Travel

Airfare wars mean great deals flying from Alaska

Somewhere, spring has sprung. That's because new, lower air fares are coming out of the woodwork for travel between Anchorage, Hawaii and the Lower 48.

Just over the last 24 hours, fares have changed. That indicates these are rates you won't see advertised by the airlines. Rather, it's a major dust-up between carriers as they battle over turf for the coming summer travel season.

So let's step back and take a snapshot of where the deals are right now -- and when you can fly for less.

Between Anchorage and Honolulu, Delta is offering a great deal, as low as $363 roundtrip. You have to fly down to Seattle on Alaska to catch the Delta flight, but it's about $180 less than Alaska's nonstop flights in April.

Fly to Miami for as little as $314 roundtrip in May on Continental. The fare was more than $400 -- which was still a great deal in its own right -- yesterday.

Fly between Anchorage and either Washington, D.C. or Newark on American Airlines for as little as $336 roundtrip. These deeply-discounted flights are available using American's nonstop between Anchorage and Dallas, starting May 10, 2012.

We've talked about the great deals for summertime flights to and from Southern California. But now, Delta is offering deals starting at the end of this month: Anchorage-Long Beach $309 roundtrip; Anchorage-Burbank, $340 roundtrip; Anchorage-Orange County $316 roundtrip; Anchorage-LAX $316 roundtrip.

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Travel between Anchorage and Dallas on Continental for as little as $344 roundtrip, starting May 10. And fly between Anchorage and Houston on American for as little as $336 roundtrip. Fly right away (at least two weeks in advance) for as little as $345 roundtrip.

Fly between Anchorage and Las Vegas on jetBlue via Long Beach for as little as $345 roundtrip, starting May 25, 2012.

Travel between Anchorage and Sacramento for as little as $375 roundtrip on jetBlue, beginning May 25, 2012.

Fly between Anchorage and Atlanta on American Airlines (via Alaska Airlines to Seattle, Portland or Chicago) for as little as $475 roundtrip.

On Wednesday night, we were looking at some great deals to Salt Lake City, but they've evaporated in the battle between United and Delta.

In the midst of these high-stakes turf wars, Alaska Airlines added new service between Seattle and Philadelphia, starting June 11. In July, they are shifting their Seattle-Miami flight over to Ft. Lauderdale. Alaska is offering double miles for a limited time between Seattle and both Philadelphia and Ft. Lauderdale.

Alaska, by the way, is no stranger to these bare-knuckled battles. Remember, they're offering the $295 roundtrip special between Anchorage and LAX, starting on May 25, 2012.

Watch for more crazy fares as airlines try to out-do one another while positioning for the upcoming summer season. These fares are likely to change or disappear in the coming days. Perhaps they'll be replaced by new deals. Perhaps not. But I checked each and every city pair here just to make sure there are seats available. Nobody likes "phantom fares" -- and there are some out there. Happy hunting!

In the meantime, here's a link to the latest list of deals: http://www.alaskatravelgram.com/2012/02/09/reboot-air-fare-9-1-1/

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. And follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/alaskatravelgrm for breaking updates.

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.

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