Huge Alaska Route Expansion
Mar 12, 2021, 1:30 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ATL/SLC
Posts: 3,540
SLC-FAI was flown seasonally pre-merger (and up to 3x daily SLC-ANC during the summer). SLC-FAI was killed shortly after the merger, SLC-ANC dropped to 1x, then seasonal and dropped completely - and has gone back and forth a few times since then.
Mar 12, 2021, 1:59 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
A related sidebar: We went to JNU for Memorial Day weekend about 3 years ago when there was a $270RT sale from MSP.
Had no idea what to expect; nearly 90% of its tourism came from cruise ship traffic. It was absolutely in the top 5 trips we've ever taken! In a 4 day trip, we managed to:
1) Drive to the glacier park and overlook
2) Go whale watching, seeing a couple blue whales and literally dozens of orcas, along with other animals and thousands-- thousands! -- of eagles. We can recommend a company that does very small, 6-person limit boats --Harv and Marv's.
3) Go hiking above the city, getting up to the top in a fairly easy hike. Really gorgeous views
4) Highlight was doing the Wings Airways Taku Lodge Feast and 5-glacier seaplane discovery -- take a seaplane from the main port to a cabin on the water several miles away, overflying several stunning glaciers. It's expensive ($200-300 I think?) but if it's back in service this summer, we highly recommend it.
5) Just being in town when the cruise ships were gone was awesome. Guessing it's quiet these days, which may not be bad.
Anyone who needs details on the above feel free to PM me.
Had no idea what to expect; nearly 90% of its tourism came from cruise ship traffic. It was absolutely in the top 5 trips we've ever taken! In a 4 day trip, we managed to:
1) Drive to the glacier park and overlook
2) Go whale watching, seeing a couple blue whales and literally dozens of orcas, along with other animals and thousands-- thousands! -- of eagles. We can recommend a company that does very small, 6-person limit boats --Harv and Marv's.
3) Go hiking above the city, getting up to the top in a fairly easy hike. Really gorgeous views
4) Highlight was doing the Wings Airways Taku Lodge Feast and 5-glacier seaplane discovery -- take a seaplane from the main port to a cabin on the water several miles away, overflying several stunning glaciers. It's expensive ($200-300 I think?) but if it's back in service this summer, we highly recommend it.
5) Just being in town when the cruise ships were gone was awesome. Guessing it's quiet these days, which may not be bad.
Anyone who needs details on the above feel free to PM me.
Mar 12, 2021, 2:14 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,201
Mar 12, 2021, 2:40 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
With international probably not rebounding until well into 2022 and JFK-LAX business travel still reduced, I am surprised Delta isn't giving the JFK-ANC route the 767 or at least a D1 config 757. Might be an maintenance concern or an issue with getting a qualified pilot to fly it out of ANC.
Mar 12, 2021, 2:45 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,587
This definitely added more options to any DONE3 itinerary with oneworld. I am looking at the AS routes, of course.
Last edited by allset2travel; Mar 12, 2021 at 2:46 pm Reason: to add
Mar 12, 2021, 3:00 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,326
As of now, all of these routes will be just regular domestic F service (no formal Delta One). If the current COVID service protocols are still in effect when these routes start, the snack bag with 8.5oz bottled water + flight fuel box + a choice of beer/wine will be the only offerings onboard for F pax.
Mar 12, 2021, 3:14 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,449
Love this line in the advertisement: "Vacationers traveling to and from Alaska will enjoy enhanced customer comfort as all flights to Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau will be operated by larger mainline aircraft like the Boeing 737-900." Umm...I guess they truly are going after the vacation market that has no idea that the 737-900 is the worst a/c in the fleet
Mar 12, 2021, 3:46 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,326
Mar 12, 2021, 3:49 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2003
Programs: former MD-88 jumpseat Medallion. DL FO, AA PLT PRO. Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 752
With international probably not rebounding until well into 2022 and JFK-LAX business travel still reduced, I am surprised Delta isn't giving the JFK-ANC route the 767 or at least a D1 config 757. Might be an maintenance concern or an issue with getting a qualified pilot to fly it out of ANC.
a D1 config 757 would actually be great out of JFK, because its less weight. fewer seats, and they all have winglets too. A full ATL-ANC on a domestic 757 with 199 seats is always tight on weight, especially if you have to carry a long alternate or there are thunderstorms all over the central US and Canada (so basically every day in the summer. lol). Glad it'll be a 767 out of ATL.
Mar 12, 2021, 4:03 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
Mar 12, 2021, 5:44 pm
#30
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344