Are you in the market for a cheap airline ticket to the Lower 48? If so, March is a really good time to go shopping. Ongoing friction between Alaska Airlines and Delta has kept prices low all winter. Now, as seasonal carriers like JetBlue and Sun Country get ready for the summer season, there are more low fares available for travelers who know where to look — and are ready to buy when they see a good deal.
Between Anchorage and Seattle: Take advantage of low $68 one-way rates on either JetBlue's daily red-eye flight or any of five daily Delta flights between May 5 and June 15. Purchase no later than Thursday, March 17.
Between Anchorage and Portland: JetBlue starts its daily red-eye on May 12 for $58 each way. This is a nonstop flight, getting into Portland bright and early at 4:42 a.m. Delta also is launching a seasonal nonstop from Anchorage to Portland, leaving at about the same time, for $58 each way. Delta's nonstops are available on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Travel must be completed by June 15. You must buy your ticket no later than Thursday, March 17.
Between Anchorage and Long Beach, JetBlue offers a daily nonstop flight starting on May 13 for $88 each way. Tickets must be purchased by March 17 and travel must be completed by June 15.
Alaska Airlines' Club 49 fares feature Anchorage-St. Louis in May, for as little as $360 round-trip. Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, March 17.
Sun Country Airlines starts flying nonstop twice a week between Anchorage and Minneapolis on May 21. Then, in June, they increase the frequency to daily service. Right now, flights between Anchorage and Minneapolis are available for $397 round-trip for travel through June 23, then later between Aug. 10 and Sept. 5. You must purchase these tickets before March 24.
You don't have to wait until May to get great deals. Fly nonstop on Alaska Airlines between Anchorage and Los Angeles/LAX for as little as $265 roundtrip. Travel between April 6 and April 26. Purchase by March 21.
Between Anchorage and Las Vegas, Delta offers tickets for as little as $320 round-trip starting on March 30.
Even though it's technically outside of the Bay Area, Anchorage-Sacramento flights are low, as little as $328 round-trip on Delta, starting April 4.
Between Anchorage and San Diego, Delta offers a great fare: just $338 round-trip, starting April 7.
American Airlines flies nonstop each day between Anchorage and Phoenix. Starting April 3, the fare drops to $333 round-trip.
Watch for the next round of deals between Anchorage, Seattle and Portland. I predict fares will be low all summer long because of increased competition between Alaska Airlines, Delta and JetBlue.
Anchorage is not the only Alaska airport where travelers can get great deals. Between Fairbanks and Seattle, it's $271 round-trip on either Alaska Airlines or Delta starting April 1.
Starting on April 6, travelers can fly from Fairbanks to Los Angeles/LAX for just $280 round-trip on Delta. Travel by May 24 for the best fare.
Sacramento also is on sale from Fairbanks starting April 6, with fares from $329 round-trip on Delta.
Travelers in Juneau are enjoying low fares to the Lower 48, thanks to Delta's year-round service. Juneau-Seattle tickets are available with no advance purchase on Delta for $152 round-trip. If you can plan ahead (seven days in advance), the fare drops to $142 round-trip.
If you're headed to Los Angeles from Juneau, Delta has a $257 round-trip fare, with a seven-day advance purchase. Delta has just one flight six days per week (the Wednesday southbound flight resumes on May 4).
Here's a great deal to Las Vegas: $222 round-trip on Delta, starting April 8. Some of the other destinations on sale include:
Juneau-San Diego for $253 round-trip on Delta starting April 4
Juneau-Sacramento for $253 round-trip on Delta starting March 25
Juneau-Phoenix $277 round-trip on Delta starting April 11
Juneau-Minneapolis $277 round-trip on Delta starting April 8
Juneau-Denver $279 round-trip on Delta starting April 7
Juneau-Nashville $321 round-trip on Delta starting April 5
Juneau-Salt Lake City $278 round-trip on Delta starting April 7
Juneau-Detroit $299 round-trip on Delta starting April 10
When Delta resumes service from Seattle to both Ketchikan and Sitka on May 20, fares will go down. Here are some examples:
Ketchikan-Seattle $142 round-trip starting May 21 on Alaska and Delta
Ketchikan-San Jose, CA $253 round-trip starting May 24 on Delta
Ketchikan-Las Vegas $219 round-trip starting May 21 on Alaska Airlines
Sitka-Seattle $130 round-trip starting May 21 on Delta
Sitka-Atlanta $289 round-trip starting May 21 on Delta
Sitka-Orlando $301 round-trip starting May 24 on Delta
Sitka-Boston $298 round-trip starting May 24 on Delta
Sitka-Detroit $289 round-trip starting May 24 on Delta
Fares are subject to change without notice. I researched these fares using Google's ITA Matrix Airfare Search, Google Flights, AlaskaAir.com and Delta.com.
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.