Where to fly on Alaska Airlines?

August 18, 2015 6:26 PM

Through circumstances too long and boring to relate here partner and I have come into a $900 credit for Alaska Airlines. Now we just need somewhere to go. Suggestions?

Here are some further salient details:

1.) We will be travelling in late September of this year. (The credit expires in October.)

2.) Because of the credit situation, we can only fly to destinations offered by Alaska Airlines. We would prefer not to visit Mexican, Costa Rican, Hawaiian, or Canadian destinations on this trip.

3.) The accommodations budget only allows for a stay of a three or four days.

4.) I like baseball, but don't love it so much that any trip must include a game.

5.) Probably don't want to visit anywhere that the temperature is going to consistently exceed 90F.

6.) We are not the outdoorsy, nature-adventure sort of people.

posted by Gin and Comics to Travel & Transportation (13 answers total)

Where would you be flying from?
posted by lovelygirl at 6:28 PM on August 18, 2015

Response by poster: We'll be flying out of Toronto, Canada.
posted by Gin and Comics at 6:33 PM on August 18, 2015

There are a zillion Alaska Air flights to Seattle and Portland, both of which are fun, walkable cities with lots of good food.
posted by charmedimsure at 6:38 PM on August 18, 2015 [4 favorites]

If it were me, I'd be headed (back) to Hawaii -- for me i'd go back to Oahu, but it looks like Alaska flies to lots of places in Hawaii. The average high is about 27C year round. Tons of shopping & cultural things to do in Honolulu if that interests you, or just hang out on some of the amazing beaches if thats more your style. Hotels are expensive though, and from Toronto that'd be a really long flight -- it might not be worth it for only a few days.

My other idea was Vegas. Yes, it'll be hot, but you don't need to actually go outside. All the casinos on the strip are pretty much connected (and have AC), and there's so much more to do/see than the gambling aspect. My next trip is going to be all about seeing all the amazing shows, for example. 3-4 days is perfect for Vegas.

On edit: $900 for both people. Oh. Probably can't do Hawaii for that.
posted by cgg at 6:53 PM on August 18, 2015

Chicago is full of stuff to do, really easy to get around, won't be too hot at the end of September, and is a fairly short (and probably affordable) flight from Toronto.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:03 PM on August 18, 2015

I think you could certainly make a nice 3-4 day vacation in SF (September is the best month to visit, usually), Portland, Seattle. You wouldn't need a car unless you wanted a day trip to Wine Country or nature. Baseball is a good option in SF and in Seattle.

You could do a nice trip in LA. If you stick mainly to the west side, it will be less hot, though Sept might be ok all over. You'll probably want to rent a car but don't be too ambitious and just end up in traffic all the time.

3-4 days also makes a nice trip in New Orleans, though it could be warmer and more sultry than you want, better toward the end of the month. If you go there just try to stay near but not in the Quarter. Lots of stuff to see/eat/hear.

Really, I feel like anything can be fun for a few days.
posted by vunder at 7:12 PM on August 18, 2015

Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia aren't very hot in late September and are all fun cities that don't require any outdoorsy activities to have a good time.
posted by lovelygirl at 7:16 PM on August 18, 2015

Personally, I really like San Francisco. One advantage that Alaska Airlines has is that there's three different regional airports that are served by them - San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:29 PM on August 18, 2015

Alaska codeshares with American and Delta so you can add their destinations to your list of possibilities if you're worried about being limited to the map. Not every flight, but many - I found an itinerary on their website from Toronto to Chicago to Seattle to Albuquerque, for example, and only Seattle to Albuquerque was an actual Alaska plane; the others just had Alaska flight numbers.

What about California wine country near Napa/Sonoma (fly to Santa Rosa, San Francisco, or Oakland) or Monterey/Big Sur (fly to San Jose)? You'd need to rent a car but you'll find amazing food and lovely views in both these places.
posted by mdonley at 3:24 AM on August 19, 2015

Philadelphia would be a great trip if you've never been, but the Pope is visiting at the end of September and basically destroying the city and its transit system, so plan accordingly.
posted by telegraph at 4:12 AM on August 19, 2015

Juneau is beautiful and relaxing but outdoorsy. From there you can take a ferry to Sitka and back.
posted by jabah at 5:47 AM on August 19, 2015

Come to Minneapolis! We have the Twins at Target Field. The St Paul Saints also have a new stadium but they don't have any September games past Labor Day (Sept 7) unless they make it into the post-season. We have two zoos plus tons of museums and theaters.

Otherwise, Washington - Dulles is close to both Harper's Ferry and DC.
posted by soelo at 7:26 AM on August 19, 2015

I'm not sure if California is too far for you for such a short trip, but the weather tends to be very nice at that time of year - low 70s in San Francisco, maybe a little cooler, and mid 70s to mid 80s in Los Angeles if you're not too far inland. Good sightseeing weather! San Francisco and LA both have really nice baseball stadiums. You will probably be able to find significantly cheaper accommodations (hotel or Air BnB) in Los Angeles than SF, but either city will more expensive than most other US cities.
posted by insectosaurus at 2:31 PM on August 19, 2015