 13. Alaska says all arriving and departing passengers now use it.
• Expect one security checkpoint for everyone. Give yourself time on your first trip while you learn the layout.
• Bags now come out indoors.
• Boarding is still outside, by stairs.
• There is no lounge to plan around, so eat and charge at the gate area.

You can find Alaska's routes, fleet and ratings on its airline page. We will add Burbank to the directory if a lounge is announced for the new building.