Alaska TravelGram

You really cannot make this stuff up: charging $2 for water. OMG. I got a nice note from my friend Charlie McFadden. Charlie is a flight attendant for USAir and lives in Louisville, KY. She loves her job–commuting to the “hub” at PHL. Still, the whole “pay for services” strategy at USAir has her befuddled. [...]

  Thanks to reader Van in Anchorage for the heads-up on Delta Air Lines. If you’re traveling on a free ticket with Delta after Aug. 15, the carrier will add a $25 fuel surcharge. Sure, you paid for the tickets to get the freebie, including their fuel surcharges. But that’s not enough–they’re going to sock [...]

Clever, huh? I mean–two of us ate lunch. Get it? HA.  OKOK…Had to be there. We were there, actually, at the new Embassy Suites in midtown Anchorage–the new PI Restaurant. We did our best to conquer some of the signature dishes. Executive Chef Jeremy Fike brought out some Hawaiian Sliders to start. Whoo-boy. Alicia Amberg [...]

I love the whole nickel-and-dime strategy of some of the loser airlines. USAir’s plot to charge $2 for water is especially enticing. I wonder if they’ll provide a free cup so you can fill up at the sink in the bathroom? Otherwise–I guess you just use your hands?? E-e-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-w.  Our friends at SmarterTravel.com, AirfareWatchdog.com and [...]

  Have you noticed? Fares are going up. So are extra fees. We’ve been working all night and all day to put together a comprehensive list of the lowest fares. First–credit where credit is due. My consultant on this project is Giovanni Di Sarova over at USTravel. Call him: (907)561-2434 or (800)544-2217. We’ve been getting [...]

I got a nice note from Ellen in Anchorage asking about airlines. “Should I buy a ticket on a bankrupt airline–or pay more for another carrier?” It’s a good question. The stigma about airlines in bankruptcy is gone, since all but a couple have taken a twirl through the doors of the Federal Bankruptcy Court. [...]

Wow. I’ve been watching this hotel from the ground up–and the 169-room property now is open. Carol Chandler, the GM, gave me a tour this afternoon. Pretty fancy! The “standard” room is a two-room suite with leather-trimmed sofas and an oversized work area–plenty of space for your laptop, your notebook and your cell phone! Free [...]

  Jump on this great deal from Denali Park Resorts. Just go to their website and book a two-night stay. You’ll receive 50 percent off the rack rate, 50 percent off rafting on the Nenana River and a $100 VISA cash card. You can use the card for gas–or for anything else. It’s a great way [...]

It’s another glorious day in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. From Anchorage, it’s an eight-hour drive to McCarthy, gateway to the park. We took our Honda Pilot (see below). It has some extra clearance for the gravel road between Chitina and McCarthy. Take it slow on this portion of the road, since you’re driving on an [...]