For many Alaskans, the world of travel will change dramatically in May. Not only will airfares from Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks drop dramatically later this month, but Alaska Airlines also is dropping some in-state air fares.
According to Marilyn Romano, Alaska Air's regional vice president, the lower air fares are not "sale" fares. Rather, they represent the "everyday low price" the airline will offer going forward.
"When we brought the Q400 (turboprop) aircraft to Alaska this spring, we said we were going to lower fares. These are some examples of those lower fares," she said.
Between Anchorage and Fairbanks, one of the routes served by the Q400, Alaska is dropping the fare to $207 roundtrip, with a 14-day advance purchase. Ravn Alaska (formerly Era Alaska) also flies the route with a smaller, older version of the same wing-over-twin-engine turboprop, the DeHavilland "Dash 8" aircraft. Alaska's version seats 76 travelers, while Ravn's configuration seats 37. Currently, Ravn charges $296 roundtrip for the same flight. Don't be surprised, though, to see Ravn match the rates. It's what airlines do.
Alaska's three-day advance purchase fare from Anchorage to Fairbanks now is pegged at $153 each way, compared with Ravn's rate of $213.
Other notable fare changes include:
• Anchorage-Bethel from $253 roundtrip
• Anchorage-Barrow from $334 roundtrip
• Anchorage-Kodiak from $313 roundtrip
• Anchorage-Juneau from $329 roundtrip
• Fairbanks-Barrow from $302 roundtrip
Not all in-state fares are dropping. For example, if you want to go to Prudhoe Bay from Anchorage, the rate is $724 roundtrip. To Adak? Prepare to pay $1,204 roundtrip. From Anchorage to Sitka, the rate is $439 roundtrip. If you want to fly between Anchorage and King Salmon, the fare is $536 roundtrip.
One big advantage to flying with Ravn is there's no scope-and-grope TSA checkpoint. You still must provide your name and birth date in advance so the TSA can check your name against their mysterious no-fly list. But you're welcome to bring your coffee and leave your shoes on all the way from the curb to the plane!
I think the best deal on in-state air fare is to use your Alaska Airlines miles. Choose any of the high-priced destinations (Prudhoe Bay, Adak, Barrow, King Salmon, Sitka) and redeem just 15,000 miles for a roundtrip ticket.
You can earn Alaska miles many ways: shopping at Carrs/Safeway, making phone calls on GCI or using the Alaska Airlines/Bank of America credit card. I have two of the cards, mostly because of the annual companion fare. But if you apply and receive a new card, you'll get 25,000 bonus miles. Also, each year you'll receive a coach-class companion fare (you pay the regular rate, your companion pays $99 plus taxes of $15-$60). The card costs $79 per year. Two common-sense warnings about the card: it's wise to pay off your card every month because the interest charges outweigh any possible mileage-bonus benefit. Also, do not use the Alaska Airlines card for any charges outside the U.S. Bank of America charges a 3 percent "foreign transaction fee". Many other credit cards, including Capital One, Chase and American Express are available with no such surcharge.
The in-state fare reductions are relatively tame compared to the fireworks accompanying the new summertime rates between Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau to the Lower 48. For example, the fare from Juneau or Fairbanks to Seattle has dropped by at least 50 percent -- to as low as $244 roundtrip. Those rates start on May 29, the date of Delta's first flights. Alaska has even more competition on the Seattle routes from Anchorage, with JetBlue offering daily service starting May 16.
Of course, fares change all the time. But this month, they're changing in a really good way.
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.