Juneau Travel Forum

Would anyone know how accurate and timely are the flights between Anchorage and Juneau in Late May (the 7:00 AM flight from Anchorage arrives Juneau arround 9:30AM)
What are the chances the flights gets delayed or even cancelled?
Thanks

That particular Alaska Airlines flight has an on time departure rating of "8" on a scale of 1 to 10.

While on the treadmill at my health club and watching the cable news on my individual flatscreen tv, I saw a story on Airlines being on time or not on time. Out of all the airlines in the country, Alaska Airlines ranked LAST!!!!!!!!!! Alaska Airlines got a mere 67% of its flights on time.

Remember, this 67% probably only tells part of the story. "On-time" means departing up to 15 minutes late from the gate. Even then, you can sit for two hours on the tarmack, away from the gate but waiting to actually take off, and that still counts as "on-time."

My sister just flew back from Alaska one day late, because Alaska Airlines cancelled her flight and couldn't get her out until the next day. She got back to her job late and got fired for missing work.

The flight schedules up and down southeast Alaska are not reliable, due mostly to the weather in Juneau. Ive flown Anchorage - Juneau - Sitka quite a few times, and about half the time there is a significant delay or cancellation.

The weather in Juneau often changes during the hour and a half that it takes to fly from Anchorage. In this case the flight usually bypasses Juneau and lands in Sitka.

I would not make any travel arrangements to Juneau unless I have some leeway in my plans.

Otherwise, I think Alaska airlines does ok. People who live in SE Alaska are accustomed to the unpredictable weather and plan accordingly.

Mike

The biggest issue flying into Juneau is visibility, especially snow in the winter. Late may the issue would be fog. But Juneau has a new instrument approach system that has vastly improved the problem the past year or so.

If you do divert to Sitka you will have been diverted to one of the most scenic towns in Alaska. And you can always catch the daily ferry to Juneau :)

Forgive my intrusion ... what if I book a flight from Anchorage to Juneau and the connection to Gustavus and I land in Sitka?
How/when could I reach Gustavus from there?

Chances are if you divert to Sitka, you'll have to wait until you get back to Juneau to catch your flight to Gustavus. One thing to remember, is Alaska may decide to continue on from Sitka to Ketchikan and Seattle to remain on sked for the rest of the flight's legs. While on the ground in Sitka, check ferry skeds. If there's one heading to Juneau that night, take it rather than the flight to Seattle. Be sure to let Alaska know what you are doing so they don't cancel the rest of your reservation.

But the issue is most likely moot. Chances of Alaska gettinbg into Juneau as sked are very, very, good.

You will probably get into Juneau on time or within a few hours of your scheduled time. But the daily ferry to Juneau is now a twice per week ferry.

Anyways, I dont mean to make it sound worse that it is. Ive never heard of anyone being stuck for more than a day. And like Rick said, Sitka is a great place to be stranded in. You might not want to leave.

Mike