When you think of the United States, you probably first consider continental states like New York and California. You think about the great travel destinations and cities like Las Vegas or Chicago. But you can make the mistake of forgetting that a great travel destination especially for wilderness lovers is Alaska.
Alaska is the largest state in the union, however, it’s one of the least populated states in the United States. It is also one of the least traveled states for tourists.
With that said, there is no question why the Alaskan traveler market is underserved by American air carriers. Simply, airlines can’t guarantee serving Alaska routinely because the demand wouldn’t be as high as a destination like New York City or Las Vegas.
The two largest airports in Alaska are Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Fairbanks International Airport. Between both of these airports, only Delta Airlines and United Airlines provided year-round nonstop service to these airports. However, there is a third airline that flies year-round to Alaska.
Alaska Airlines is the West Coast’s most prominent airline providing service to most destinations found in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. They are a great travel option for visitors willing to find a nonstop flight to Alaska from just about every corner of the United States.
In this guide, we analyze the four Alaska Airlines hubs offering nonstop flights to Alaska as well as some of the other focus cities providing year-round flights to Alaska.
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Alaska Airlines Hubs With Nonstop Flights to Alaska
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a popular west coast destination for most United States air carriers. The airport serves as an international waypoint and a major hub for a large share of the major domestic airlines of the United States.
Alaska Airlines is a major player at Los Angeles International Airport. As of November 2023, the airline has flown well over 1.3 million customers through the airport. Alaska’s regional carrier, Skywest Airlines also owns a top 5 market share at LAX.
For passengers coming from Alaska, Los Angeles is a popular tourist destination offering very exciting attractions like Hollywood, and proximity to other Southern California towns like Long Beach.
Where is Alaska Airlines located in the Los Angeles International Airport?
Alaska Airlines can be found at Terminal 6 at Los Angeles International Airport. The LAX terminals are set up in a giant loop so once you enter that loop you can begin to count them off. The first terminal you pass will be terminal 1 and so on. Once you turn South, you’ll pass terminal 4 & 5, and stumble upon terminal 6.
In terminal 6, you will find security checkpoints, as well as the Alaska Airline check-in desk, lounge, and various restaurants you can grab a bite at.
How many flights does Alaska Airlines fly to Alaska from Los Angeles?
Alaska Airlines flies between Anchorage, Alaska from Los Angeles once a day. They use their Boeing 737-900 for this route.
The entire flight is about 2300 miles in distance apart. Overall, you can expect the flight between these two destinations to take 5 to 6 hours depending on factors like the winds aloft, traffic, and direction of flight.
Portland (OR)
Besides Seattle Washington, Portland Oregon is probably one of the better-known Pacific Northwest cities that own a major airport.
Portland International Airport is the largest airport in the state of Oregon. Alaska Airlines dominates the market share at this airport, accounting for nearly 30% of all passenger flights using the airport.
Although Portland might not be as lucrative a destination in terms of connecting flights across the United States, it is a nice destination that Alaska Airlines has in its back pocket just in case something happens with its market share in Seattle.
Where is Alaska Airlines located in the Portland International Airport?
Alaska Airlines is found in Concourse D at Portland International Airport. The airport isn’t particularly large so you shouldn’t have any issues locating where the terminal is from the road. However, Alaska Airlines occupies the southern part of the terminal.
The airport does include TSA precheck and access to the Alaska lounge for members.
How many flights does Alaska Airlines fly to Alaska from Portland?
The flight between Portland, Oregon, and Anchorage, Alaska is offered several times a day. Alaska Airlines flies numerous nonstop routes using its Boeing 737s. There is even a nonstop flight on Alaska’s regional partner Horizon Air using their Embraer 175.
For travelers who cannot get a nonstop flight, Alaska Airlines has plenty of connecting flights from Portland to Seattle. In Seattle, you have a better chance of catching a flight to Anchorage as Seattle has a larger airport allowing more flight operations per day by Alaska Airlines.
San Francisco
Just like Los Angeles, San Francisco is a major international jetway city in Northern California allowing passengers all over the world to board a connecting flight to Alaska.
For Alaskans coming down to the continental United States, San Francisco is a major tech/business city and has many tourist destinations like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Prison, or Napa Valley for those wanting to experience some of the best wineries in the country. It also serves as a major connection point for many other cities and destinations throughout the United States because it’s served by just about all major United States airlines.
Alaska Airlines serves San Francisco International Airport.
Where is Alaska Airlines located at San Francisco International Airport?
To find Alaska Airlines at San Francisco International Airport, you will need to navigate your way to Terminal 2. San Francisco International Airport terminal system is designed as a giant wheel which simplifies things when trying to find terminal 2. Once you enter the roundabout roadway accessing San Francisco’s terminal area, all you need to do is follow signage to locate Terminal 2. Short-term parking is in the middle of the terminals, so it should be an easy walk to get to Terminal 2.
San Francisco’s Terminal 2 provides all Alaska Airlines terminal amenities that you should expect including access to the Alaska Airlines Lounge for members and the lounges for partner airlines if you connecting on an international flight.
