Here’s what I learned as a frequent flyer on my most recent trip

Air travel is changing for Alaskans. But that’s normal. Still, trip reports can be helpful to make your next trip more convenient, more affordable, or both.

Here’s my report: Earlier this week I dragged my bags to the car in the blowing snow. I found myself humming “California Dreamin’ ” on the drive to the airport.

This was a quick trip, with no bags to check. So I skipped the counter entirely and headed straight to security.

But the first part of the trip started several days before, selecting my flights and seats.

Although the trip wasn’t last-minute, it still was more expensive than the cheapest of the cheap tickets available between Alaska and California.

Further, I had some time constraints, which meant Alaska Air’s nonstop from Anchorage to LAX just wouldn’t work. The combination of daytime flights and picking a flight to a suburban airport (Burbank) drove the price up.

Rather than pay almost $500 for a one-way ticket, I opted to cash in some miles, which allowed me to pick my seats in advance.

There were very few seats available on either flight. But I kept checking the seat map after I purchased the ticket — and was able to get window seats closer to departure.

I purchased the return ticket in time to get a better rate.

Alaska Air oversells its flights but constantly monitors the loads and reaches out to travelers in advance to see if they are willing to change their plans — for a price.

The first email I received offered a $25 credit if I would change my flight times. None of the flight options worked for me, though.

But the next email got my attention: Alaska Air offered me a $250 credit if I would settle for a much longer layover in Seattle, plus a red-eye departure. Honestly, I tried to make it work. But the times and seating selection both were bad.

Later, I received an offer for $45 to change my return flight back to Anchorage. I clicked the button, since the new flight times were better. However, I failed to check the available seating in advance. So now I’m sitting back by the potty. Lesson learned: Double-check the available seating on any new flight the airline offers.

[What to know as Alaska Airlines unveils new initiatives and changes to rewards programs]

By the time I got to the gate in Anchorage, every seat was filled on the plane. Then the gate agent started canvassing the crowd to check their carry-ons to free up a little more room in the overhead bins.

Speaking of extra space, parking is tight at the Anchorage airport, particularly in the short-term garage. Due to construction, the short-term garage is shutting the top floor, resulting in a 25% reduction in available space through Aug. 1. Get a ride to the airport, or check out the off-airport lots at Alaska Park or Diamond Parking.

Passengers on the flight were traveling for many different reasons. There were plenty of families traveling with brand-new babies, complete with strollers, diaper bags and all manner of snacks and tablets to keep the older kids occupied during the flight.

Other folks were traveling back from jobs in remote parts of the state. Or, in my case, heading to a meeting. The couple sitting next to me had their ski gear, and they were headed to ski at Big Sky Resort in Montana.

After signing up for Alaska Access with Alaska Airlines, I wanted to try out my first monthly $5 internet pass.

Here’s what I learned: You cannot save up your monthly $5 passes. I tried to use the pass I received in March for travel in April. No luck. Further, your pass is valid for one flight and one flight only. If you’re connecting to another flight, you get to pay another fee to connect to in-flight internet.

Another promise of the Alaska Access plan is an advance notice of sale fares. I haven’t seen any notices yet.

On arrival in Seattle, we parked at the South Terminal, which is unusual for Alaska Airlines. The terminal is usually reserved for international flights. Next to us was a Turkish Air widebody, in addition to a few Delta flights bound for Europe.

There are no Alaska Air lounges in the South Terminal. But Priority Pass does have The Club lounge, which used to be the Delta Lounge. Because I carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, I can use the Priority Pass network. In addition to the lounge at the S gates, there’s another lounge in the A concourse. The lounge features a bar, snacks, an espresso machine and plenty of seats by big windows that look over the runway.

Alaska Air has lounges at the D concourse by the TSA checkpoint, at the end of the C concourse and at the North Terminal.

To get from the S gates to my connecting flight, I had to take three trains: one to the main terminal, another to connect the North Terminal loop and, finally, a train to the C gates. Even though it was a double connection on the train, it only took about 10 minutes.

Alaska’s connecting flight was late, but the gate agent used the extra half-hour to pitch travelers to check their bulky carry-on bags.

Instead of paying another fee for internet access, I struck up a conversation with my seatmate, a young “code warrior” with Microsoft, currently working on new Xbox features.

When the drink cart came around, I convinced him to order the new Cloud Cruiser beer from Fremont Brewing in Seattle. He gave the beer a thumbs-up. Alaska Air worked on the IPA, which features a plane on the can.

[Finding your ideal flight, whether your focus is on price, a relaxed itinerary or flexibility]

Although I’m a frequent traveler, I learned several lessons on this trip:

1. Use your frequent flyer miles. Hyperinflation is rampant and your miles and points are worth more today than they will be tomorrow. For example, Alaska Airlines is offering a 75,000-mile bonus to get a new credit card. My one-way coach ticket from Anchorage to Burbank was 45,000 miles.

2. Check your email after making reservations. The airline may offer you compensation for changing since they oversell their flights. But be sure to check the available seating before you make the change.

3. You cannot stack your $5 monthly Wi-Fi passes from the Access Alaska program.

4. Don’t check bags unless you have to. On my last Alaska Air flight, the airline didn’t lose the bags. But the plane broke. The airline found a new plane, but the bags still were on the original aircraft. It was another 12 hours before I got my bag.