Have seen them from the ground in Fairbanks - and read TRs of people having seen them from positions a lot more down south from the air.

To the OP - absolutely worth staying up for if there's a decent shot at a sighting.

Self and my 'make it warmer' wife made a trek from Sunny Singapore all the way up to Fairbanks, and even further north (Cold Foot) last year. -35C, feeling like -55 due to wind wasn't pleasant but every bit worth the effort.

Couldn't, then, gather the will to take off one of the layers of glove to get my camera out and click, but the mid-drive view that we got was perhaps the most surreal and magical natural spectacles that we've ever seen.