Alaska News

Alaska Airlines drops fares in annual PFD sale

It's as predictable as the Permanent Fund dividend itself: the rush of PFD airfare deals presented each year to coincide with the annual cash dump into Alaskans' bank accounts.

Alaska Airlines is leading the charge with a volley of deals from Alaska cities to the Lower 48. Destinations in Hawaii and Mexico are not included in the PFD sale.

Anchorage travelers benefit from a robust competitive market, so it's not unusual to have airfare sales all the time. But in far-flung destinations like Nome, Bethel, Kodiak and Ketchikan, the PFD bargains are the best deals of the year.

Alaska Airline has beefed up its Anchorage offerings over the last couple of years, adding nonstop service to Las Vegas and Phoenix and a whole cluster of new destinations from Seattle, including Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Detroit, New Orleans and Omaha.

I think the best bargains for Anchorage travelers are on the nonstop flights, as follows:

1. Anchorage-Seattle for $378 round-trip: That's more than the summertime fare, but JetBlue has left the market until next May, so the price recently drifted up to $495 round-trip. That's pricey. So this PFD offer is a welcome reduction.

2. Anchorage-Los Angeles for $373 round-trip: This is one of Alaska's best nonstop flights, and it's even cheaper than Seattle.

ADVERTISEMENT

3. Anchorage-Chicago for $499 round-trip: This is the cheapest fare I've seen on this route all year. Both Alaska and United offer nonstop service on the route, and they've matched the rate.

4. Anchorage-Portland for $399 round-trip: I love the nonstop to Portland, since I grew up in the Rose City and still have friends and relatives in the area.

5. Anchorage-Las Vegas for $379 round-trip: I think these flights are designed for hardcore partiers. It's a red-eye in both directions, but, since Las Vegas never sleeps anyway, this is a great option for Alaskans who want to get lucky and enjoy some world-class entertainment. By the way, the flights switch to daylight schedules in early 2015.

6. Anchorage-Phoenix for $379 round-trip: This is another run-to-the-sun nonstop that Alaska resumes on Nov. 3 three times a week. US Airways also offers a five nonstop flights per week in November, but they're charging more ($443 round-trip). US Airways probably will drop its price to match Alaska's, though.

Here are some choice picks from Fairbanks:

1. Fairbanks-Seattle for $458 round-trip: That's almost twice the cost of summertime travel, when the price hovered at $244 round-trip. But Delta has left for the winter and fares went up accordingly.

2. Fairbanks-Los Angeles for $516 round-trip.

3. Fairbanks-San Francisco for $578 round-trip.

4. Fairbanks-Barrow for $283 round-trip.

From Juneau, the best deals are up and down the West Coast:

1. Juneau-Seattle for $378 round-trip: Again, this is not a Delta-Alaska fare-war price. But since Juneau is again a one-airline town (until next summer), it's nice of Alaska Airlines to cut the rate.

2. Juneau-Los Angeles for $378 round-trip: This is a great fare.

3. Juneau-Las Vegas for $442 round-trip.

Travelers in Kodiak, Bethel, Nome, Cordova, Petersburg and Dutch Harbor will also find reduced fares at AlaskaAir.com. Travelers in Anchorage and Fairbanks may wince at the price. But folks who live off the road system are accustomed to paying more for air travel. That doesn't mean they like it, but it's part of the cost of doing business in the Bush. Check out these rates:

1. Nome-Portland for $648 round-trip.

2. Bethel-Boise for $692 round-trip.

3. Kodiak-Palm Springs for $688 round-trip.

ADVERTISEMENT

4. Yakutat-Denver for $617 round-trip.

5. Dutch Harbor-Seattle for $1,082 round-trip (travel in February 2015).

Fares like that underscore the importance of Alaska's mileage program. For example, travelers in Dutch Harbor can get a ticket to Seattle for 25,000 miles. Since the cash price is $1,082 round-trip, that's a pretty good use of those miles. And remember, if you sign up and get approved for the Alaska Airlines Visa card, you get a 25,000 mile bonus -- enough for a free ticket. There's a $79 annual fee for the card, but that's still a fair exchange, I think.

Travelers would also be wise to sign up for Alaska's Club 49 program, which provides two free checked bags per traveler on flights to and from Alaska. Bag fees are a gold mine for airlines, starting at $25 per bag ($50 round-trip).

There are restrictions that come with the PFD rates. Traveling south from Alaska to the Lower 48, you'll find the best fares on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Returning, the best fares are on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Alaska's PFD rates are not offered on the peak travel days around Thanksgiving, Christmas or spring break. But if you check the calendar at AlaskaAir.com, you still can pick some dates that are close. For example, there are no PFD rates available for travel between Anchorage and Seattle on Dec. 19, returning on Jan. 4. But you still can get the good rate leaving on Dec. 15, returning on Dec. 27 or Jan. 8.

All tickets for the PFD special must be purchased no later than Oct. 30. If you want to travel soon, you have to purchase at least 14 days in advance. The rules for the fare sale say travel must be completed by April 20, but I've found the fares available later in the spring and into the summer. That said, once summertime rolls around, there are likely to be better fares in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau because of competitive pressure from Delta, JetBlue, Frontier Airlines and other summer-only carriers.

Will other airlines chime in with specials of their own? While it's possible, I don't think United, Delta or US Airways will do anything more than match Alaska's fares where they compete. But, of course, all fares are subject to change without notice. And they change all the time.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT