Quick question - Alaska Airlines

[Sorsha]

For those who fly Alaska Air up and down the West Coast, and specifically to DL...

I know bags cost $25 apiece, but if you have a round-trip ticket on the airline, do you pay $25/bag EACH way (there and then back again) or just $25/bag (once they tag it as paid you are good for coming home as well without paying again)?

Thanks!

 

[bethy]

It's $25 EACH way.

 

[Sorsha]

It's $25 EACH way.

RATS. I was afraid that would be the answer LOL.

 

[bethy]

Yeah, it would have sure been nice to have been pleasantly surprised! We do check a bag or two but try to pack pretty light.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

If possible upgrade to Alaska Airline's elite class or whatever they call it if you have a direct flight. The upgrade is as little as $50 each way, you get bigger seats, food, free booze and your first bag of luggage is free (possibly more but can't remember). When we fly from Bellingham to Vegas it is the first thing I ask for. To do it, buy your ticket and then wait and within 24 hours of your departure you can request if they have a space available upfront.

 

[Sorsha]

If possible upgrade to Alaska Airline's elite class or whatever they call it if you have a direct flight. The upgrade is as little as $50 each way, you get bigger seats, food, free booze and your first bag of luggage is free (possibly more but can't remember). When we fly from Bellingham to Vegas it is the first thing I ask for. To do it, buy your ticket and then wait and within 24 hours of your departure you can request if they have a space available upfront.

That would be SO nice. However...

We fly out of a tiny little airport, so "direct flights" to somewhere like SoCal don't happen. Also, we have to fly on tiny little puddlejumper airplanes that don't even HAVE space upfront. Most of the time I count myself lucky not to look out the window and see someone spinning the prop by hand to start up the plane.

 

[Aladora]

For those who fly Alaska Air up and down the West Coast, and specifically to DL... I know bags cost $25 apiece, but if you have a round-trip ticket on the airline, do you pay $25/bag EACH way (there and then back again) or just $25/bag (once they tag it as paid you are good for coming home as well without paying again)? Thanks!

We used to fly Alaska but for our upcoming trip we are going on South West. The cost is approximately the same for SEA-SNA but no baggage fees!

 

[Sorsha]

We used to fly Alaska but for our upcoming trip we are going on South West. The cost is approximately the same for SEA-SNA but no baggage fees!

Our airport is so cruddy Southwest doesn't even fly in and out of it!!

I wish it did...

 

[teacherlisa1978]

We fly Alaska pretty exclusively. I really wish they'd give a break on baggage fees to their credit card holders.

 

[jkolkemo]

This is our first time flying and we are on Alaska. I plan on trying to take less and use the Vons grocery delivery to the hotel with our snacks, drinks, and wet items -- I like to bring my own shampoo and conditioner and sunscreen. That way we will just do carry on, and maybe cut down on the number of bags we take. We are staying 1 week and extra snacks is a must. From what I heard the grocery delivery is a great way to do it.

 

[Sorsha]

This is our first time flying and we are on Alaska. I plan on trying to take less and use the Vons grocery delivery to the hotel with our snacks, drinks, and wet items -- I like to bring my own shampoo and conditioner and sunscreen. That way we will just do carry on, and maybe cut down on the number of bags we take. We are staying 1 week and extra snacks is a must. From what I heard the grocery delivery is a great way to do it.

Yeah, I think we have decided that we will do carry-on only. I went and measured all of my small bags this morning, and we have enough that each person can have their free carry-on and their personal item. I will have a carry-on and my purse, DH will have a carry-on and his laptop case, each of the DDs will have a carry-on and a small purse with game boy, cell phone, etc.

We will have a rental car, so we can stop at a store for sunblock, snacks, shampoo, toothpaste, etc; and we will have an opportunity to do laundry halfway through at a relative's house if we need to. We are staying 1 week and a day; the first 4 days are at DLR, the second 4 are in San Diego.

 

[awdsmama]

My son and I flew Alaska in March for our 7 day vacation and flew carryon only. He took a 22" rolling suitcase and his backpack (I put the shoes in there). I bought the large duffel from Vera Bradley and LOVE IT. It was perfect. Held all my stuff for the week plus room for some souvenirs. And since it's soft/cloth it's lightweight and easy to shove in the overhead.

 

[Geemo]

I will have a carry-on and my purse, DH will have a carry-on and his laptop case, each of the DDs will have a carry-on and a small purse with game boy, cell phone, etc.

For our trips to DLR we all do a main carry-on bag. I don't want to mess with baggage claim when we arrive in SoCal. It's straight out to the taxi and on our way.


FYI
I recommend instead of a small purse have the kids put their small purse in a school type backpack, as their second item. I always have each kid bring a backpack even if it's empty on the way down. This gives us flexibility on the way back for souvenirs.

I don't know if we are the only ones...... But packing to come home I find there is always more to jam in. I've also been know to pack an empty barrel bag in my suit case to get things home. Coming home I have no problem checking at least one bag. It seems like one of the grandkids buys something that might not be okay with TSA and then we check a bag.

Have a great trip!!!


Geemo

 

[sonnyjane]

This is our first time flying and we are on Alaska. I plan on trying to take less and use the Vons grocery delivery to the hotel with our snacks, drinks, and wet items -- I like to bring my own shampoo and conditioner and sunscreen. That way we will just do carry on, and maybe cut down on the number of bags we take. We are staying 1 week and extra snacks is a must. From what I heard the grocery delivery is a great way to do it.

Just remember if you are doing carry-on, you'll still have to follow the liquid rules - no bottle bigger than 3.4 ounces.

 

[bumbershoot]

We fly Alaska pretty exclusively. I really wish they'd give a break on baggage fees to their credit card holders.

I do, too. When I fly with DH I get access to his free bags from status... But they don't extend that to me when using his miles but without him there.

Free bags for CC holders and free bags for using miles of a status holder are two things that United DOES and Alaska doesn't. While I like Alaska, I really wish they would emulate United in those ways.

I recommend instead of a small purse have the kids put their small purse in a school type backpack, as their second item. I always have each kid bring a backpack even if it's empty on the way down. This gives us flexibility on the way back for souvenirs.

I don't know if we are the only ones...... But packing to come home I find there is always more to jam in. I've also been know to pack an empty barrel bag in my suit case to get things home. Coming home I have no problem checking at least one bag. It seems like one of the grandkids buys something that might not be okay with TSA and then we check a bag.

I agree with both!




OP what about one really good sized bag to check bag and forth? That way you don't have to go with the bare minimum? And leave empty space in the bag on the way there, in case there are souvenirs to come home.

 

[lk2500]

Just remember if you are doing carry-on, you'll still have to follow the liquid rules - no bottle bigger than 3.4 ounces.

LOL, reminds me of our last trip to Disneyland flying out of LAX. We flew Virgin America and had only one checked bag. We get all the way to the front of the security line and my son says "uh oh!"! I'm like "what in the world is your problem?" He says "when we were on our Washington DC school trip last month a bunch of kids had to throw away their souvenir snow globes they had purchased shen security found them in their carry ons". Of course we had both a DL and SFMM snow globe in my carry on!

I had to go all the back to the Virgin America desk, check an additional bag for $25 (making them now very expensive snow globes). Then, I thought I was lucky that the VA agent was able to escort me to the front of the security line. Nope! I was randomly selected and escorted to the little glass booth to have my hands swabbed for explosive residue, lol I'm sure that they profiled me and were very suspicious of those snow globes.

Whelp, I was going to post a warning about no snow globes in your carry ons... but a quick google search is showing snow globes smaller than a tennis ball to be ok if they can fit in your quart sized bag. Good to know!

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items