Alaska News

Holiday travel in Alaska and Outside requires an attitude of gratitude

No matter how you slice it, our big holidays include a generous helping of travel, two scoops of friends and family and a dollop of good cheer and gratitude. For me, that gratitude extends to the big travel machine at "The Ted" -- otherwise known as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, in addition to a robust competitive market for travelers.

For those who celebrate Christmas, it's the "big daddy" of travel holidays. Think about it: Santa and his sleigh laying in some major tracks around the world. Or Mary and Joseph doing their best to track down a place to stay in Bethlehem. And what about those three wise men? Everybody's on the go.

And so it is with the rest of us -- rushing home to be with friends and family, or doing the late-night airport run to pick up loved ones.

As a frequent traveler, I extend my sincere thanks to all of the folks who make it possible: the flight crew, the cabin staff, the Skycaps, the gate agents, the baggage handlers, the parking lot attendants, the baristas at the airport -- two thumbs up -- and all of the folks I never see. That includes the air traffic controllers, the plow operators and the folks who make the schedules to ensure there are enough folks to handle the heavy traffic!

My wife and I traveled yesterday on a brand new Alaska Airlines 737-900ER. This is the largest jet in Alaska's fleet, with a capacity of 181 travelers and six crew members. When we backed away from the gate, there were 190 souls on board. That's because there were two other pilots riding in "jump seats" in the cockpit, in addition to an extra flight attendant in a jump seat in the rear galley.

Even on the crowded jet, folks were in good spirits. You could tell many folks were headed home to see friends and family.

It's easy to be in good spirits, of course, once you're on the plane in your seat. The folks who got to the airport late, or couldn't get through security because of a prohibited item in their carry-on … well, it can be frustrating. And part of holiday travel includes working with -- and around -- new or infrequent travelers. They are everywhere. So check in early. Bring your noise-canceling headphones for the flight.

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Don't forget to charge all of your electronics the night before. This season, the weather is playing wild tricks across the nation. That can result in delays or cancelations. Have your phone handy to call your airline in case of a change -- chances are good you'll get through on the line before you reach someone at the counter.

Weather is not the only variable. Earlier this week, Alaska Airlines canceled 24 flights because of a flu outbreak.

Speaking of delays or cancelations, it's always a good idea to have some emergency snacks or essential medications in your carry-on. I've been stuck at the airport more than once when every concession is closed.

Increased airline competition means more airfare deals are popping up. I'm looking at airfare deals around $400 roundtrip or less.

This week's "Club 49" specials on Alaska Airlines include a good fare between Anchorage and Seattle: $360 roundtrip between Jan. 20 and Feb. 11. You must purchase your ticket by Thursday, Dec. 26.

Another great Club 49 deal: Anchorage-Ketchikan for $257 roundtrip, for travel between Jan. 21 and Feb. 13.

USAirways is offering a couple of great deals this winter, using the airline's daily nonstop between Anchorage and Phoenix. And although American and USAir have merged, the flight still operates as USAir. These merger deals take time. Here are some of the best savings:

Anchorage-San Diego for $378 roundtrip. There are plenty of dates available in January and February. Be careful when picking your flights, though. Otherwise, you could end up with a very long layover in Phoenix.

Anchorage-Los Angeles/LAX for $378 roundtrip. This is the same drill -- be careful picking your flights to avoid a long layover.

Do you just want to go to Phoenix on the nonstop? That costs a little more: $416 roundtrip. And it's a red-eye on USAir. Alaska Airlines offers the same flight four days a week with a non-red-eye, departing at 8:25 a.m. The return flight departs at 5:15 p.m.

Alaska Air also still offers nonstop tickets from Anchorage to Las Vegas for $396 roundtrip three days a week (Thursday, Friday and Sunday).

If you want to fly to Portland, take advantage of Alaska's nonstop deals. That's the flight I was on yesterday -- Alaska flight No. 140. With a big tailwind, we were able to make the flight in less than three hours. In January, catch a flight for as little at $380 roundtrip.

However, if you're looking to build United miles, you can fly on the carrier's Anchorage-Denver nonstop flight, then hop on another flight back to Portland. At $362 for a roundtrip journey, you'll save $18 over Alaska Air. It takes more than twice as long. I'm not sure why you would want to do that -- but you can.

Great deals in 2014

Next year promises to be another great season for airfare deals, particularly out of Anchorage and Fairbanks. Starting in May, seasonal carriers like JetBlue and Frontier will bring with them some great deals. Already, rates from Anchorage to L.A. and Seattle are available for less than $300 roundtrip. Fares from Fairbanks to Denver are available for as little as $347 roundtrip.

Because of Delta's incursion into the Juneau-Seattle market this summer, there may also be some great bargains from Southeast Alaska as well.

On the international front, Icelandair will return in mid-May with its nonstop Anchorage-Reykjavik flights. Right now, the lowest fares are around $752 roundtrip.

Also coming back for another summer season is Condor Airlines. The nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Germany, start in mid-May at around $1,000 roundtrip.

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So as 2013 draws to a close, I'm grateful for a smooth-operating transportation system. Looking toward 2014, I'm also grateful for a robust and competitive air market. It makes all the difference!

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant who has lived in Alaska for three decades, spending much of that time traveling the far-flung corners of the state. Visit his website at www.alaskatravelgram.com or follow him on Twitter for breaking travel news.

Scott McMurren

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. Subscribe to his e-newsletter at alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.

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