Anchorage Daily News

Honestly, I'm not sure when the trend toward higher prices is going to stop. With oil trading north of $125 per barrel, there seems to be no limit as to how high prices can go for all sorts of vacation components: air travel, hotels, cruises and car rentals.

Alaska Airlines' pre-season sale ended last week. There still are a few good deals floating around, such as Alaska's deal to Los Angeles -- it's just $455 round trip. This price is good (at press time) all summer long. The nonstop flight is a great one to connect with other flights -- and it's the quickest way to get to Southern California. But really, the fare is there to blunt the effect of Delta Air Lines' nonstop to LA during the summer. Again, it all comes down to competition.

Competition is the reason flights to Fairbanks still are affordable. In addition to Era Aviation and Alaska Airlines, Frontier Flying Service, Fairbanks' home-town airline, offers a couple of late-afternoon flights from Anchorage. Even though their planes only take 19 passengers, it's more competition in the market -- and that's what keeps prices down.

To Seattle, Continental still is offering last-minute Internet specials for about half of the two-week advance purchase price, or $253 round trip. The good thing is these fares are great for the impulsive traveler. Just get up and go! The bad thing is you cannot plan for these good deals. They only pop up online on Tuesday or Wednesday -- and are valid for travel on Saturday. You can return on Monday or Tuesday. Having Continental in the market with two flights per day helps keep the lid on Anchorage-Seattle prices.

There still are great prices on nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Germany, on Condor Air. Travel outbound on May 27, returning on June 7. The price is just $722, including taxes and fees. It's clear that lots of Europeans will be using the Condor service to fly to Alaska this summer -- since the exchange rate makes it very affordable.

Pity the poor traveler who has to make last-minute plans. If you're headed to Phoenix, for example, the last-minute rate is between $1,000 and $1,200 round trip. You can expect to pay $25 to check a second bag. Then there's an extra charge to make a reservation by phone. If there is anything to eat on the plane, you can expect to pay extra for it (Continental still offers free meals, though). Be sure and get to the airport early so you can stand in line for the TSA-- a perfect way to begin your travel "experience."

This summer is a good time to think about using your frequent-flier miles. Even those are getting harder to use. When I checked for travel in July, there were no "saver" seats available. Only "peak" mileage tickets were available -- 40,000 miles for a coach seat. Even so, that is a better deal than shelling out $1,100.

The massive run-up in fuel prices hits most of us in the pocketbook every time we fill up our gas tanks. Then, we notice it when we stop at the grocery store. So, it's no surprise that the airlines are quick to increase fares as fast as they can to recoup some, but not all, of their increased fuel bills. Even though it's fun to pick on the airlines, who can blame them? Be prepared to pay more -- much more -- for airline tickets in the future.

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant. Contact him via his travel blog: www.alaskatravelgram.com.

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