Fishing in Alaska via Alaska Airlines First Class
Jul 27, 2016, 9:23 pm
#46
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Thanks very much Loose Cannon and offerendum.
Thank you wrp96. LOL, hard to take a pic and reel in a 70 pounder, the biggest on one of the day.
Indeed, we were in bed early to at least have a chance on being awake at 4am.
Thanks nemme99. Our host Bob cut, vacuum packed and froze the fish. The FedEx'd it to us a couple days after we got home.
Thank you Martina70. LOL, yeah she was not too happy about the porta potty. But when nature calls and you're out of good options... 
We have 40 lbs of halibut in the freezer so I don't think we need any more right now. 
Not sure about the flash freeze part, but the fish was cut into meal-for-2 size packs and rock hard frozen when it arrived at our place.
Thanks very much MAH4546. What a great summer routine. Enjoy your visit. Hope the weather is as good for you as we had it.
Thank you Bretteee. You won't be disappointed if you decide to go.
LOL. Thanks CHOPCHOP767. We really enjoyed the spectacular scenery outside of Anchorage.
Thank you wrp96. LOL, hard to take a pic and reel in a 70 pounder, the biggest on one of the day.
Great report..I can't believe I saw a picture of Mrs. SFO using a porta potty ..I wonder if that pic will make it into the Christmas newsletter 
Nice catch on the halibut..my favorite fish. Given that you are near by, it might interest you to know that apparently you can catch halibut of the San Clemente pier and you don't need a license for it.
Nice catch on the halibut..my favorite fish. Given that you are near by, it might interest you to know that apparently you can catch halibut of the San Clemente pier and you don't need a license for it.
We have 40 lbs of halibut in the freezer so I don't think we need any more right now. Not sure about the flash freeze part, but the fish was cut into meal-for-2 size packs and rock hard frozen when it arrived at our place.
Thank you Bretteee. You won't be disappointed if you decide to go.
LOL. Thanks CHOPCHOP767. We really enjoyed the spectacular scenery outside of Anchorage.
Jul 28, 2016, 1:39 am
#47
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Iver
Programs: BA GOLD/OWE BA Amex Prem Plus Tesco Airmiles Qantas Bronze IHG SPG Eithad
Posts: 2,902
Oh those fishing trips looked really good, and so glad you all managed to catch some fish, those halibut looked really good, and I bet very tasty, love halibut. Also glad the salmon came in willingly for you all, there were times whilst cooking those fish I wish I had been around to help out, fish is almost my stable diet.^
^
Jul 28, 2016, 4:03 am
#48
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Dorset, United Kingdom. Frequently at higher altitudes.
Programs: BAEC Gold and a few others
Posts: 103
Thank you SFO777!
Fantastic scenery, MrsJones is very keen to visit Alaska, and this report might just tip her over the edge! Also full marks to Mrs SFO777 for keeping it stylish and fishing in a Moncler coat!
The photos from your scenic flights were very striking, and really hit a chord as I haven't been there since climbing Denali in 2003. In case you were wondering, this is what the top looks like!
Great report.
Fantastic scenery, MrsJones is very keen to visit Alaska, and this report might just tip her over the edge! Also full marks to Mrs SFO777 for keeping it stylish and fishing in a Moncler coat!
The photos from your scenic flights were very striking, and really hit a chord as I haven't been there since climbing Denali in 2003. In case you were wondering, this is what the top looks like!
Great report.
Jul 28, 2016, 8:12 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL, UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,795
Yet another wonderful SFO777 trip report!
And it certainly brought back fond memories for yours truly: from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's, I worked for Era Aviation, a fixed wing and helicopter operator that was based in Anchorage back then. Era also operated scheduled pax service with turboprop equipment on behalf of Alaska Airlines via a code sharing arrangement.
I was actually living on the central coast of California near San Luis Obispo at the time but commuted to Alaska on a regular basis. This was back when AS was operating the B727-200 featuring truly delicious meals in the front cabin not to mention proper legroom in F. I was able to visit many different areas of Alaska on business over the years besides Anchorage including Cordova, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Juneau, Fairbanks, Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. And there was always time for fun such as fishing for halibut and salmon, hiking in the wilderness and also landing on glaciers in a helicopter.
I also think we may have had an FT first here, folks: Mr. and Mrs. SFO777 at a McDonalds!
