Just as the ink is drying on this year’s Permanent Fund dividend checks, Alaska Airlines announced its PFD airfare sale.
Things have changed since PFD sales first were introduced by Neil Bergt and MarkAir back in the 1980s. Back then, travelers had to prove they received a PFD check. Usually, a bank statement would suffice, or a photocopy of the actual check.
In return, MarkAir would issue four tickets anywhere they flew — even to Newark. One year, right before the airline went bankrupt, they were trading five tickets in exchange for one check.
This year’s deal is not your grandfather’s PFD sale. But there are some good deals.
Keep in mind that travelers in Anchorage are super-spoiled because we enjoy extraordinary air service. Summertime service for tourists is abundant, but even in the winter, there are four interstate jet carriers (Alaska, Delta, American and United). We get airfare sales all the time.
That’s not the case for the other jet destinations around the state. Places like Utqiagvik, Kotzebue, Kodiak and Cordova have one airline: Alaska Airlines.
So if you’re traveling between now and May 14, 2025, get out your calendar and start checking prices.
The best prices this year are from Anchorage and Fairbanks. But I checked a couple of deals from rural destinations: Kodiak to Portland for $249 one-way or Bethel-Palm Springs for $249 one-way. Plan on spending an additional $40 each way to get Main Cabin tickets to accommodate pre-assigned seats, full mileage credit and a chance in the upgrade lottery if you’re hoping for a better seat.
Alaska residents can get two free checked bags traveling to or from Alaska by signing up for Alaska Air’s Club 49 plan. It’s free. If you’re flying just within Alaska, you get three checked bags at no additional charge. No sign-up is required.
My favorite deals for this season include Anchorage-Seattle for $129 one-way on either Alaska Airlines or Delta. But your Basic Economy or Saver ticket is just the beginning.
To calculate the true cost of your journey, you need to be able to pick the extras you want and swat away the economic termites that creep into your e-shopping cart at every turn.
For example, while both Alaska and Delta charge $129 one-way to Seattle for travel starting in mid-October, there are some differences.
First, Delta charges a $30 upcharge each way to get a Main Cabin ticket, accommodating mileage credit and a pre-assigned seat. If you’re a SkyMiles member, you can check two bags at no additional charge. Sure, they copied Alaska’s Club 49 idea, but that’s OK with me.
Alaska charges $35 each way as an upcharge to the Main Cabin. These extra fees are not to be confused with an actual upgrade, since the seats with Saver and with Main are the same.
Do you want a seat with extra legroom to Seattle? Alaska charges an extra $36, for a total of $200 one-way. Delta charges $184 one-way for its Comfort+ seats with extra legroom.
Even in the cabin, things are different between Alaska and Delta. Delta features seat-back TVs. You have to bring your own device with Alaska Airlines. Delta provides free internet access for SkyMiles members. Alaska still charges $8 per flight if you want to surf in the sky. That said, Alaska’s subsidiary, Hawaiian Airlines, offers fast, free Starlink internet access on its planes.
Alaska Air also is offering $129 one-way tickets on its nonstop flights to Portland from Anchorage. Travelers who want the cheapest tickets must travel between mid-October and May 14. The PFD deals are blacked out for Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays typically are a little cheaper, although these days vary for flights to Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska’s flights to Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the Bahamas.
The other standout deal is Alaska’s nonstop to Los Angeles: $139 one-way. There are just a few days each month when that price is available. Most other days it costs $149 one-way. Again, that’s in Saver. Alaska charges an extra $45 for a Main Cabin seat, for a total of $184. Compare that with Delta, which charges a little more for Basic Economy: $149 one-way. But it’s just a $30 upcharge from Basic Economy to main, or $179 one-way. With Delta, you have to change planes in Seattle.
Other destinations in California are priced from from $169 one-way: San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento and Palm Springs. On some days, the cheapest flights are on United or American.
Smaller cities in the Pacific Northwest also are included in the PFD sale: Wenatchee, Yakima, Spokane, Walla Walla, Eugene, Medford, Boise and Redmond. Prices for Basic Economy start at $149-$159 one-way on the cheapest dates.
Alaska Air cities in the Intermountain Region range between $159-$179 one-way (Saver): Reno, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Salt Lake, Denver and Albuquerque. Most days also have flights with American, United and Delta. Cities in Texas are priced starting at $179 one-way: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso.
Anytime an airline puts a lot of cities on sale, competing carriers often throw in some specials of their own, in addition to immediately matching fares on competing. routes.
For example, Delta is offering flights to Panama City, Florida for $153 one-way. Travel between Oct. 28 and Dec. 7. The upcharge to Main is $30 one-way.
Delta also has a great deal from Anchorage to Miami for $169 one-way for travel between Oct. 28 and Dec. 9. Add an extra $30 to get a pre-assigned seat and mileage credit.
Chicago is the cheapest gateway in the Midwest. United has basic economy seats for $159 one-way, starting October 18 on the nonstop. Add $40 each way to get a pre-assigned seat. Also, budget $40 if you want to check a bag on United. Alaska charges a little more, $179, plus an additional $50 to get a main cabin seat, a total of $229 one-way.
Other Midwest cities are priced from $199 one-way for Saver seats: Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Prices didn’t budge much on East Coast cities. Those prices go up and down regularly, though.
All eyes are still on Hawaii to see what changes this new regime will offer, now that the airline is owned by Alaska Airlines. Earlier this week, Alaska flipped the switch so now Hawaiian Airlines miles can be exchanged evenly for Alaska miles, 1:1. Travelers keep asking questions about using Hawaiian’s wide-body planes to fly from here to Asia.
Alaska’s CEO, Ben Minicucci, was visiting Anchorage with his team last week. He didn’t exactly throw cold water on the idea. But Andrew Harrison, the airline’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, was clear: “It might happen, but there’s one city that will get those flights first: Seattle.”