overnight at ANC?
 

In about a month I'm flying up to Fairbanks with an overnight connection in ANC. My first flight arrives at midnight, and the next one departs at 7 am, and I'd love to just crash at the airport. Has anybody attempted this before? I've done it at some larger airports, but I'm worried that since ANC's a little smaller, they may try and shoo me out. Thoughts?

Hopefully Seat 2A will read this ,he's our resident pro at this.I myself don't think it will be a problem.

Having worked at the airport (off and on) for the last four years (both day and night shift), I can tell you with certainty that no one will try to boot you out. For one, the airport is busier between midnight and 2am than it is any other time of day (we have tons of red-eye flights here, since it tends to work out better for connecting flights in the Lower 48), and so the downtime at the airport really only lasts from 2:30 to about 4:30. Second, you'll have lots of company, as two thirds of the benches around the airport (both inside and outside of security) are typically occupied with people doing the same as you, so stake out your bench early.

Concourse B is a little dimmer and may be easier to sleep in than the newer, brighter-lit Concourse C. However, the place I would pick would be the viewing area/Native art gallery located right behind security at the juncture of B and C concourses (the stairs/elevator up to it are behind the Starbucks that is opposite the Chili's Too). There are some benches up there and it's relatively secluded; plus, you can see the whole airport and watch planes if you're an airplane fan.

If you get really bored, come down to the [brand new] car rental center and say hi!

awesome, that's just the kind of info I was looking for. As much as I love exploring airports for those quiet, secluded spots, I have a feeling that I'll be pretty tired after flying all day.

Quick followup for Jackal: by "behind security" I'm assuming you mean airside? I'm looking at the south terminal map on their website and there are Starbucks both land and airside, but the only elevator listed is landside, so I wasn't sure. I ask because I think I'm going to have to exit security to collect my bag in ANC. NW/AS codeshare (booked w/ NW) into ANC, and then AS (booked w/ AS) to Fairbanks, so I may not be able to get back airside until morning check-in.

Behind security would be from an outsider's perspective--in other words, airside. There is a small elevator next to the airside Starbucks (right "behind" security and opposite Chili's Too) that takes you up to the viewing area/art gallery--it's really not hard to find, since it's (again) right by security and where Concourses B and C join. Also, there are stairs behind the elevator.

If you do get stuck landside, the best places to sleep are in the older area in front of the United ticket desk and the other desks in that area (Frontier, Shared Services, etc.)--since they have the same older, dimmer lighting that B concourse has. If light and noise don't bother you, there are benches behind the weird tall glass sculptures in the central atrium.

Once the tourists all go home, the hotel prices drop like rocks in a lake. A month is just on the border (most go home by now, but some stragglers stay until the end of September), but check hotel rates: if a place like the Best Value Inn (highly rated by our very own ozstamps, though I've never been in it) is down in the $20-30 range, you might consider it worth it to bunk there (they have a free shuttle). (Just for comparison purposes, in the tourist season--that is, June, July and August--that same hotel will go for $150 or more per night.)

Good luck! Sleep tight!