And it certainly brought back fond memories for yours truly: from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's, I worked for Era Aviation, a fixed wing and helicopter operator that was based in Anchorage back then. Era also operated scheduled pax service with turboprop equipment on behalf of Alaska Airlines via a code sharing arrangement.
I was actually living on the central coast of California near San Luis Obispo at the time but commuted to Alaska on a regular basis. This was back when AS was operating the B727-200 featuring truly delicious meals in the front cabin not to mention proper legroom in F. I was able to visit many different areas of Alaska on business over the years besides Anchorage including Cordova, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Juneau, Fairbanks, Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. And there was always time for fun such as fishing for halibut and salmon, hiking in the wilderness and also landing on glaciers in a helicopter.
I also think we may have had an FT first here, folks: Mr. and Mrs. SFO777 at a McDonalds!
Jul 29, 2016, 8:59 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,787
Amazing report!!!
But what happened to the 9 salmons and 6 halibuts you had caught? You couldn't have eaten them all on the trip. Do they smoke and deliver the fish to your home, or is your catch still being served in local restaurants?
But what happened to the 9 salmons and 6 halibuts you had caught? You couldn't have eaten them all on the trip. Do they smoke and deliver the fish to your home, or is your catch still being served in local restaurants?
Jul 30, 2016, 3:03 pm
#51
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
Another great SFO777 report. Thanks as always for taking the time to share
While the AS F pitch and food are rough, I felt since no one else spoke up to your comment about the booze that I'd point out that it comes from a local Seattle boutique distillery which is an outgrowth of a good cocktail bar (I went there a number of times when I lived a few blocks away...)
AS at least used to also serve soda and other drinks from local SEA companies as well. despite it probably being cheaper for them to use national brands. So ^ for that.
Side note: The worst AS catering I ever saw was about 10 years ago on a SEA-LAX flight.... The FA showed me the crew meal loaded for the FAs, which was -- I kid you not -- literally just an uncooked potato. As if it weren't pathetic in every way, the airplane ovens weren't powerful enough to cook them in the just over 2 hours of flight time.
While the AS F pitch and food are rough, I felt since no one else spoke up to your comment about the booze that I'd point out that it comes from a local Seattle boutique distillery which is an outgrowth of a good cocktail bar (I went there a number of times when I lived a few blocks away...)
AS at least used to also serve soda and other drinks from local SEA companies as well. despite it probably being cheaper for them to use national brands. So ^ for that.
Side note: The worst AS catering I ever saw was about 10 years ago on a SEA-LAX flight.... The FA showed me the crew meal loaded for the FAs, which was -- I kid you not -- literally just an uncooked potato. As if it weren't pathetic in every way, the airplane ovens weren't powerful enough to cook them in the just over 2 hours of flight time.
Jul 30, 2016, 5:16 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
Beautiful scenery with the flights and wonderful fish. ^
It makes you wonder how the eccentric catering on Alaska reflects the culture of it's homeland state, it at all. MrsWT73 doesn't enjoy the Alaska catering either since we use them from Bellingham, Washington.
It makes you wonder how the eccentric catering on Alaska reflects the culture of it's homeland state, it at all. MrsWT73 doesn't enjoy the Alaska catering either since we use them from Bellingham, Washington.
Jul 31, 2016, 10:51 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,598
Heading home...
OMG, what a treat to not have to get up at 4am! With 1:50p and 2:25p flights, we left our cabin at just before 9am.
After check-in, we headed for the Alaska Board Room.
A nice selection of Alaska beers.
Great plane spotting with lots of 747 cargo planes stopping at ANC for refueling.
Anchorage-LAX
AS 142
737-900
2:25p-8:45p
July 17, 2016
Seats 2AC
The good news is that this 5+ hour flight has enhanced service compared to shorter SEA-ANC inbound flight... for what it's worth.
Pleasant FA Chad although dinner service took a painfully slow two hours.
Menu sighting, although in an apparent ridiculous cost saving move, only one menu was handed out per two seats.
With no IFE, Alaska hands out digi-players, $10 in Economy, free in First.
Arugula salad with grilled pear salad was OK although Mrs. SFO777 was not impressed and only took a few bites.
