Archive for April, 2008

Continental Airlines offers a last-minute web special for travel to/from Seattle this weekend. Fly out on Sat., Apr. 19 or Sun., Apr. 20. Return on Mon., Apr. 21 or Tue., Apr. 22. Cost? $253 roundtrip, a.i. (all-in, inclusive of taxes and fees)–about half the normal supersaver rate. 

If you go from Anchorage to Seattle, you’d be smart to get a copy of the Seattle TourSaver. It’s the 2-for-1 book with all the cool stuff to do: art museum, cruises, flightseeing, hotels, ferry to Victoria…the works. Just $79.95 for $3,000 in travel value. Kewl. 

Delta and Northwest announced they plan to merge their airlines. There is something in this merger for everyone to hate. Planebuzz.com’s Holly Hegeman sez Northwest’s pilots hate it because Delta’s pilots were bribed with a pay raise. Consumers should hate it because it will enable both airlines to trim service and hike fares. Investors should hate it because, instead of adding value, it’s simply perpetuating the losing proposition of the hide-bound legacy carriers. There’s a reason they’re called dinosaurs, after all.

Worse, this merger does nothing to address the systemic problems plaguing the airlines: sky-high fuel prices are here to stay. Labor costs continue to rise as real purchasing power lags in the face of the escalating cost of living. Regulatory nightmares abound, including everybody’s favorite: the TSA. And lately, the FAA has been finding new muscle to try and and get off its knees and enforce its procedures. 

So, here comes Delta and Northwest who attempt to solve the problems the old-fashioned way: form an anti-competitive trust to cram bad service and Shylock fares down the collective throats of millions of hapless travelers. Oh, there are several labor groups (particularly at Northwest) who have some choice words for this ill-fated match. Yep, it’s a marriage, of sorts. Made somewhere far south of here.

Fly from Chitina to McCarthy when you visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Wrangell Mountain Air offers scheduled service each day. 

American Airlines continues to cancel hundreds of flights each day, effectively stranding tens of thousands of travelers. Because the cancellations involve safety inspections, there is no easy way around this mess–just be sure and check to make sure you’re not flying on any American Airlines flights. IMPORTANT: Some of your Alaska Airlines flights are operated by American Airlines because of “code-share” agreements. You have to go over your itinerary carefully to make sure no American segments are included. If they are–call Alaska Airlines to reschedule. MORE IMPORTANT: Oh, don’t bother calling American Airlines. They are not answering their phones. If you do happen to get through, you’re likely to get bad information from well-meaning people who simply don’t have the up-to-date bad news. Read William Allen’s take on the “AA-holes”. Let us pray.

Got a nice note from the folks at Condor reminding us that they offer nonstop service from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Frankfurt, Germany. We flew Condor last year–they do a great job. You’ll save a full day in either direction between Alaska and Europe–as opposed to traveling via the Lower 48. 

Here’s a brief rundown of their flight dates this summer:

Anchorage-Frankfurt: Tuesdays May 6-Oct. 7 . The return flight from Frankfurt stops in Whitehorse en route to ANC.

Anchorage-Frankfurt: Saturdays May 24-Sept. 27.  Nonstop in both directions.

Anchorage-Frankfurt: Sundays Jun. 1-Sept. 7.  Nonstop in both directions.

Fairbanks-Frankfurt: Thursdays May 22-Oct. 2. The return flight from Frankfurt stops in Whitehorse en route to FAI.

Here’s a big Condor 767 on the ground in Whitehorse. We flew with them to Frankfurt last year.