May is an exciting time for travelers in Alaska. Aside from the glorious onset of round-the-clock daylight, more airlines ramp up service to bring tourists to the state.
With that additional service comes more competition. And with more competition, airlines drop prices and enhance service to fill planes.
Let's take a look at what each airline brings to the table for Alaska travelers. Not all of the new services have bargain prices to match. The great deals often come and go quickly.
JetBlue
JetBlue has been offering the hottest deals to the Lower 48 from Anchorage for its May flights. From Anchorage to Seattle, the flights are available for as little as $78 each way, starting May 5. It's the same price point for flights to Portland, which start May 13. In fact, JetBlue is offering $78 flights from Anchorage on its nonstops to Long Beach, which also start on May 13. These super-low prices are only available in May — and are subject to prior sale. But it's a good example of the great rates now available for spring and summer travel.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines wins the prize for offering more flights from Anchorage to the Lower 48 (never mind all around the state). From Anchorage to Seattle in mid-June, Alaska Airlines will offer 17 nonstop flights each day, priced from $97 each way (remember, these fares change often). In early May, Alaska offers 12 flights each day.
Alaska flies all year between Anchorage and Portland. But the airline will offer three nonstops a day starting May 30. Alaska already has resumed its daily nonstop from Anchorage to Chicago. Other nonstops from Anchorage include Las Vegas and Honolulu.
Starting in early June, Alaska Air will offer two nonstops each day between Anchorage and Los Angeles/LAX, priced from $130 each way.
Beginning on Saturday, June 11, Alaska will inaugurate Anchorage-Spokane nonstop service. The flights just go once a week during the summertime for now.
Delta
Delta continues to offer expanded service to Anchorage and other Alaska destinations. The carrier flies to Seattle year-round from Fairbanks and Anchorage. Delta also offers year-round service to Minneapolis from Anchorage. During the summer, Delta flies nonstop to Salt Lake City and to Atlanta from Anchorage.
Delta's flights have helped keep fares down all winter long. Starting May 14, Delta will offer nonstop service from Anchorage to Portland four days a week. Prices start at $176 round-trip for travel in early June. Delta's fares from Anchorage to Seattle starts at $157 round-trip (for travel on May 18).
United Airlines
United Airlines is offering some sweet flights this year, including nonstops from Anchorage to San Francisco (starts June 9), Chicago and Denver. Right now the prices are more than competing airlines, but that can change. From Anchorage to Denver, for example, Delta offers a fare for $388 round-trip (via Seattle), while United charges $737 round-trip. United also is offering nonstop service from Anchorage to Newark, New Jersey, on Saturdays, starting July 2.
Starting June 9, United will resume its seasonal Anchorage-Houston nonstop. The first flights on June 9 are priced from $957 round-trip (remember -- the rates change all the time). Compare that with a fare of $483 round-trip on Delta (with stops in Seattle and Salt Lake).
Flights to Minneapolis usually are dominated by Delta. The airline offers year-round service from Anchorage. But this summer, Sun Country Air is offering some great deals: as low as $398 round-trip, starting May 21. Delta has matched the price on some dates. Sun Country is based in Minneapolis and flies nonstop using 737-800s.
American Airlines
After American Airlines bought US Airways, it continued US Airways' daily nonstop to Phoenix from Anchorage. This summer, American is adding a daily nonstop flight on June 2 to Los Angeles/LAX, prices as low as $260 round-trip. During the summer, American also flies nonstop to Dallas, starting on June 2. American charges $645 to fly nonstop, but you can get tickets on Delta for as little as $440 round-trip (with stops in Seattle and Los Angeles).
International flights
Do you want to fly to Russia? Yakutia Airlines will return in July with service from Anchorage to Petrapavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The flights operate Mondays between July 11 and Aug. 29. Fares are available for as little as $1,080 per person. There is a 30-day advance purchase and a 16-day minimum stay.
Icelandair's nonstop flights from Anchorage to Reykjavik start May 16 and are available for as low as $1,112 round-trip. Condor's nonstop flights from Anchorage to Frankfurt start May 17. You can fly on the first flight for as little as $921 round-trip (returning on May 23). Air Canada starts daily nonstop Anchorage-Vancouver service May 13, priced from $427 round-trip.
Departing from outside of Anchorage
Travelers in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Fairbanks continue to benefit from competition between Alaska and Delta. From Ketchikan or Juneau to Seattle, the fare is $250 round-trip. Delta's flights from Ketchikan and Sitka start May 20.
While the dates for seasonal service are set, the fares change quite a bit. Earlier this month, we had airfares to both Seattle and Portland (from Anchorage) for $30 on JetBlue. Those fares come and go very quickly. So do Alaska Airlines' Club 49 fares.
Coming up: I'm hosting an online webinar on the tools I use to find great airfares to and from Alaska. There are two dates to choose from: May 3 or May 4. I'll go over some specific websites, some of the filters I use and some of my favorite tricks. There's a $10 charge. Learn more at lorena.leadpages.co/airfarewebinar.
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. You can follow him on Twitter (@alaskatravelGRM) and alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.