Choice of chicken or cod. Cod? Really? I guess that halibut and salmon were too expensive for AS' catering budget. We both went with the chicken unaware that chicken was nearly entirely chicken thighs. There was so little breast meat that one breast was more than enough for for the entire cabin. Strange institutional taste to the chicken. The creamed spinach was mostly thin cream. And Mrs. SFO777 insisted that the tasteless mashed potatoes were powdered.
Dessert? Wow, AS went all out. A single bite cupcake and a single strawberry. The mini-cupcake was excellent but seriously?? Yo, Alaska, one tiny bite is not dessert.
Then there was the annoying constant parade of Y pax to the F lavatory despite a useless announcement about "F lavs for F pax only". On time arrival was the best part of the flight as Mrs. SFO777 provided her usual unfiltered opinion... " What a piece of **** airline with crap food" and "I never want to fly this airline again. Ever." Yikes.
Two days after we got home, our 80 lbs shipment of halibut and salmon arrived!!
Mrs. SFO777 served the amazing halibut the first night.
And delicious salmon cakes the next.
Looks like we'll be having lots of halibut and salmon this year! Thanks for following along on this report.
For an HD version of this report, please visit SFO777.com.
OMG, what a treat to not have to get up at 4am! With 1:50p and 2:25p flights, we left our cabin at just before 9am.
After check-in, we headed for the Alaska Board Room.
A nice selection of Alaska beers.
Great plane spotting with lots of 747 cargo planes stopping at ANC for refueling.
Anchorage-LAX
AS 142
737-900
2:25p-8:45p
July 17, 2016
Seats 2AC
The good news is that this 5+ hour flight has enhanced service compared to shorter SEA-ANC inbound flight... for what it's worth.
Pleasant FA Chad although dinner service took a painfully slow two hours.
Menu sighting, although in an apparent ridiculous cost saving move, only one menu was handed out per two seats.
With no IFE, Alaska hands out digi-players, $10 in Economy, free in First.
Arugula salad with grilled pear salad was OK although Mrs. SFO777 was not impressed and only took a few bites.
Choice of chicken or cod. Cod? Really? I guess that halibut and salmon were too expensive for AS' catering budget. We both went with the chicken unaware that chicken was nearly entirely chicken thighs. There was so little breast meat that one breast was more than enough for for the entire cabin. Strange institutional taste to the chicken. The creamed spinach was mostly thin cream. And Mrs. SFO777 insisted that the tasteless mashed potatoes were powdered.
Dessert? Wow, AS went all out. A single bite cupcake and a single strawberry. The mini-cupcake was excellent but seriously?? Yo, Alaska, one tiny bite is not dessert.
Then there was the annoying constant parade of Y pax to the F lavatory despite a useless announcement about "F lavs for F pax only". On time arrival was the best part of the flight as Mrs. SFO777 provided her usual unfiltered opinion... " What a piece of **** airline with crap food" and "I never want to fly this airline again. Ever." Yikes.
Two days after we got home, our 80 lbs shipment of halibut and salmon arrived!!
Mrs. SFO777 served the amazing halibut the first night.
And delicious salmon cakes the next.
Looks like we'll be having lots of halibut and salmon this year!
Thanks for following along on this report.For an HD version of this report, please visit SFO777.com.
Jul 31, 2016, 11:05 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,598
Oh those fishing trips looked really good, and so glad you all managed to catch some fish, those halibut looked really good, and I bet very tasty, love halibut. Also glad the salmon came in willingly for you all, there were times whilst cooking those fish I wish I had been around to help out, fish is almost my stable diet.^
^
Thank you SFO777!
Fantastic scenery, MrsJones is very keen to visit Alaska, and this report might just tip her over the edge! Also full marks to Mrs SFO777 for keeping it stylish and fishing in a Moncler coat!
The photos from your scenic flights were very striking, and really hit a chord as I haven't been there since climbing Denali in 2003. In case you were wondering, this is what the top looks like!
Fantastic scenery, MrsJones is very keen to visit Alaska, and this report might just tip her over the edge! Also full marks to Mrs SFO777 for keeping it stylish and fishing in a Moncler coat!
The photos from your scenic flights were very striking, and really hit a chord as I haven't been there since climbing Denali in 2003. In case you were wondering, this is what the top looks like!
Wow, what a great view from the top of Denali. I think our view was a little warmer though.
Yet another wonderful SFO777 trip report!
