Word of warning: This is not a trip report filled with wingtip photos or menus. It is more of an airline adventure report to land where the wind come from! If I can, I’ll upload photos later on.

A few years ago, my father and I flew Continental/ Air Mike from HNL to GUM via the Island hopper. It was something we had talked about for years, and we finally made the time to do it. After the trip, we asked one another, “What’s next?” We both knew the answer. “Alaska!” (Incidentally, someone once said to me that when it comes to finding a husband in Alaska, “the odds are good but the good are odd!”)

And so, last summer, in anticipation of dad’s 75th birthday this summer, I called Delta and used my miles for two first class tickets from the lower 48 to Alaska and back. We would spend three solid days seeing Alaska from the air. Mom and dad live in Boston. My partner and I are on Los Angeles. My mom and my partner think we are crazy. At least we have this interest in common!

My original mileage itinerary went like this:
Day One:
Los Angeles-Ancorage-Adak-Anchorage

Day Two:
Anchorage-Cordova-Yakutat-Juneau

Day Three:
Juneau-Sitka-Seattle-Los Angles

(Dad’s itinerary is similar, but starting and ending in Boston).

Now, while this is a lot in three days, dad said, “We can’t go to Alaska and not go above the Arctic Circle. And so, he went and bought a second set of tickets for day two:

Anchorage - Prudhoe Bay - Barrow -Fairbanks-Anchorage. We get back into ANC in time for the flight down to Sitka.

I am now on my first leg, LAX-ANC. The flight is uneventful. Lots of cloud cover, but the mountains are poking through as we near the first stop. F cabin is full, and there are all sorts of people on board. This is more the, “Let’s put our feet up on the bulkhead wall” crowd than the well healed crowd.


Anchorage-Adak-Anchorage

I landed in Anchorage and had a few hours on the ground. The new concourse is beautiful, with great views of the apron. Mostly Alaska Air planes on the ground, and lots of domestic and international cargo 747’s. I spend most of the time in the Board Room. ABout 45 minutes before the flight, I went to the gate.

My father was arriving on Delta, and his plane was a little delayed. I hadn’t realized DL was in a different security zone. Anyway, I get to the gate, and the agent is making the final call. “Are you ZRS70?” she asked, “You are the last to board.” I asked if my father had already boarded. She checked her system, and she explained that my father had not yet checked in. (When he checked in this morning in Boston, Delta could only issue his DL boarding passes). I explained that my father’s flight had just landed. Alaska Air kicked into action. The agent checked him in and sent a security guard with his boarding pass to find him and escort him through security. The agent said, “We like to leave on time, but if a passenger is on his way, we want to do everything we can to help. After all, there aren’t flights to Adak every hour!”

The security person found my dad. We ran to the gate, boarded the plane, and chose seats in the back, behind the wing for the best view.

The best view, that is, of the cloud cover that followed us much of the way! But to the south, mountains, and even an active volcano, broke through the cloud cover. And at times, the clouds broke up to reveal some of the most beautiful earth I have ever seen.

Flight was maybe 1/3 full. The front half of the 737-400 was walled off for cargo. These flights to Adak are a lifeline, and they carry much, if not all, of the supplies needed in this remote city. (I believe it is the smallest city to recieve regular commercial air service on a mainline line).

Though Alaska Air sells light meals on flights, this flight featured a complimentary hot roast beef sandwich, chips, and a cookie! All quite tasty.

Landing in Adak was beautiful. We broke through the clouds into an overcast afternoon. As we descended the stairs, Debra, the station manager said, “You must be ZRS70 and his father! Welcome to Adak.” She led us into the terminal, took our bags, gave us the keys to the Alaska Airlines truck, and told us to drive around for 15 minutes.”

Now, growing up in the general aviation world, this is the custom when landing in a private plane at a small airport. But I’ve never experienced this commercially. It was really nice.

