The following day it was time to travel back to Anchorage. I had originally booked this flight with RAVN Alaska, but 3 weeks before my trip started I received an email from them notifying that service had been suspended. The fare was reimbursed very quickly, but that still left me to scramble for an alternative on short notice. Fortunately it was no problem to find space on one of Aleutian Airways’ flights that same day, and for less than what RAVN had charged.
After sleeping in and having leisurely breakfast I checked out and took the hotel’s shuttle to the airport at 9:30.
Check-in went smoothly, though we were advised that the incoming flight would be late due to strong headwinds. As there is no room for hand luggage in the cabin, I checked my carry-on. Baggage here in DUT is not handled on carts, but on a contraption that resembles the bucket of a wheel loader and is carried by a forklift. It was reassuring to see that my bag would not be left behind.
I spent the time having a look at some of the photographs on the wall in the holding pen and watching the traffic outside on the ramp. Aside from the ships, lots of cargo is flown in every day.
Eventually Aleutian’s inbound flight from ANC arrived as well. The cheat line reminds me somewhat of British Caledonian and the tail logo resembles Air France’s from back in the ‘60s.
Dutch Harbor DUT - Anchorage ANC
Sterling Airways dba Aleutian Airways VC 1102
STD: 11:30 / ATD: 12:05
STA: 13:45 / ATA: 14:20
SB20 N25UE
Seat 15F
Boarding was called at 11:40 (no TSA at this airport) and I soon found my seat on this full flight.
Taxiing to the active runway we passed two aircraft that didn’t make it, the Penair Saab from 2017 among them. To me they looked a bit like roadkill on the side of the runway.
After take-off and a sharp left turn to the north, this promontory was the last sight of land – or anything – for most of the flight’s duration.
The cabin felt stuffy at first, but as the flight progressed it got cooler. A very cheerful flight attendant first offered coffee and later, on a second service round, snacks and beverages.
First sight of land again, with some glaciers (Katmai National Preserve?) first and Kalgin Island in the Cook Inlet later.
Touch down on ANC’s runway 15 at 14:16.
Our bags were already on the conveyor by the time we reached baggage claim and from there I called the hotel I was staying at for the next 2 nights – the Alex Hotel close to the airport – to send the shuttle to pick me up. The building has a triangular shape at one end and my assigned room was located precisely at that pointy end.
The following day I had to take care of some administrative work, buy a CityPass and make some reservations for the destination after next, and do some laundry again. In the afternoon I went on a wander around nearby Lake Hood.
Fall foliage was starting to show here and there too.
