The word is out: I am easily excited when there are a lot of low fare options from which to choose.
Right now, you can pick up a great fare from Anchorage to New York (Newark or Kennedy airport) for $200 one-way. Sure, Alaska was the first airline to drop the fare as part of its PFD sale, but Delta and United piled on quickly. From Anchorage to L.A., it’s $150 one-way. To Seattle, it’s just $98 one-way on Alaska or Delta. Those PFD fares, by the way, must be purchased by Oct. 14.
But the pickings are good on almost every continent right now. You may have to be a little flexible to get the best rates. And there may be a few long layovers. Is it worth it? You decide.
Europe: Take advantage of low fares to Spain on Delta. Between Anchorage and Madrid, fares start at $493 round trip. You can travel between Nov. 10 and May 17, 2020. Prices are higher around Christmas, Thanksgiving and spring break. The flights use a combination of Delta and its partners KLM and AirFrance. For the best prices, book at KLM.com rather than Delta.
The same prices are available from Anchorage to Barcelona — about $493 round trip. Fares also are higher around the holidays. Again, the best rates are available by booking at KLM.com, even though your originating flights are on Delta.
Low fares from Anchorage to Paris, London, Frankfurt and Milan have been cropping up for a day or two, usually on either Delta or United.
Nonstop flights to Europe from Anchorage haven’t budged much. Between Anchorage and Frankfurt on Condor the lowest rate is about $940 round trip on May 17. Flights between Anchorage and Reykjavik, Iceland, on Icelandair start at $720 round trip on May 11.
Africa: Fly from Anchorage to Nairobi for $764 round trip on Delta and its partners AirFrance, KLM and Air Kenya. Fly between Nov. 10 and Dec. 12, or from Jan. 8 to March 25, 2020. Book at KLM.com to get the best price.
South America: Until this good fare came up, I’d never even heard of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It’s the largest city in Bolivia, though. And between Nov. 11 and Nov. 28, you can fly from Anchorage for $657 round trip. Search for the flights on Google.com/flights then click the link at the bottom of the search page to redirect you to the LATAM site. I could not find the fare by starting at LATAM’s home page; only by searching first at Google.
Note: You have to have a visa to visit Bolivia, which costs $160.
Australia: Take advantage of the low nonstop fares from Anchorage to Honolulu on Alaska Air (about $200 each way). Then, combine that with a flight on JetStar nonstop to Sydney. Prices are on the high side until Feb. 10, when they drop to $148 one-way. By March 3, 2020, the one-way fare drops to $128 one-way ($130 on the return flight). Book at Jetstar.com.
Travel from Honolulu to Melbourne, Australia, for $175 one-way ($130 on the return) on JetStar, starting on Feb. 10, 2020. Book at JetStar.com.
JetStar also has fares from Honolulu to Auckland, New Zealand, from $184 one-way, starting at Feb. 10.
Between Honolulu, Melbourne and Sydney, JetStar flies Boeing 787s nonstop. To Auckland, you connect in either Sydney or Melbourne.
Asia: I have my eye on a fare to Bangkok for $723 round trip with Delta and Korean Air. Fly down to Seattle, then fly to Seoul, then on to Bangkok. This fare includes two free checked bags. Travel between Oct. 28 and Dec. 3, then pick up after Christmas, between Jan. 14 and April 1. Book at Delta’s website.
The cheapest ticket out of the country is from Anchorage to Shanghai. Fly on Delta for as little as $448 round trip, starting Oct. 21 through Feb. 3, 2020.
Remember, these fares change like the wind. If you see one that you like, buy it. You’ve got a 24-hour grace period to figure out if it’s the right flight for you. The other important factor is what you get — or don’t get — with your ticket.
Alaska’s PFD fares and the matching fares on other airlines are all “basic economy.” Add $30 each way to upgrade to “main” for a chance at a better seat. Some of the international fares are “basic” too. But some include pre-reserved seats and a generous checked luggage allowance. You just have to dig into the fine print on each fare.
There’s a lot of attention on the inexpensive tickets to the Lower 48. But don’t miss these international deals — and make sure your passport is up to date.