Booking with Alaska Airlines

Joined
Aug 17, 2016
Messages
1,231
Location
Kansas
My hunt isn't until 2020 but out of curiosity I "test booked" a flight today since the season is 6months away.
It looks like flights were pretty well booked up already with a few flights still remaining but with different incoming and departure days.

How early do you guys usually book? From what I just saw, it looks like 6months is too late!
 
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
47
Location
Seattle, WA
I'd book as early as possible to secure the flights you want. Especially if it is an infrequent route (only one flight/day). I believe Alaska Airlines allows you to book 330 days in advance so mark your calendar to book flights for your 2020 hunt. If you are interested in booking your flight closer to the hunt I'd recommend calling the airline and they may be able to give you feedback for a specific route and how early they typically fill up.

I fly Alaska Airlines 15+ times a year for work and typically buy flights on short notice (less then three weeks out) for common routes with multiple flights per day but for a hunt I'd buy my ticket as early as possible.
 

mcseal2

WKR
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
2,733
Check out the AK airlines credit card to build miles too. I'm going to call them about switching our ranch to that card since it's the only mileage plan that works for all of us. They fly places my parents go on trips and fly the cargo I hope to bring home from my trips.
 
OP
Robinhood21
Joined
Aug 17, 2016
Messages
1,231
Location
Kansas
Check out the AK airlines credit card to build miles too. I'm going to call them about switching our ranch to that card since it's the only mileage plan that works for all of us. They fly places my parents go on trips and fly the cargo I hope to bring home from my trips.

Just got one last month! I'm thinking by the time we book, Dad and I will have close to free flights...
 
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
47
Location
Seattle, WA
Check out the AK airlines credit card to build miles too. I'm going to call them about switching our ranch to that card since it's the only mileage plan that works for all of us. They fly places my parents go on trips and fly the cargo I hope to bring home from my trips.

Also and the $99 companion fare is a nice way to offset the annual fee on that card ($75/year as I recall).
 

cnelk

WKR
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
7,694
Location
Colorado
I just booked a round trip to ANC for my son last week and he will be traveling in April.
Cost $260 + 20,000 miles on my Alaska CC

You will find that traveling on a Wed/Thurs is the cheapest way
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2017
Messages
1,640
Location
AK
Where are you flying to? I fly AK air several times a month within AK and usually book less than a week in advance. Other than anywhere around Bristol Bay from june to august, I've never had a problem getting somewhere.
 

Maverick940

Banned
Joined
Apr 2, 2016
Messages
315
Alaska Airlines has a plethora of daily flights going in and out of Anchorage. I usually wait till the last minute to book my flights on Alaska Airlines, because the rates drop like rocks in the last 24-72 hours, as the airline is trying to dump open seats. It's not uncommon for me to find roundtrip flights in the last minute for as cheap as $450-$650 from the East Coast. That's round trip.
 
OP
Robinhood21
Joined
Aug 17, 2016
Messages
1,231
Location
Kansas
Alaska Airlines has a plethora of daily flights going in and out of Anchorage. I usually wait till the last minute to book my flights on Alaska Airlines, because the rates drop like rocks in the last 24-72 hours, as the airline is trying to dump open seats. It's not uncommon for me to find roundtrip flights in the last minute for as cheap as $450-$650 from the East Coast. That's round trip.

I don’t think it’s Anchorage that I should worry about, it’s from Anchorage to the small town in SE Alaska


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Maverick940

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Apr 2, 2016
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I don’t think it’s Anchorage that I should worry about, it’s from Anchorage to the small town in SE Alaska


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I wouldn't worry about that so much either. Alaska Airlines serves The Panhandle multiples times each day.
 

Thess87

WKR
Joined
Jun 28, 2017
Messages
527
Location
Kansas
My wife booked ours today into anchorage didn’t seem to have any trouble. But yeah I would hate to risk much closer to time.
 
Joined
Jul 20, 2016
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1,607
Booked mine today for August Caribou Hunt to Anchorage from KC. Alaska Air miles is the way to go!


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Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Messages
332
Location
WY
We book flights from December to February (watching prices daily) for a fishing trip the following August.

ClearCreek
 
Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
910
I booked my flights to Kodiak 10 months in advance. I started watching flights the day they became available (330 days out). I checked every day. The points stayed high for the first 30 days and then they dropped in half right at the 10 month mark. Went from 25K points one way to 12.5k one way. Booked round trip tickets to Kodiak from lower 48 at no cost and I still have miles left over!!

When I booked my flights to Alaska last year for vacation, I booked 3 months in advance. I watched flights for about 1 month. The prices stayed around $850 for round trip and then all of sudden, dropped to $550 round trip about 90 days out.
 
OP
Robinhood21
Joined
Aug 17, 2016
Messages
1,231
Location
Kansas
I booked my flights to Kodiak 10 months in advance. I started watching flights the day they became available (330 days out). I checked every day. The points stayed high for the first 30 days and then they dropped in half right at the 10 month mark. Went from 25K points one way to 12.5k one way. Booked round trip tickets to Kodiak from lower 48 at no cost and I still have miles left over!!

Good stuff, thanks a bunch!



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