Cheap flights to Alaska

Alaska remains a mystery to many people in North America, but those who do venture to “The Last Frontier” catch a glimpse of the nation’s most beautiful landscapes, engaging wildlife and natural habitats, and a more simplistic way of living.

If you love to fly you’re in luck. One of the best ways to see the country is to board a prop-plane and take Alaska flights to remote villages, fishing sites and just about anywhere else you want to go. You can also get to Alaska via ship, train or bus, but the fares are more expensive. Major airline carriers book flights to Alaska’s hub, Anchorage, and from there travellers can book other Alaska flights to various parts of the country.

You don’t have to be adventurous or outdoorsy to visit Alaska. But, most people who have been to Alaska agree that a visit is in order to understand its greatness. Alaska is called American’s “Last Frontier” for a reason. Book flights to Alaska with an open mind, and let the country captivate you with its simplicity and its beauty.

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Alaska climate

Given the enormous size of Alaska and its location, the weather varies greatly depending on where your flight takes you. Some places go into the mid-20s (Celsius) and 30s in summer, others make it into the 30s. Along the southern coast winter temperatures are in low single digits, while farther north they drop to -50 and lower. The southern areas have well-defined four seasons and northern areas have winter and summer. The northern coast has the most dramatic change in daylight hours. In Barrow, the sun sets at 12.50pm on November 18 and rises at 11.51am on January 24. By 1.06am on May 10 there is 24-hour daylight. Alaskan weather is famously unpredictable; a snow storm on July 4 followed by a hot July 5 is not out of character.

When is the best time to fly to Alaska?

Peak Season:
Alaska’s peak season is June, July, and August. When booking your flight to Alaska bear in mind that prices are high and you need to make reservations in advance.

Off Season:
Winter is the off season, but a great time to take a flight if you enjoy winter sports and activities. You can save up to half the cost of hotel rooms in winter. Early fall can be mild and May beautiful in Alaska. In fall, some places charge discounted summer rates.

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Getting around Alaska

Alaska is huge. If you cut it in half, you would still have the two largest states in the US. RVs are a popular mode of transportation through the state, and Alaskan cities are fairly easy to drive in and park; the exception is parking an RV in downtown Anchorage during the week. All sorts of vehicles travel the Alaska Highway, which is open year-round and is paved for all but a few miles.

Other popular ways to get around Alaska are by water and by air; in fact, the only way to many towns, including Juneau, is via air or water. Many cruise lines offer tours of Alaska, and state-owned ferries can get you from one point to another. Another option is to travel through Alaska by rail, bush plane, air taxi, or helicopter. Taking a commercial flight between destinations is often the best, and cheapest, mode of transportation. Alaska has several regional airports that make flying around the state straightforward.

How long is the flight to Alaska?

There are many flights to Alaska, USA, from Singapore. Most flights to Alaska from Changi Airport land at either of the two major airports: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, or Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks. The flight time to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, from Changi Airport is around 24-41h, depending on the airlines servicing the Alaska flight deals. Flights to the other major city in Alaska, Fairbanks, take longer and vary generally between 35h and 50h. Cheap flights to Alaska take longer as the stopover time in airports may be increased.

Where can you get direct flights to Alaska from?

There are currently no direct flights to Alaska from Singapore. To reach Anchorage from Changi Airport, Singapore, a minimum of one stopover is needed. If you are flying to the Fairbanks International Airport from Changi Airport, there will be a minimum of two stopovers. The stopover airports in both cases can be Tokyo, Amsterdam, Doha, Taipei, Bangkok, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle or Minneapolis. The airlines that service flights to Alaska are Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Alaska Airlines, KLM and Japan Airlines.

What is the best way to travel around Alaska?

Alaska is a large area and hence it becomes necessary to choose the right mode of transport. Travelling by air is a good option, given that most remote places are accessible in this way. Smaller planes can even land and then take off on a glacier. Cruise ships and ferries are other popular options, especially for wildlife viewing. A tour boat or a water taxi can be boarded if you want to reach close to a glacier. If you prefer to travel by car, then there are many tour operators with various packages to take you around Denali, Kenai and more. You can also hire cars, RVs and other vehicles and self-drive at your own pace. You can hope to cover Seward to Fairbanks in around 9h by car. The railroad can also be used to travel to popular destinations; it can be slow but it is relaxing and comfortable. Bus tours are also an option with services available in most cities.

What are some things to do in Alaska?

Alaska is called the last frontier and there are many things to do in this big state. You can visit the coastline and the highest mountains, get to ski in the snow, have fresh-off-the-lake fish, try new foods and plenty of other things. Explore the pristine Denali National Park, where you can see a variety of wild animals in their natural habitat. Visit Anchorage and get a taste of their nightlife and entertainment spots, which are all just a few minutes away from the wilderness. Trek on the Matanuska Glacier, only a few hours away from Anchorage. You can also gaze at the Aurora Borealis if you visit between October-March. Cruise around and see the charming towns or simply ride the Alaska Railroad and soak in the beauty of this state.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to Alaska?

Singaporean passport holders have visa-free access to the country, provided they return within 90 days and they apply for a visa waiver (ESTA) online. However, the passport should have a minimum validity of 30 days on arrival.

What is good to know if travelling to Alaska?

• Anchorage is Alaska’s largest and most sophisticated city, and nearly half the state’s population lives here. It’s a favourite tourist destination and has plenty of attractions in town, but the city can also be your base camp just minutes away from hiking, climbing a mountain, or fishing for salmon or trout. If you take a flight to Alaska in winter, you might catch the Iditarod and northern lights.
• At the end of the Alaska Highway, Fairbanks is Alaska’s second-largest city and it marches to its own drummer. Mining interests are strong here, and it’s the birthplace of the secessionist Alaskan Independence Party. Fairbanks is a great place for families to visit: Pioneerland celebrates Alaskan history, museums, the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in summer, and aurora borealis in winter.
• The state capital is the third largest city in Alaska, and Juneau bustles with tourists, politicians, bureaucrats, miners, and loggers. Along with shops and fine restaurants, Juneau has plenty to see: the Mendenhall glacier; fish hatchery, brewery, and abandoned mine; sea kayaking; and whale watching. From the city you can hike Mount Juneau or the Perseverance Trail, or walk the beach.
• A fun place to visit, Sitka preserves the look of the 1799 Russian invasion. The invaders attempted to enslave the Tlingit who resisted and won the war. Sitka is where the formal purchase of Alaska (Seward’s Folly) from the Russians took place. The ocean halibut and salmon fishing are excellent and the bird- and wildlife-watching exceptional.
• Barrow, on the shore of the Arctic Ocean, is Alaska’s northernmost city. It is home to North America’s largest oil field, Alaska’s largest corporation, and a large Eskimo settlement. Barrow has a wealth of wildlife, more than 250 bird species, and polar bears approach town looking for food. And the winter darkness here makes the aurora borealis even more spectacular.