And it certainly brought back fond memories for yours truly: from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's, I worked for Era Aviation, a fixed wing and helicopter operator that was based in Anchorage back then. Era also operated scheduled pax service with turboprop equipment on behalf of Alaska Airlines via a code sharing arrangement.
I was actually living on the central coast of California near San Luis Obispo at the time but commuted to Alaska on a regular basis. This was back when AS was operating the B727-200 featuring truly delicious meals in the front cabin not to mention proper legroom in F. I was able to visit many different areas of Alaska on business over the years besides Anchorage including Cordova, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Juneau, Fairbanks, Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. And there was always time for fun such as fishing for halibut and salmon, hiking in the wilderness and also landing on glaciers in a helicopter.
I also think we may have had an FT first here, folks: Mr. and Mrs. SFO777 at a McDonalds!
And it certainly brought back fond memories for yours truly: from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's, I worked for Era Aviation, a fixed wing and helicopter operator that was based in Anchorage back then. Era also operated scheduled pax service with turboprop equipment on behalf of Alaska Airlines via a code sharing arrangement.
I was actually living on the central coast of California near San Luis Obispo at the time but commuted to Alaska on a regular basis. This was back when AS was operating the B727-200 featuring truly delicious meals in the front cabin not to mention proper legroom in F. I was able to visit many different areas of Alaska on business over the years besides Anchorage including Cordova, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Juneau, Fairbanks, Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. And there was always time for fun such as fishing for halibut and salmon, hiking in the wilderness and also landing on glaciers in a helicopter.
I also think we may have had an FT first here, folks: Mr. and Mrs. SFO777 at a McDonalds!
Another great SFO777 report. Thanks as always for taking the time to share
While the AS F pitch and food are rough, I felt since no one else spoke up to your comment about the booze that I'd point out that it comes from a local Seattle boutique distillery which is an outgrowth of a good cocktail bar (I went there a number of times when I lived a few blocks away...)
AS at least used to also serve soda and other drinks from local SEA companies as well. despite it probably being cheaper for them to use national brands. So ^ for that.
Side note: The worst AS catering I ever saw was about 10 years ago on a SEA-LAX flight.... The FA showed me the crew meal loaded for the FAs, which was -- I kid you not -- literally just an uncooked potato. As if it weren't pathetic in every way, the airplane ovens weren't powerful enough to cook them in the just over 2 hours of flight time.
While the AS F pitch and food are rough, I felt since no one else spoke up to your comment about the booze that I'd point out that it comes from a local Seattle boutique distillery which is an outgrowth of a good cocktail bar (I went there a number of times when I lived a few blocks away...)
AS at least used to also serve soda and other drinks from local SEA companies as well. despite it probably being cheaper for them to use national brands. So ^ for that.
Side note: The worst AS catering I ever saw was about 10 years ago on a SEA-LAX flight.... The FA showed me the crew meal loaded for the FAs, which was -- I kid you not -- literally just an uncooked potato. As if it weren't pathetic in every way, the airplane ovens weren't powerful enough to cook them in the just over 2 hours of flight time.
Thanks Tracer_SEA and for your comments. I'd never heard of that brand of gin and it makes perfect sense to feature local suppliers. It was actually pretty good, as were the Alaskan beers we enjoyed along the trip.
Beautiful scenery with the flights and wonderful fish. ^ It makes you wonder how the eccentric catering on Alaska reflects the culture of it's homeland state, it at all. MrsWT73 doesn't enjoy the Alaska catering either since we use them from Bellingham, Washington.
Aug 1, 2016, 6:58 pm
#57
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: St. Paul, MN
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, IHG Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 448
Great end to your trip to Alaska! I've really enjoyed following along with your travels. I would love to visit Alaska sometime.
AS F looks okay on the way home, but that desert is incredibly small ... Wow!
Thanks for sharing!
AS F looks okay on the way home, but that desert is incredibly small ... Wow!
Thanks for sharing!
Aug 1, 2016, 7:45 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
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Posts: 12,809
Very much enjoyed this report SFO777. Haven't flown AS in a long time and it doesn't look as though I'll be planning to anytime soon either. Jealous of that stash of fresh fish you returned home. Nothing like some wild caught Alaskan Salmon!
Aug 2, 2016, 7:10 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Very nice TR ... and a bit more adventurous than our recent trip to ANC [TR in my signature].
But you have persuaded me never to bother flying AS
But you have persuaded me never to bother flying AS
