Alaska Airlines announced today new nonstop service between Anchorage, AK and Minneapolis/St. Paul. This new route will operate as a summer seasonal route beginning June 19, 2021. It looks like the state of Alaska is the hot destination for 2021 with American, Delta and United all announcing new service to The Last Frontier.
The new service to the Land of 10,000 Lakes is in addition to the newly added nonstop service between Anchorage and Las Vegas, Denver and San Francisco, along with the expansion of year-round service to sunny Phoenix and Maui.
“We are looking forward to welcoming more guests to the Great Land in 2021 and expanding service for the residents of Alaska,” said Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines’ regional vice president. “With a massive network across the state and our naturally socially distanced outdoor spaces, this route offers easy access to Denali, kayaking, sightseeing, and the most sustainably managed fishing in the world. Alaska is a safe and attractive travel destination for friends and family.”
This summer, Alaska will fly nonstop to 11 destinations between Anchorage and the Lower 48 and Hawaii including: Minneapolis-St. Paul; Chicago; Denver; Honolulu; Maui; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco and Seattle. Four of the cities on the West Coast are also Alaska hubs, which allow for improved connectivity for guests traveling to other locations.
“With the addition of these nonstops, we are committed to keeping Alaska and our guests connected across our network,” said Brett Catlin, Alaska Airlines vice president of network and alliances. “Not only do guests have new nonstop destinations to choose from, Alaskans will also be able to take advantage of our new oneworld partnership and the opportunity to travel to over 800 global destinations served by our partners.”
The Service Schedule
Alaska Airlines will initially offer this new nonstop stop service beginning June 19, 2021 and ending August 15, 2021. The route will be operated on Saturdays and Sundays using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Introductory Airfare
Introductory one-way fares between Anchorage and Minneapolis-St. Paul start at $98, and one-way fares between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Anchorage begin at $99. For full terms and conditions, including blackout dates and fees.
Terms and conditions
For introductory fare, tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. (PT) on Mar. 23, 2021, for travel on Saturdays and Sundays between June 19, 2021 and Aug. 15, 2021. Day of week and other restrictions may apply. A $125 (USD) change fee per person applies to changes of ticketed travel. Fares include all taxes, fees, and charges, are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice. Additional U.S. taxes may apply to itineraries involving more than one stopover or a stopover lasting more than 12 hours. Tickets are nonrefundable. Applicable fare and tax differences apply to any changes made after ticketing. A ticket purchased at an Alaska Airlines airport location or through one of our reservation call centers will cost $15.00 (USD) more per person than the advertised fare. Some flights may be operated by or in conjunction with Horizon Air or SkyWest Airlines. Bag fees apply for checked baggage. See our checked baggage policy at www.alaskaair.com for more details.
Travel To The State Of Alaska
The current guidance from the State of Alaska requires:
- Submitting a travel declaration through the Alaska covid-19 portal and
- Acceptable negative covid-19 test or following an employer work plan on file with the State of Alaska.
Here is a link to the State of Alaska Safe Travels website.
Final Thoughts
The State of Alaska continues to be a focus of expansion by the major U. S. carriers. Residents of Anchorage and Minneapolis/St. Paul will now have a nonstop flight to avoid connections in Seattle, WA. Alaska Airlines looks like they are taking a conservative look at this new city pairing with seasonal summer, weekend service. You will be able to purchase introductory fares for less than $100.00 each way. We’ll have to wait and see how this route develops.
