It's Permanent Fund Dividend season--and the travel deals are rolling out in waves. Last week we looked at Alaska Airlines' deal. Basically, Alaska is offering zone fares--the same fare to cities great and small within a specific area. That's particularly good news for travelers to or from smaller towns, where the fares typically are sky-high.
While many of us are shopping for cheap tickets Outside, there is an entire list of cities within Alaska that now are on sale. Let's take a look at some of the best deals.
Southeast Alaska. Remember: Alaska's PFD deals are valid for travel through Aug. 25, 2010. So if you can plan for next summer, check out these rates. From Anchorage to Juneau, the fare is $124.50 each way. The one-way ticket option is nice, so you can take a ferry to another Southeast Alaska community and fly back from there. You can return to Anchorage from Ketchikan, Wrangell or Sitka for $168.10. Lots of folks along the "railbelt" between the Kenai Peninsula and Fairbanks never have been to Southeast Alaska. Use these rates as an excuse to plan an adventure!
Western Alaska. This is where it gets interesting. Three airlines are offering deals out west: Era Aviation, PenAir and Alaska Airlines. Both Alaska and Era offer the fares through Aug. 25. PenAir only allows travel through May 1, 2010, effectively prohibiting summertime travel next year. Alaska has blackout dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break. Era has none.
Between Anchorage and King Salmon or Dillingham, PenAir offers flights through May 1, and Alaska offers flight between June 6 and Aug. 26. The price is $154.50 each way on both airlines.
Between Anchorage and Bethel, Alaska Airlines and Era offers daily, year-round service for $157.51 each way. Remember: Alaska Air has blackout dates, while Era does not. If you're a frequent traveler between Anchorage and Bethel, Era offers commuter books in packs of eight one-way coupons. Each coupon is completely transferable. Each pack to Bethel costs $1,199, which works out to $150 each.
Era offers PFD deals to St. Mary's ($176 each way, not including tax), Aniak ($119 each way, not including tax) or Galena for $240 each way, not including tax.
Penair offers PFD tickets to Aniak for $229 roundtrip (not including tax), Unalakleet for $378 roundtrip, McGrath for $290 roundtrip, Cold Bay for $530 roundtrip, Sand Point for $498 roundtrip or either St. Paul or St. George in the Pribilof Islands for $562 roundtrip. There are no blackout dates--but travel must be completed by May 1, 2010.
Alaska Airlines offers twice-weekly service from Anchorage to Adak Island for $401.50 each way. Fly PenAir to Dutch Harbor (it's operated as an Alaska Airlines flight) for $349 each way.
Up to Northern Alaska, both Era and Alaska offer specials. Between Anchorage and Barrow, Alaska Airlines offers tickets at $225 each way. Both airlines offer service from Fairbanks to Barrow for $196 each way. Era also offers commuter books to Barrow from Anchorage ($260 each way) or Fairbanks ($210 each way). Again, the commuter books are great because they are completely transferable, while locking in low rates.
Era Aviation also has PFD fares to Kodiak, Cordova, Valdez, Homer and Kenai. Alaska Airlines has deals to Petersburg, Yakutat, Kodiak and Cordova.
Watch for more PFD deals to spring up as the checks start hitting the banks. We'll keep a close eye on them!
Follow Alaska Travelgram on Twitter: @alaskatravelgrm
Online Resources:
Peninsula Airways. Check out specials, schedules and routes online. www.penair.com
Visit Nome. Learn all about activities and history in Nome. There's no place like Nome. www.visitnomealaska.com
Visit Unalaska and Dutch Harbor. I know--you've always wanted to go. I've been there. It's worth it. GO! www.unalaska.info
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.