Now that Alaska Airlines' PFD airfare sale is over, all the ticket prices have gone up, right?
Wrong.
Delta's special PFD offers are available for purchase until Oct. 19. That means on some competitive routes, Alaska Airlines has kept its prices low. On other routes, Alaska let the fares drift a little higher -- but not too much.
Alaska Airlines makes a bigger fuss about the PFD sale than Delta. To Delta, the bigger picture is its battle with Alaska Airlines in Seattle. So many of the best fares to or from Alaska have changed a couple of times since they were announced. That's good news for travelers -- since the fares went down. Not all of the prices to all of the cities are available for the same time. Predictably, fares are higher around Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break. But here are some of the best rates available right now.
From Anchorage
Anchorage-Seattle: $157 round-trip. Delta offers these fares for travel three weeks from now. You can get the same rate on Alaska Airlines, but you have to wait until January or February. These rates are available into mid-May. By that time, JetBlue will be back in the market with additional discounts.
Anchorage-Los Angeles: $238 round-trip on Delta via Seattle. Alaska charges $40 more, $278 round-trip, to fly nonstop. These rates are available through mid-May.
Anchorage-Sacramento: $280 round-trip on Delta.
Anchorage-Las Vegas: $280 round-trip on Delta. Alaska Airlines charges $21 more to fly nonstop on select days through June 3.
Anchorage-Minneapolis: From $392 round-trip on Delta via Seattle. The nonstop on Delta still costs more -- but not that much. I found nonstop flights for $577 round-trip. It's very unusual for Minneapolis to be on sale for less than $400 round-trip. This is a great fare. The best deal I could find on Alaska doesn't start until Jan. 11, for $392 round-trip.
Anchorage-Boston: $370 round-trip on Delta. Occasionally United also will offer this price, but Delta offers the fare consistently through mid-May.
Anchorage-Dallas: $410 round-trip on Delta through May. There are three weeks in January and February when you can grab an Alaska Airlines ticket for $342 round-trip, but there are long layovers in Seattle both ways. I wouldn't do it -- but it's available for sale!
Anchorage-Chicago: Both Alaska Airlines and United are offering their nonstop flights for $453 round-trip through May 22.
Anchorage-New Orleans: $420 round-trip on Delta.
Anchorage-Raleigh, North Carolina: $436 round-trip on Delta.
From Fairbanks
Since Delta is flying all winter from Fairbanks, there still are great deals. Remember, though, Delta's only flight leaves at 1:55 a.m. Here are some of my favorite picks for Fairbanks travelers:
Fairbanks-Seattle: $191 round-trip. Delta has more seats available in November and December at the lower prices. But after Christmas in January, both Alaska and Delta have plenty of $191 round-trip tickets to Seattle through mid-May.
Fairbanks-San Jose: $325 round-trip on Delta. This is a great deal, but it's only available through February. Starting in January, Alaska offers tickets for $330 round-trip.
Fairbanks-Honolulu: $454 round-trip on Alaska Air. This rate is available in November, December and February.
Fairbanks-Denver: $390 round-trip on Alaska Airlines.
Fairbanks-Los Angeles: As low as $239 round-trip. Delta still is offering a few of these cheap seats in early November. After that, the fare bounces around a little, but there still are many days when the rate is under $300 round-trip.
Fairbanks-Las Vegas: $281 round-trip on Delta. This rate is available in November, December and January.
From Juneau
Down in Juneau, Delta's single flight departs at 6:45 a.m. each day, returning at 7:56 p.m. The plane stays at the gate overnight in Juneau. Just the single Delta flight is responsible for escalating the competition with Alaska Airlines all winter, resulting in lower fares.
Juneau-Seattle: $191 round-trip on either Alaska Airlines or Delta through May.
Juneau-Los Angeles: $240 round-trip on Delta through May.
Juneau-Honolulu: As low as $454 all winter on Alaska Airlines.
Juneau-Boston: $380 round-trip on Delta through May.
Juneau-San Jose, California: $282 round-trip through May. Alaska Airlines charges $330 round-trip.
All of the best fares require a three-week advance purchase. There are great fares to other cities from coast to coast -- I just picked some of my favorites. Delta says tickets must be purchased by Oct. 19 to get the best prices. Will fares go up? Maybe, maybe not. If you know the dates you want to fly, you're better off buying the tickets rather than gambling that fare will go lower. But I'll bet that with or without a big sale, fares will stay low on routes where Alaska Airlines and Delta compete.
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.