Travel

New York, Paris, Tokyo, Madrid ... Seattle

scott_mcmurren_logo_2.18.09

Maybe it's time to regard Seattle as a high-priced destination. Here in Anchorage, we're accustomed to the idea of taking off for a weekend of dining and entertainment in the Emerald City.

At least we used to be. As competitive air service diminished and Alaska Airlines emerged as the dominant carrier, the air fare has continued to rise. Currently, Alaska Airlines charges about $544 roundtrip -- that is the cheapest fare. How about other airlines? Well, there's only one other carrier: Continental. And they charge even more: $614.09 roundtrip from Anchorage to Seattle. That's just silly.

Don't look to Alaska Airlines to cut the price. Since it has all but won the war from a competitive standpoint, the carrier is shifting its focus to operations. Witness the new "airport of the future" with free-standing kiosks and bag drops instead of the long lines at the counter. More recently, Alaska Airlines rolled out new, paperless boarding pass system, with which you can get your boarding pass sent to your cell phone. And the carrier is making progress on ramping up a limited on-board wi-fi setup.

No, Continental is the carrier to watch for price cuts to Seattle -- and right now, they're not playing. It's funny, though. If you want to fly on Continental to either Washington, D.C. or New York, the cost is right around $500 roundtrip. And yes, the first leg of your trip is Anchorage-Seattle. It's the same plane where the Houston-based airline gouges travelers flying between Anchorage and Seattle.

But the hot deals today are to either San Francisco or Denver. Fly from Anchorage to either city for just $398 roundtrip, all-in. That's including all taxes and fees. Fly on US Airways nonstop to Phoenix, then connect to either city. There is a 21-day advance purchase, and the fare is valid from March all the way through the summer.

Many other cities in the Lower 48 now are available for about $540-$600 roundtrip. Honestly, these are not great fares, but they're significantly better than the super-high rates just last week. Here are some of my favorites:

A. Anchorage-Montana. Several cities in Montana have essentially the same fare, about $546 roundtrip: Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls and Helena. United Airlines filed the fare, which means you would fly to Seattle on Continental, then on through Denver up to Montana. A 21-day advance purchase is required.

ADVERTISEMENT

B. Anchorage-Orlando. This is almost mileage-run material at $576 roundtrip on Alaska Airlines. Again, a 21-day advance purchase applies.

C. Anchorage-Southern California. I checked L.A., but most of the So-Cal airports have the same fare: around $270 each-way. I like Alaska's service because you can book the nonstop. But it was US Air that first put the fare out there.

D. Anchorage-Philadelphia. Just $267 one-way on Alaska Airlines between Anchorage and Chicago, switching to American Eagle into Philadelphia.

Right now, United Airlines has filed fares in the $270 range to places as far away as Nashville, St. Louis, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City and Bismarck. This is just another positioning move as United ramps up its service to Anchorage.

Will these low fares eventually extend to Seattle and Portland? I'm betting they will, particularly when Continental starts its new Anchorage-to-Portland nonstop in June. But the discounts cannot come soon enough.

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.

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