Alaska Airlines rolled out its annual Permanent Fund dividend sale on Tuesday.
Other airlines are watching.
Alaska Airlines is bigger than it was last year as the carrier absorbs more of Hawaiian Airlines under its wings. Hawaiian flies to the South Pacific and to Asia. And Alaska has plans to fly to Europe next year.
There are three sets of offers from Alaska this year. First, the carrier reduced fares to its destinations within the state. This is important, since Alaska Airlines is the sole and exclusive jet carrier within the state. They have no competition. So, it’s a big deal when the airline cuts prices significantly — particularly for travel all the way through May 12, 2026.
The second set of rates is for Hawaiian’s international flights. This is new territory for Alaska, since Hawaiian Air spans the Pacific Ocean. And even though Alaska Air owns Hawaiian Airlines, they still are two separate carriers.
The third set is more familiar to Alaska travelers: fares between Anchorage and the Lower 48. This has sparked a proper brushfire of responses from competing airlines. That means more cities are on sale — with many options available for travelers.
There are a couple of good options for traveling around the state on Alaska Airlines. If you have 21 days to plan your trip, there still are plenty of dates open with seats for 5,000 frequent flyer points. We used to call them miles, but now they’re Atmos reward points.
The second option for in-state travel is to take advantage of the PFD sale between now and Oct. 6. Between Anchorage and Fairbanks, the price is $77 one-way. And there’s no upcharge for Main. Alaska Air does not sell its Basic Economy seats for travel solely within Alaska.
The price to Juneau is lowest if you take the Milk Run, which stops in Cordova and Yakutat on the way south: $97 one-way. It’s an extra $5 to fly nonstop. I think it’s worth it — but the cheaper option is out there.
A ticket to Bethel costs $104 one-way. It’s $119 one-way to Kodiak and $139 one-way to Nome from Anchorage.
Alaska’s PFD sale includes most but not all of Hawaiian’s international destinations.
Flights from Anchorage to Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, are easier now that Hawaiian flies a weekly nonstop from Honolulu. But starting Dec. 2, the departing flight from Anchorage to Honolulu leaves at 9:20 a.m. (instead of 6:50 p.m.). The new departure time means travelers can connect without a long layover.
Prices start at around $960 round-trip from Anchorage. That’s a Main price, which includes mileage credit (almost 12,000 Atmos points), two free checked bags and pre-reserved seats.
Previously, budget-conscious travelers to Australia could fly Alaska Air to Honolulu, then fly Jetstar for $150-$300 one-way to Sydney. But those super cheap fares were bare-bones. Everything was extra, including checked bags, meals and pre-assigned seats.
Alaska and Hawaiian offer fares starting at $983 round-trip between Anchorage and Sydney. This Main Cabin ticket includes full mileage credit, two checked bags and reserved seats. Hawaiian flies nonstop from Honolulu to Sydney five times per week, with an Airbus A330 wide-body.
Hawaiian’s seasonal flights from Honolulu to Auckland, New Zealand, resume on Nov. 16. The airline offers flights three days per week: on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For a PFD special, Alaska and Hawaiian offer the flights for $1,008 round-trip in Main Cabin. That includes mileage credit, pre-reserved seats and two checked bags. The best prices are between January and mid-April.
By comparison, Delta offers the Anchorage-Auckland flights for $865 round-trip in Basic Economy. Delta includes one free checked bag for Basic travelers, but no mileage credit or pre-assigned seats.
Alaska Air is offering PFD fares to both Seoul and Tokyo via Seattle aboard Hawaiian’s new 787s. Prices are about $825 round-trip to either destination. The best prices are in November, January and February.
Unlike its offers to the South Pacific, Alaska’s cheapest flights to Asia are Basic rates. But Alaska’s Basic rates include two free checked bags and meal service. Travelers have to pay an extra $160 round-trip for pre-assigned seats and mileage credit.
Delta matched Alaska’s price to Tokyo in Basic, but charges more for Main: $260 round-trip.
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Alaska Airlines has lots of destinations on sale in the Lower 48 for its PFD sale. Delta, United and American are matching some but not all of the prices. Further, the other airlines are adding more cities not included in Alaska’s sale, places like International Falls, Minnesota ($281 round-trip on Delta); McAllen, Texas ($291 round-trip on American); and Elko, Nevada ($276 round-trip on Delta).
Across the Lower 48, the best prices start at around $216 round-trip (from Anchorage to Eugene or Redmond, Oregon) to $316 round-trip to East Coast destinations like Boston; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Miami.
This year’s PFD sale to the Lower 48 offers prices that are good but not significantly different from those available earlier in the summer. What’s different is the rates are valid all the way through May 12, 2026. I think that makes it worthwhile to hunt down some deals for the new year.
Remember: Different airlines charge different amounts for the upcharge between Basic and Main. The Basic tickets are cheaper, that’s for sure. But airlines feel compelled to make you suffer with late-stage boarding, inability to change your ticket and no loyalty points (or very few).
It’s always a good idea to plan your next trip. It makes more sense to buy your tickets when they’re on sale — but only when you’re sure you’re not going to change your dates.