No matter how you look at it, this summer will be different for travelers.
Although the large cruise ships do not sail the Inside Passage, many people want to come to Alaska. After all, Alaska has two things in mind: more people are being vaccinated than elsewhere in the US and there are more open spaces.
The vaccination here in Alaska is an exchange for travelers. While other COVID-19 softening practices apply (mask wear, hand washing, and social distance), you are a little more confident about traveling once you are vaccinated. I know I am.
If you want to explore Alaska this year, the attractions and activities we are used to may be available on a smaller scale – if at all. The Alaska Railroad, for example, is reducing its passenger service to accommodate the lower projected passenger count without passengers traveling.
Instead of leaving the station in Anchorage for Denali National Park and Fairbanks every morning, northern trains depart on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The return will take place on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The railroad season begins a little later this year: May 29th. It ends a little earlier, September 6th. The train to and from Seward will run daily, as well as the “Glacier Discovery” train from Portage to Spencer Glacier.
More independent travelers plan to visit Alaska this year – and more airlines are adding flights to compensate for the lack of cruise ships.
There is always a seasonal bump for the summer travel season. But this year is different.
Delta Air Lines is adding new flights to new destinations and hubs of both Anchorage and Fairbanks.
From Anchorage, Delta is adding new direct flights to Detroit, Kennedy Airport in New York and Los Angeles. These new flights will only start on Friday and Saturdays, from 28 May.
Delta also increases flights from Anchorage to its downtown areas: up to seven flights a day between Anchorage and Seattle, three flights a day between Anchorage and Minneapolis and two flights a day between Anchorage and Salt Lake City. On top of that, Delta resumes its anchorage Atlanta uninterrupted on May 5th.
From Fairbanks, Delta will operate three daily stopovers to Seattle, two direct flights to Minneapolis and a new direct flight to Salt Lake City. Delta’s flights to Seattle have been running all year round, but the airline has committed itself to year – round service for the new flights to / from Minneapolis and Salt Lake.
Delta is not the only airline that adds direct flights from Alaska. This is just the latest to make the announcements.
United Airlines announced its summer schedule a few months ago. The airline operates non-stop flights to Denver throughout the year. But from June 3, United will fly daily from Anchorage to San Francisco, Houston, Newark and Chicago. In addition, United is adding a daily flight from Anchorage-Fairbanks starting on June 3rd. The rate? Only $ 49 one way.
American Airlines is hoping for Alaska this summer. From Fairbanks, American flies daily to Dallas and one to Chicago. From Anchorage there are stopovers to Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix. US rates are worth rewriting. At the moment, American still has a good price from Anchorage to New York for $ 99 one-way, which is connected in Chicago or Dallas.
Remember: American Airlines is Alaska’s new partner in the alliance oneworld. Finally, your elite MVP status with Alaska Airlines can bring you extra benefits over US and other oneworld partners, such as Qatar Air and Japan Airlines.
You can add up all these departures. Even throws in Sun Country Air’s new weekly service between Fairbanks and Minneapolis (on Saturdays), plus its daily flights from Anchorage to Minneapolis. The total would still not reach Alaska Airlines’ new summer schedule.
Alaska Airlines is bringing some new uninterrupted destinations – and expanding service for others.
At the height of the summer season, Alaska Airlines offers 19 daily flights between Anchorage and Seattle. The schedule shows three daily flights between Anchorage and Portland and two daily flights between Anchorage and Los Angeles / LAX.
As of June 17, Alaska will resume uninterrupted service between Anchorage and Denver. The daily flights are scheduled for August 16th.
On May 20, Alaska will resume direct flights between Anchorage and Las Vegas. Alaska’s flight 707 departs from Anchorage at 23:55 and arrives the next day at 06:10. The flight is scheduled to run four days a week: Thursday-Sunday.
Now that Alaska has a hub in San Francisco, Anchorage will get its own uninterrupted flight from June 17th.
From May 20, Alaska Airlines will start two daily flights from Anchorage to Chicago. On September 8, the schedule returns each day to one uninterrupted flight.
Alaska’s schedule also shows three flights a week throughout the spring between Anchorage and Honolulu (until May 18). After that, Alaska will fly non-stop Anchorage-Honolulu every day. Between Anchorage and Maui, Alaska will fly uninterrupted four days a week: Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. The last Anchorage-Kona stop is on March 16th. Currently, the flights will resume on September 9, with three flights a week.
In addition to its battles against the Lower 48 and Hawaii, Alaska Airlines flies from Anchorage to 19 destinations in Alaska.
Although international airlines such as Condor and Eurowings are planned for Anchorage-Frankfurt flights, the borders are still closed so that the planes do not fly. This is also the case with the weekly flights from Anchorage to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia. Air Canada canceled its non-stop from Vancouver, BC last year.
There are still large parts of the world that are still inaccessible to Americans due to the COVID-19 virus. These include Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Indonesia and much of Europe. There are other countries you can fly to, but the virus is raging. Brazil falls into this category.
Look for more low rates for travel through the US, as airlines offer fewer travelers jockey.