Airfares

Awhile back, I gave up trying to explain to travelers why travel agents make a difference. At a certain point, either you “get it” or you don’t.

Case and point: I was chatting with some travelers earlier this week. One young man was looking for a cheap ticket to Seattle (who isn’t?). They had tried all the websites–and they asked me which ones I used.

I was noncommittal. Not because I don’t use all the websites they mentioned (Orbitz.com, Cheaptickets.com, Kayak.com, alaskaair.com). Rather, because those websites cannot give me the information I need to make the informed choice.

As it turned out, I got this fellow a ticket to San Francisco, with a free stop in Seattle (for two months). That little Judo chop saved him $100 off the ridiculous $388 one-way air fare to Seattle from Anchorage on Alaska Airlines.

There are tricks to every trade. And your travel professionals at USTravel work with this stuff day and night. They know their way around prices. Around service. They know when the cheapest fare isn’t always the best (think “Spirit” or “Ryanair“). Heck–they can tell you when you’re going to save money by booking a car or hotel at the same time.

Travel agents are worth the extra fee (typically $38 for a domestic ticket). Call Karen or Melinda in Anchorage at (907)561-2434 or (800)544-2217 toll-free. Or, check the all-new website for the office nearest you in Fairbanks, Kodiak, Juneau, Ketchikan, Dutch Harbor, Seattle, Prudhoe Bay–you know….anywhere!

In the meantime, let’s take a look at some great air fares:

Anchorage-San Francisco: $414 roundtrip, all-in
Anchorage-Portland: $399 roundtrip, all-in
Anchorage-Denver: $356 roundtrip, all-in
Anchorage-Chicago: $468 roundtrip, all-in
Anchorage-Washington, DC $444 roundtrip, all-in
Anchorage-New York (JFK): $478 roundtrip, all-in
Anchorage-Hartford, CT: $478 roundtrip, all-in
Anchorage-Frankfurt, Germany: $1,004 roundtrip, all-in
Fairbanks-Frankfurt, Germany: $1082 roundtrip, all-in
Fairbanks-Denver: $474 roundtrip, all-in

Follow USTravel on Facebook. Also on Twitter. Stay tuned for the coolest deals!

Is the fare good prices or the great cookies! HA! In this week’s travel segment on KTVA, we talk about how to “game” the system to Seattle and save a bundle. Plus, Era Alaska brings back free cookies in-flight!

Trim up to $200 off your trip between Anchorage and Seattle with our friends at USTravel. Note–you must purchase your ticket by June 18, 2010.

Speaking of USTravel, be sure and check out their new website. It’s sleek–and offers some good info on cruises, vacations, tours and more!!

The lowest available fare between Anchorage and Seattle is $576 roundtrip on Alaska or Continental. OVER-THE-TOP!!!!!! OKOK–Alaska does have a “web special” for $514rt. But what’s so “special” about that??

But if you route your trip through Denver, you can trim $170 off the cost of your ticket. Here’s how:
Fly from Anchorage to Denver, then connect to your flight back up to Seattle. Spend your time in Seattle, then fly home. I would choose Alaska, since I’m MVP and I have a better chance at an upgrade to “F”. But the professionals at USTravel can find you a seat on Alaska, United, Delta–whomever has the seats.
You can, of course, spend as long as you want in Denver. Total cost: $406 roundtrip, all-in. Oh, fyi, you’ll get 4,800 miles flying through Denver and Seattle.

You also can travel to Seattle via San Francisco and save a bundle. Fly down to the City by the Bay from Anchorage on Alaska Airlines. Connect and fly back up to Seattle (or stay as long as you wish). Then, come home nonstop from Seattle. Total cost: Just $436 roundtrip, all-in.

Finally, you can fly to Portland for $400 roundtrip, all in on Alaska or Continental. Then drive up to Seattle. Usually, it’s the other way around (fly to Seattle, drive to Portland).

The same strategy works for Fairbanks travel.

If you want to fly between Fairbanks and Seattle, the L-O-W-E-S-T fare is $657 (OMG!).
Route through Denver (Fairbanks-Denver-Seattle-Fairbanks) and the fare drops to $439 roundtrip, all in. Save $218.
Route through San Francisco (Fairbanks-S.F.-Seattle-Fairbanks) and the fare drops to $496, roundtrip, all in. Save $161.

If you’re traveling on your own, you might question all that extra “butt time” (unless you’re a mileage hound like me). But think about a family of four! That’s a $700-$800 savings.

USTravel really can save you a bundle–with little tricks like this. Pay attention–it can save you $$. With offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Prudhoe Bay and Seattle–USTravel is the state’s largest travel agency. They know what they’re doing!

TRIVIA: See the photo above? Which city? Send me a note and tell me! Winner gets a free copy of this year’s Great Alaskan TourSaver book, loaded with $26,000 in 2-for-1 deals.