Savvy Alaska travelers have been watching the "Battle for Seattle" airfare wars brewing all winter as Alaska Airlines and Delta position themselves at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Delta is expanding its international flights and adding domestic flights to feed the trans-Pacific and over-the-pole flights to Europe. Alaska is actively defending its "fortress hub" at the region's largest airport.
As part of this effort, Delta has more than doubled its service to Alaska with more flights from Anchorage to Seattle and service to Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. Airfares are dropping. Today's rates for flights to Seattle and beyond are among the lowest of this century. Anchorage travelers are accustomed to lower fares. But travelers in Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan have not seen low fares like these in decades.
The rates detailed here are available in May and June. They are not available on every day or on every flight, but if you are flexible with your travel dates you can get a great deal. But travelers can count on low rates all summer long. For Anchorage travelers, many of the lowest fares are available on JetBlue and United. Delta and Alaska may not match the lowest-of-the-low fares, but they have dropped their rates below what they usually are.
For example, JetBlue is offering fares of $177 round-trip to Seattle from Anchorage. Both Delta and Alaska are selling their seats for $221 round-trip. Also, on many routes where Delta lists the lowest fare, Alaska may offer a rate for just a few dollars more.
All of the rates listed here are available in either direction. So, whether you're planning a trip Outside or you have friends and relatives thinking of visiting, now is a really good time to buy airline tickets. All fares are subject to change without notice and may not be available on every flight. Checked baggage fees are extra, but the prices listed here include all taxes and fees.
Most (not all) of the best rates require a 14-day advance purchase. I researched and confirmed each of these airfares between 9 a.m. and noon Tuesday, May 5, using a combination of Google Flights, Google's ITA Matrix software, AlaskaAir.com, Delta.com, United.com and JetBlue.com.
To/from Anchorage
Seattle $177 rt on JetBlue starts May 24 (nonstop)
Portland $177 rt on JetBlue starts June 20 (nonstop)
San Francisco $377 rt on Delta starts May 22
Los Angeles/LAX $293 rt on Delta starts May 22
Long Beach $257 rt on JetBlue starts May 15 (nonstop)
San Diego $302 rt on Delta starts May 19
Las Vegas $318 rt on JetBlue starts May 27
Salt Lake $318 rt on JetBlue starts May 30
Phoenix $370 rt on Delta starts May 26
Denver $446 rt on Alaska starts May 31
Minneapolis $416 rt on United starts June 1 (very limited)
Boston $414 rt on United starts June 2
New York/LGA $414 rt on United starts June 1
Kansas City $378 rt on United starts June 1
Austin, Texas 378 rt on United starts June 22
San Antonio, Texas $446 rt on United starts June 12
Orlando $442 rt on United starts June 12
Anchorage-Reykjavik $770 rt (May 14-20) on Icelandair #nonstop
Anchorage-Frankfurt $1,076 rt on Condor starts May 12
To/from Fairbanks
Seattle $222 rt on Alaska + Delta starts May 22 (nonstop)
Portland $311 rt on Delta starts May 22
San Francisco $387 rt on Delta starts May 22
Boise $387 rt on Alaska starts May 31 (limited dates)
Las Vegas $397 rt on Delta starts May 22
Los Angeles/LAX $367 rt on Delta starts May 20
Burbank $417 rt on Alaska starts June 5
San Diego $361 rt on Delta starts May 22
Albuquerque $425 rt on Delta starts May 22
Denver $445 rt on Delta starts May 28
Minneapolis $494 rt on Delta starts May 22 (limited dates)
Dallas $511 rt on Alaska starts May 29
New York $580 rt on United starts June 8
Orlando $571 rt on United starts June 8
To/from Juneau
Seattle $191 rt on Alaska + Delta starting May 22
Portland $312 rt on Delta starts May 22
San Francisco $356 rt on Alaska + Delta starts May 19
Los Angeles $348 rt on Delta starts May 19
San Diego $341 rt on Delta starts May 20
Las Vegas $401 rt on Delta starts May 18
Salt Lake City $424 rt on Delta starts May 19
Denver $396 rt on Alaska starts May 19
Albuquerque $354 rt on Delta starts Jun 1
Phoenix $436 rt on Alaska starts May 19
To/from Sitka
Seattle $178 rt on Delta starts May 22 (Alaska starts May 25) (nonstop)
Portland $299 rt Alaska + Delta starts May 22 (Alaska starts May 25)
San Francisco $343 rt Alaska + Delta starts May 27
Los Angeles $335 rt on Delta starts May 22
San Diego $337 rt on Delta starts June 3
Las Vegas $389 rt on Alaska + Delta starts May 22
Phoenix $389 rt on Delta starts May 22 (Alasak starts May 25)
Denver $378 rt on Delta starts June 4
Minneapolis $450 rt on Delta starts May 22
To/from Ketchikan
Seattle $190 rt on Alaska + Delta starts May 22
Portland $311 rt on Delta starts May 22
San Francisco $355 rt on Alaska starts May 22
Los Angeles $348 rt on Delta starts May 22
San Diego $342 rt on Delta starts May 22
Las Vegas $401 rt on Delta starts May 22
Denver $396 rt on Alaska starts May 22
Albuquerque $354 rt on Delta starts May 27
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. You can follow him on Twitter (@alaskatravelGRM) and alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.