US Airways Dividend Miles - Terrible flight time out of ANC

Have to go to ANC for work and the only departing leaves at 1:42 AM. Yuck! This must be new b/c I flew US last time I went to ANC, and I'm sure I didn't leave in the middle of the night. I guess I can go on UA, but then I don't have an opportunity for a preferred upgrade (not that I get it much as lowly silver, but it's nice to dream).

I guess I don't have a question, just kind of frustrated at the time.

Many flights out of ANC (across all carriers) leave in the middle of the night. That way pax can make connections in SEA, PHX, etc and still get the east coast at a half way decent time.

Yeah, but I feel like I've always had options before. I've flown DL, departing early evening, and last time I flew US and left in the AM, but not in the middle of the night. Actually, doesn't look like the times on UA are much better...

Have to go to ANC for work and the only departing leaves at 1:42 AM. Yuck! This must be new b/c I flew US last time I went to ANC, and I'm sure I didn't leave in the middle of the night. I guess I can go on UA, but then I don't have an opportunity for a preferred upgrade (not that I get it much as lowly silver, but it's nice to dream).

I guess I don't have a question, just kind of frustrated at the time.

Unless you're flying to SEA, the vast majority of flights from ANC leave in the middle of the night like that. You're taking a redeye to PHX, nothing more.

What route are you going to fly on UA to avoid a similar redeye? ANC-IAH is a redeye, ANC-DEN is a redeye, ANC-ORD is a redeye...it looks like ANC-SFO arrives in SFO around 8pm, but unless you live on the West Coast, then you're going to be on a redeye from SFO to get home from there as well!

Just the way the geography plays into things at ANC...

What route are you going to fly on UA to avoid a similar redeye?

See my comment above about UA. I looked at UA earlier and thought the times were better. Just looked again and realized they were very similar. There is one that leaves early evening, but it's a much longer ride home.

I realize that I will have a red-eye. Just wish I didn't have to sit in the airport at 1:30AM waiting to board. Much rather leave at 10:00 or 11:00pm and call it a night. That's all.

Fly AS to SEA...
They definitely should have a departure time that suits you... ;o)

It's driven by the arrival times at the destination. If you left at 10pm, as desired, you would land in PHX at 4:26a. I doubt much is operating at that hour.

See my comment above about UA. I looked at UA earlier and thought the times were better. Just looked again and realized they were very similar. There is one that leaves early evening, but it's a much longer ride home.

I realize that I will have a red-eye. Just wish I didn't have to sit in the airport at 1:30AM waiting to board. Much rather leave at 10:00 or 11:00pm and call it a night. That's all.

The good news is that you can still get some decent food and drink at ANC at a late hour. I took the US flight to PHX last year, and had a nice salmon sandwich and a couple local brews at around 12:30am in a restaurant close to the US gate...made sleeping through that flight real easy :)

The good news is that you can still get some decent food and drink at ANC at a late hour. ...

Amen. Humpy's by the gate for ale and halibut is wonderful :)

I was on ANC-PHX yesterday, returning from the Nome FT DO

The PHX-ANC flight arrives around 12:30am and heads back to PHX an hour plus later.

I was on ANC-PHX yesterday, returning from the Nome FT DO

How'd you like the bustling metropolis of Nome?

Jim

How'd you like the bustling metropolis of Nome?


Nome was everything I expected, and more :). Frontier town - yes, but the warmth of the locals amazed me (and so did local grocery prices!). Alaska Air was comfortable in coach too.

Getting to Anchorage on US, I'd have preferred the short-lived seasonal PHL-ANC nonstop, but content that US still goes there from PHX - heck, all my upgrades cleared.

I'm envious if you're up in Alaska fishing right now!

I realize that I will have a red-eye. Just wish I didn't have to sit in the airport at 1:30AM waiting to board. Much rather leave at 10:00 or 11:00pm and call it a night. That's all.

Scientifically, astronomical midnight (the sun drops to the lowest point, which these days is 5 degrees below the northern horizon, which means civil twilight) at ANC is around 2 AM AKDT, so 1:30 AM is still the first half of the night.

The good news is that you can still get some decent food and drink at ANC at a late hour. I took the US flight to PHX last year, and had a nice salmon sandwich and a couple local brews at around 12:30am in a restaurant close to the US gate...made sleeping through that flight real easy :)

Oh, you know, I DO remember being at ANC at a crazy hour last time I flew US… I don’t remember what time it was, but I do remember being surprised that I was able to get food at that hour. Lol. :)

OK, it surprises newer travelers to Alaska. However, the goal of the airlines is to MAXIMIZE connecting traffic. US has defined flight banks in PHX. The ANC flight will, by definition, fit into one of those defined flight banks.