How's commuting to PANC
 

Easy/difficult? Its colder than a polar bear's @ss in an igloo?

Depends on where you are going from and going to. It's not too bad if you're from Seattle. Its not too cold in Anchorage either. More of a coastal cold. Low 20s normally at the coldest.

That's good to hear. How long of flight is it SEA to ANC? Cargo carriers a good option?

Eh, having lived in ANC for a few years I'd say you'll see about two months in the winter where it's going to be close to zero. Snow from late Sept to May.

All that said, I wish I was still living there.

About 3 and a half. LOTS and LOTS on Alaska.

Cargo carrier can be good, check Polar's schedule and of course Purple and Brown.

We visited Denali N.P. in late August, and they already had a mosquito-killing frost. Don't know if this is unusually early or not, but it made hiking a lot nicer. :)

AK air runs almost every hour between ANC and Seattle but the loads are almost always full so you'll mostly be hitting the jumpseat if its not taken by an online employee.

Where are you commuting from?

The easiesiest commute to ANC is actually from Memphis. They run 4-6 flights in MD11s and 777s and you can lock in the jumpseat 24 hours in advance. Not even a FedEx guy can bump you once you're locked in and they provide a meal due to flight length. Awesomeness.

Is it possible for me to take a family member on purple? I used to go fishing up there every year before the bad times and my son is just about ready for that kind of fishing trip. There used to be the ability to book my wife on the Jumpseat with me before 9-11 on some of the cargo carriers. Just wondering if that sort of thing might ever be a remote possibility in the future.

Pdx - Anc...not commuting yet, just doin my research.

Only if they're in CASS.

I was mentioning the daytime highs during the winter. Should have been more specific. Much better than Fairbanks!

ANC isn't all that cold. DTW & MSP is actually worse. As for the JS, for a while there were more commuters from SEA & LAX headed to ANC than there were jumpseats available. AK was getting ****ED...there was a memo about commuting was not a right. People laughed. The Co came around and re-assigned basing. Anyway, keep in mind the number of seats if you plan on using SEA.

Good luck - Baja.

Newly hired at AK Air? Congrats if so...

I would have happily hung my hat there but other airlines called first. My only requirement was a base in AK and that worked for 3 years. Then a merger and now I'm in ATL, didn't see that coming. Miss home.

I will start commuting to ANC via MEM starting next year and am hoping it works smoothly. I will have some 4+ hours layover in MEM to do this but its the HEFTY price I'm paying in keeping wifey happy before I can hold a line at SEA. (Fire your best sarcasm as I'm very aware how absurd this may seem to most)

3 questions:

1. Can you park at ANC FDX facility if you are jumpseating? If not, best suggestions to get to/from facility

2. Any ideas on what I can do at MEM between flights?

3. Any transportation service offered between airport and FDX facility at MEM?

1. Not sure, maybe an ANC guy or commuter will chime in with that.
2. Well the waiting lounge is not too bad. New chairs are fairly comfortable but not to good for laying out on. A couple of recliners still in the room, but I'd suggest you be in civvies if you take one so FedEx types don't know your not Fedex ;) also there is a cafeteria that's open from 2300 till 0130 (don't quote me on the times). No WiFi for non employees.
3. Yes and there is a direct line in the MEM terminal to call. Going the other direction, ask the crew you jump in with.

Good luck. The 777 is a nice ride and if your lucky you may be allowed to use the bunk :)

I've done the bus tour into Denali exactly twice, both in mid July.

The first time it was CAVU, blue skies, and pretty incredible.
The second time it got down to about 1/4SM in heavy snow.

You take your chances.

Thanks DC...may need to do a dress rehearsal before the real commute begins. If you come across any other useful gouge, PM me.

-Good Deal

If LAX or CVG is convenient, check the Atlas/Polar scheds. ANC is a very frequent destination out of both of these bases.

The commute from SEA to ANC is horrible...AK has a lock on the market, and although they have a flight every hour, they are ALL full, with 20-30 stdbys, and they roll to each next flight, all day long. CAL used to have 2 flights a day, dunno if they still do or not, they were usually my saving grace. When I did get on, the 2nd jumpseat on the 737 was the most common answer, and it sucks for 3.5 hours. Move to ANC, for cryin out loud--amazing place to live!