Adak is tiny. Not much more than pre-fab homes, a school, military activity, some fishing, and the airport. Surprisingly, there is/ was a McDonald’s on the island. (Well, there used to be. The building is now abandoned). I didn’t notice any other restaurants. We went to the general store. Debra (the AS station manager) called them in advance to open us for us. The store is a large facility that sells all the staples one might need. But just the basics.

We came back with the car just as the flight was getting ready to board. Thanked Debra (turns out she lives in SEA and commutes twice a week to Adak). Return trip to ANC was a bit more full. Same FA’s that brought us down brought us back.

Tomorrow, on to Barrow (via Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay)!

I am looking forward to the pics.

Did you call ahead to Adak to talk to the station manager or was it something she initiaited herself?

We woke up at 4am for our 6am departure up to northern Alaska. The Board Room agents were wonderful. The flight took us first to Fairbanks. It was cloudy the whole way, but we did see mountains popping their heads through the clouds. Fairbanks airport is a well-groomed little airport. There are a handful of jetways, and the interior has a nice hard-wood floor. We stretched our legs and then re-boarded for the flight to Prudhoe Bay.

Again, clouds the whole way, with a couple of breaks. Prudhoe Bay airport is a tiny facility. Nothing in the town but oil. Lots of it. This is where the Alaska Pipe Line begins. We walked from the airport to the hotel across the way. It was a smelly, musty building. Really a series of trailers stuck together.

Our flight to Barrow was delayed because of fog. We eventually left 45 minutes behind schedule. The captain warned us that we may not be able to land, and we might have to go right onto to ANC. It was cloudy again, but I got some nice shots of the Alaska Pipe Line from the air. Only about 25 minutes to Barrow. Up and down. Well, not really down. We descended below the clouds, broke through the fog, and then shot right back up into the air. Yes, it was a missed approach. We went around, lined up again, and made it the second time.

Barrow has a native population, and we spent out 1/2 hour on the ground talking with some of the locals.

We re-boarded the same plane and went back to ANC. Cloudy flight again.

After an hour and a half on the ground, we boarded the next series of flights. Only :33 to Cordova. Mostly cloudy, but upon decent, we were treated to one of the most beautiful approaches I have ever seen. Green valleys in front of snow covered mountains. It was gorgeous!

They didn’t let us off the plane, as they wanted a quick turn.

But then it happened.... Mechanical problem. They tried to fix, but soon realized the plane would go nowhere. We all got off. Alaska Airlines went into action. They provided food and drinks while another flight was repositioned to stop to pick us up. The new flight arrived 1.5 hours later. (The passengers from that plane took the extra stop .... two stops actually, in stride.

Flight to Yakatut was mostly cloudy, but nice. Both Cordova and Yakatut are small facilities. No jetways. We didn’t get off in Yakatut.

Last leg to Juneau was also uneventful. It was dark and late, and we were tired.

Juneau has three jetways and sports a modern terminal, though not nearly as nice as Fairbanks.

We overnighted for 6 hours. Dad left on the nonstop to SEA. I took a different flight, via Sitka. It was a 25 minutes flight. Sitka is a great little town, a one jetway airport. We then came down to SEA. I am now writing from my last leg, SEA-LAX.

The trip has been extraordinary! Best part was spending time with my father!

Did you see anything of the volcanic eruption on Umnak Island during your ANC-ADK-ANC flights?? Supposedly was a smoke plume up to 45,000 ft. Probably would have been off the left hand side outbound and the righthand side on the return?

zrs70,

Thanks for taking the time to write this interesting report. I travel to Alaska every year with my family (we are heading that way next month) to fish, and I have experienced many of those flights that you describe. I take a flight each year from Anchorage to King Salmon (AKN) and it is frequently a flight that continues down the Aleutians to Adak. It really surprises me that they are running a flight non-stop to Adak only 1/3 full and not making a stop at a regional hub like King Salmon or Dutch Harbor.

Anyway, it's great reading about your adventure. Next time, spend some more time in Alaska, it's really wonderful on the ground as well!

Happy flying!

I saw this over on a.net and thought you might post it here too.

Great report!