How many flights does Alaska Airlines fly to Alaska from San Francisco?
This particular route is actually a seasonal route for Alaska Airlines. This route is only offered between May and September. This is likely due to the demand for this flight diminishing once the colder months approach. Alaska probably thinks the West Coast California market can be sufficiently served through its Los Angeles – Anchorage route.
But when the route is in season, expect a daily flight between these locations flown on Alaska’s Boeing 737. The route takes roughly 5 to 6 hours to complete.
Seattle/Tacoma
Seattle is Alaska Airlines’ flagship hub in the continental United States. Alaska Airlines flies the most routes of out all the major airlines using Seattle Tacoma International Airport. They also dominate the market share at this airport accumulating nearly 50% of all passenger aircraft movements.
The route between Anchorage, Alaska, and Seattle Washington is the airport’s more popular route with nearly 1 million passengers per year completing a flight between these two destinations.
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and offers lots of tourist opportunities like Seattle’s fish market that people from Alaska can come down to visit. Seattle on the contrary serves as the largest connecting airport to Alaska for passengers coming in from places all across the United States.
Where is Alaska Airlines located in the airport?
Since Alaska Airlines owns close to the majority market share of this airport, you won’t have a hard time finding Alaska Airlines. The airline uses Concourse A, B, C, D, and Satellites North and South. All the terminals run north to south at Seattle Tacoma International Airport so be sure to keep your eye on the signage and you won’t have any issues.
Being the most prominent Alaska Airlines hub in the bottom 48 states, you can expect the terminals to have all the Alaska Airlines amenities to make waiting for your flight more enjoyable.
How many flights does Alaska Airlines fly to Alaska from Seattle?
Out of all the Alaska Airlines hubs, the route between Seattle and Anchorage is flown the most. You can expect to find multiple nonstop flights between these destinations throughout the week and a plethora of hours in the day.
The flight between Seattle and Anchorage takes about 4 hours to complete.
The Seattle region also has another option as there is a nonstop flight to Fairbanks International Airport also available.
Other Cities Offering Nonstop Flights to Alaska
Alaska Airlines does provide nonstop flights to Alaska to some of their biggest markets across the United States. These routes are often seasonal and offered for limited times throughout the year.
New York
The Greater New York Metropolitan Area is going to be served by Alaska Airlines via New York – JFK International Airport starting in June 2024. The flight to Anchorage, Alaska takes close to 8 hours to complete. This route is a new one for the airline and is only offered between June and August.
New York is not a focus city for Alaska Airlines but is one of the two airports in the northeast being served by the airline. The other airport is Boston Logan International Airport.
Chicago
Chicago is not a focus city for Alaska Airlines but does have a flight offered to Anchorage, Alaska. However, this route is going to end in January 2024.
Minneapolis
Alaska Airlines runs a seasonal route between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Anchorage, Alaska between May and August every year. This flight competes with Delta Airlines, as Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is a major hub for Delta.
With the Chicago route not being offered, flights from Minneapolis with career the bulk of the Midwest – Great Lakes region market share for Alaska Airlines for flights to Alaska.
Denver
The demand for flights to Alaska by the Midwest region is served by Alaska Airlines via Denver International Airport. Denver is not a focus or hub city for the airline. The flight is only offered seasonally, between May and August.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is another option for Midwestern travelers looking to connect with Alaska. Alaska Airlines seasonally runs a flight to Salt Lake City International Airport between May and August. The flight between these two locations takes roughly 6 hours.
Phoenix
Alaska Airlines flies into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with service to Anchorage, Alaska. Phoenix is not a hub city or a focus city for the airline. This flight is currently on the schedule year-round.
There must be lots of travel demand for Alaskans visiting the Southwest portion of the United States since Alaska has nonstop flights to at least 4 airports that serve this region.
Las Vegas
Another Southwest city with a nonstop flight to Anchorage, Alaska is Las Vegas, Nevada. This flight is offered year round however it’s only offered on weekends. The flight to Las Vegas functions more as a leisure destination for Alaskans. They probably fly in on Friday and leave the area on Sunday after a weekend on the Las Vegas Strip.
San Diego
Alaska Airlines provides seasonal service between Anchorage, Alaska, and San Diego International Airport between May and August. This route is likely added in to accommodate extra demand the summer months in Southern California may bring to the routes going into Los Angeles. San Deigo is a focus city for Alaska Airlines.
Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii is served by Alaska Airlines with a daily flight to Anchorage, Alaska. This must be a popular route for Alaskans trying to beat the cold associated with Alaska. On the contrary, Hawaiians might seek colder weather trying to avoid Hawaii’s rainy and wet season.
Update: In December 2023, Alaska Air Group announced the intent to acquire Hawaiian Airlines. This will create unprecedented access to Hawaii for all. It’ll be interesting to see how this will unfold in the next year or so.
Sources
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1378808/most-visited-states-us/
https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-alaska-as
https://www.bts.gov/topics/airlines-and-airports/quick-links-popular-air-carrier-statistics
