Flying to Anchorage
 

I normally do AA's nonstop DFW-ANC, but this year considering other airliner options, will be flying in J. Which hub would you recommend connecting in?

DL has the most flights from SEA, but ANC is a very seasonal route, IIRC with MSP having two nonstops per day (including a redeye) in the summer and one at most other times.

It depends on the schedule and aircraft type. J on these flights will be domestic FC, not true business class and not a three class aircraft.

If you go during the summer, there's also an option via ATL. I would recommend against this as its 6+ hours in regular F. I'd prefer to break it up into smaller chunks

This would be in July

Checking random July dates it appears that you have four options if you go with DL:

1) ATL -- on a domestic 757. Solid option though not worth backtracking from DFW
2) SLC -- on a 739ER, do not book this
3) MSP -- on a domestic 757. Solid option and definitely better than ATL.
4) SEA -- one a 738 and a double connection from DFW.

From the above if you are wanting to switch to DL for this year, I would take the MSP option. The 757 is the best plane option available (though no lie-flat if in F, just regular domestic F) and looks like two different options that work with a DFW - MSP flight. Backup would be ATL (though that's a long very long flight even in F) -- would avoid SLC (unless it's 50% cheaper I can't think of a world in which the 739ER is worth flying) and the double connection for SEA makes no sense, especially since the 738 isn't anything special.

I'm not a big AA fan but honestly unless the price is way cheaper to for DL, it doesn't make sense to go with DL over the direct flight.

I am all pro-Delta, but I agree that if you're not switching to DL or trying to build status, you should probably stick to the direct on AA. The DL options to ANC just aren't anything worth connecting and switching for.

:confused: :rolleyes: HUH? looking at 15 Jul, DL has 7x SEA-ANC ... AS has 7x departing before DL’s second trip, and a total of 21x

moreover (as Duke787 mentioned), DL can’t get OP DFW-SEA without another connection; AS has 3x DFW-SEA and 4x DAL-SEA

I’ll be the first to say AS F isn’t on the same level as DL, but it’s perfectly adequate for a pair of ~4-hour segments

The 739 is not THAT bad in F compared to the 757. It's certainly not so bad that I would book an itinerary that is 1000 miles longer (through ATL) to avoid it (unless I needed the MQM)

Thanks everyone for the replies. Agree Delta might not be the best option, but if I go with them, MSP will be my connection city.

Side note, has Delta ever flown LAX-ANC?

Yes, sporadically over the years on a seasonal basis. I took it r/t in the 90's in June. The flights weren't full which might account why it isn't a regular thing for them. AS has a year-round nonstop.

I think MSPeconomist was strictly speaking within DL's network, not a comparison to other carriers - in other words, if you're looking to get to ANC on DL, DL has more daily flights & seats from SEA than they do from SLC, MSP, or ATL (though as you note, since DL doesn't fly SEA-DFW, this likely isn't a viable option unless OP wants to double-connect).

I think the intention was that of DL routes to ANC, SEA has the most frequency, not that DL has the most SEA-ANC frequency of any airline.

iirc in the 90s, ANC was a fuel stop for the L-1011-500 operation between LAX and HKG, and DL didn't explicitly market the segment to capture revenue traffic

It was a 757 both ways with no marketed continuation beyond ANC. At least in June, 1997.

DL has more flights from SEA to ANC than DL has flights from any other individual hub/airport to ANC. 7 SEA > 2 MSP etc. (and in fact perhaps there are as many DL flights nonstop from SEA to ANC as there are total DL flights nonstop from XXX to ANC, at least on some dates).