Every day brings news about air fare cuts, sales and specials. It's about time.
Today, we're near the end of a sale for Alaska Airlines flights between now and Mar. 11, 2009. If you're planning to travel between now and then, you'd be wise to check out the prices. You have to purchase your tickets no later than tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 24. There are a few blackout dates in December and in February.
Between Anchorage and Seattle, Alaska's rate is $209 each way, not including taxes. Nobody's shouting out loud about that price, but the rates to the little towns in Idaho, Oregon and Washington are pretty good. For $239 each way, plus taxes, you can travel to far-flung airports like Medford, Ore., Lewiston, Idaho, and Yakima, Wash.
If you've got kids in school in Montana, you know how expensive air fares can be -- often exceeding $800 round trip. So the $259 one-way fare to destinations like Kalispell, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman and Billings are a welcome respite.
Although the base fares to Mexico are pretty low, the taxes and fees bump the total cost up to more than $740 round trip.
That is more than it costs next summer to fly to Frankfurt on Condor Airlines. If you leave on May 5, their first flight, returning a week later on May 12, the cost is $705.
I expect to see some fare sales on Condor's nonstop flights to Europe for the summer. But right now, that's a pretty good price to Europe!
Here in Alaska, Era Aviation and Alaska Airlines are offering great rates to Fairbanks: just $75 each way. There is a seven-day advance purchase. Era and Alaska also have a $139 one-way fare to Bethel. Again, there is a seven-day advance purchase. Other specials are available to Cordova and Kodiak. Era has special rates to Kenai, Homer and Valdez.
Alaska Airlines just announced its Kids Fly Free to Disneyland package for 2009. Travel between Jan. 7 and June 17, 2009, for the best prices. This is a great deal for kids age 2-11. Between Anchorage and Los Angeles, one adult pays $1,158 and one child under 12 can fly free. The package includes four nights at the Clarion Anaheim, where kids can eat lunch and dinner free when a grown-up buys a meal. Also included is a five-day Disneyland pass. The best rates are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Travel is forbidden Feb. 12-16, Feb. 20-22, March 20-23, March 27-30, Apr. 3-6, Apr. 10-13, May 22 and May 25. Airport taxes and fees are additional.
Qantas just got done with a big sale on flights to Australia. I do not think it will be the last. I think we'll see more price-cutting across the board as the economy continues to tank. Some insiders maintain the airlines have parked a bunch of planes to squeeze travelers into paying higher fares. In some markets, that works. But not all. Airlines simply must cut the price of tickets in order to get people to travel. For example, it's just $45 to fly between Seattle and San Francisco.
Some readers are curious if the fuel surcharges, baggage fees and reservations up-charges will go away now that the price of oil is decreasing. The answer is no. The airlines are thrilled there has been no outcry as air fares have been unbundled. Expect more airlines to be selling pillows and blanket, charging for water and pumping their Visa cards on board the aircraft. It's just one more avenue for airlines to make money -- and they're going to make the most of it.
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant. Contact him via his travel blog: www.alaskatravelgram.com
Scott's tips
• GOING TO ITALY? Check out Dream of Italy. It's a subscription e-mail newsletter.
• CONDOR GERMAN AIRLINES: Check out the Web site to see prices for the Anchorage-Frankfurt nonstop.
www.condor. com
• CHENA HOT SPRINGS: Want a "hot" winter adventure? Go north to the hot springs outside Fairbanks.
SCOTT MCMURREN
TRAVEL