Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Help with seat selection from Gustavus

There are five of us flying back from Gustavus after taking the Alaska Marine Highway up to that point (and spending a few days at Glacier Bay National Park). We are flying back on AS and would appreciate any recomendations as to which side of the plane to sit on flying from Gustavus to Juneau then from Gustavus to Seattle. Which window (A/left side facing forward or F/right side facing forward)? This will be our first trip to Alaska.

Thanks so much.

Robin

There are five of us flying back from Gustavus after taking the Alaska Marine Highway up to that point (and spending a few days at Glacier Bay National Park). We are flying back on AS and would appreciate any recomendations as to which side of the plane to sit on flying from Gustavus to Juneau then from Gustavus to Seattle. Which window (A/left side facing forward or F/right side facing forward)? This will be our first trip to Alaska.

Thanks so much.

Robin


In my opinion, the "A side" is more scenic provided that the weather cooperates. Last time we flew to Gustavus, had to do a "go around" due to low clouds.

Typically, AS 77 departs GST from runway 28 going south, makes a left turn shortly after takeoff, and if you are on the A side, would get a great view of Excursion Ridge, Excursion Inlet, the Chilkats, Lynn Canal, and Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

Occasionally though the flight will leave going north on runway 10, and the F side will get a great view of the Beartrack range and Glacier Bay.

Usually though the loads are pretty light, and I will confess to sliding across the cabin shortly after takeoff to get a better view out of the other side.

Usually though the loads are pretty light, and I will confess to sliding across the cabin shortly after takeoff to get a better view out of the other side.

Seems like AS service to GST gets shorter and shorter every year. Maybe that explains why. Unfortunate, as Gustavus is a gem of a destination that most people don't know about.

To the OP, go for the left side but you can't go wrong either way.

General rule of thumb riding up the Panhandle:

Right side going north (DEF), left side going south (ABC). That way you have the land side to look at out your window.

The opposite is true on ANC-FAI. Reverse the order to get the best view of Denali.

GST is a funky little operation, too.

Extra TSA agents and AS baggage handlers fly in/out on each flight. And there is no (at least last summer) baggage screening machine for checked luggage so everything got a hand inspection.

Each arrival and departure in GST is met by a staged airport fire rescue truck which the state of Alaska contracts with City of Gustavus to operate for the summer months.

Agreed with the seating recommendations of the A side out of GST, also gives a nice view if flying the easterly arrival into Juneau past the ferry dock and such.

When QX gets going up here I would expect that GST will be served by something other than a 737.

... Gustavus is a gem of a destination that most people don't know about...

Gustavus for the Restofus!