Part of planning your Alaska vacation will, of course, include how you will travel to and from Alaska. While some visitors brave the Alaska Canada highway, most will fly at least one direction to or from Alaska. Not to fear, Alaska is closer than you think and most major airlines offer convenient service to our state. Anchorage, known as the air crossroads of the world due its strategic location between the United States, Europe and Asia, is also the primary airline hub within Alaska. In general, Anchorage offers the greatest selection of flights both within Alaska and lower 48 destinations. Some major airlines now do offer service to Fairbanks, which is about 50 minutes further north from Anchorage. While airlines and flight times are listed below, a favorite airline of both residents and visitors alike is Alaska Airlines. Although they have grown to include destinations across the US and Mexico, Alaska Airlines continues of offer great service, reasonable fares and convenient schedules both within Alaska to the lower 48 states.

Cruise to Alaska (or back home). Cruising to or from Alaska gets more popular every year. Be sure to check out the Alaska Cruise Finder for cruises between Vancouver, BC and Whittier or Seward Alaska with Princess Cruises or Holland America Line. Since these cruises are one-way you will likely fly the other direction, and the cruise lines often have special airfares they have arranged with the airlines to major US cities.

Airlines that fly to Alaska. Some of the airlines that fly to Alaska are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines. Below are estimated flight times to or from Anchorage.

Chicago – 6 hours, 30 minutes
Denver – 5 hours, 30 minutes
Las Vegas – 5 hours, 15 minutes
Los Angeles – 5 hours, 30 minutes
Miami – 8 hours, 45 minutes
Newark – 7 hours, 30 minutes
Phoenix – 5 hours, 45 minutes
Portland – 3 hours, 45 minutes
San Francisco – 4 hours, 30 minutes
Seattle – 3 hours, 15 minutes
Washington, DC – 7 hours, 30 minutes

Airlines that fly to cities within Alaska. Since so many Alaska communities are not connected to the road system small regional air carriers serve an important role in Alaska transportation. A few of these airlines are ERA Aviation, Frontier Flying Service and Penn Air. Below are estimated flight times to or from Anchorage.

Fairbanks – 1 hour
Homer – 45 minutes
Juneau – 1 hour, 30 minutes
Nome – 1 hour, 45 minutes
Valdez – 45 minutes

[graphic version Alaska airlines]