Alaska Airlines Inside

I’m a huge fan of in-flight Wi-Fi, especially for flights longer than 90 minutes, so I’m excited to learn that two more airlines that serve the Bay Area in a big way are adding it. But not for a while.

First off, Alaska Air announced that it’s reached a deal with AirCell’s Gogo—the same provider used by Virgin America, United, Delta and others. But don’t hold your breath. The carrier still has to go through testing and certification with the FAA. It plans to outfit its fleet of new Boeing 737-800’s first, but has not officially set a target date for installation.

One downside: Much of Alaska Airlines’ flying is over water or desolate areas in Alaska, Canada and Mexico where the ground-based Gogo system is currently out of range of the network of radio towers it depends on. That means I’ll get a good Wi-Fi signal in-flight if I choose an Alaska Airlines flight from here to Seattle or Austin. (It adds a second daily “Nerd Bird” nonstop between San Jose and Austin next week.) But my Wi-Fi is not going to work on those new Alaska Air flights from here to Hawaii. And it will be spotty at best on the long coastal flights between Seattle and Anchorage.

Here’s where this story gets ironic. Southwest Airlines, which flies almost exclusively over land, has chosen another in-flight Wi-Fi provider called Row 44, which uses a satellite-based system that works over water and just about anywhere else.

Alaska Airlines Inside
Alaska Airlines Inside
Alaska Airlines InsideAt one time, Alaska Airlines seemed close to landing a deal with Row 44, which would make sense given its flying patterns. Instead, it’s gone with land-based Gogo. Why? “Ultimately Alaska Airlines decided to go with Aircell’s Gogo service because of its proven track record of deploying affordable inflight Wi-Fi services to travelers. Its lower-cost equipment, coupled with the ease and speed of installation and finally its system reliability, allow us to rapidly deploy a desirable service to customers,” Alaska Airlines spokesperson Bobbie Egan told The BAT.

Anyway, Southwest plans to start outfitting its fleet of 540 Boeing 737’s this spring, and says Wi-Fi will be available fleet wide by late 2012.

Frequent travelers from the Bay Area are lucky… they have more in-flight Wi-Fi choices than nearly any other major city. (Except maybe Atlanta, where AirTran offers it on all flights from its hub there, and Delta’s got it on well over half its fleet.) From the Bay, all Virgin America flights offer it. Delta, United and American offer it on all flights between SFO and JFK, and on select flights to other cities. AirTran offers it on all flights between here and Atlanta and beyond.
Alaska Airlines Inside
Alaska Airlines Inside
Alaska Airlines Inside
Alaska Airlines InsideUNITED ORDERS NEW PLANES. While they won’t be touching down at SFO until at least 2016, United recently announced that it’s placed orders for 50 new wide-body aircraft. It split the order 50/50 between the Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” and the Airbus A350. Both are about the size of current Boeing 767 or 777 aircraft and will eventually replace them.

NOT SO DREAMY. We’ve got an issue with the whole “Dreamliner” name… and get irritated when we see reporters get all wistful and dreamy-eyed thinking that everyone’s going to get a massage and a flat bed for sleeping (and dreaming) on every flight. Sorry folks—the plane is a dream to the airline, because it purportedly uses about 20% less fuel. But it’s not so dreamy for passengers sitting in coach– it’s just another twin-aisle, wide-body plane…okay, with bigger windows, maybe, but still…. (See photo above. Look beyond those dreamy first class seats!)

LOOK RIGHT>>> AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW ADVERTISER! Cavallo Point, located next to the Golden Gate Bridge (down and to the right if you are headed north) has been on our list of must-see Bay Area hotspots since it opened last year. While it’s a gorgeous, historic and luxurious resort, locals should visit to sit in the winter sun on the veranda at it’s Farley’s Bar, soak in the rays and the views, have a great meal and a bottle of wine….and look for your BAT editor! I’ll be there! Really, folks, if you like what you are reading on The BAT, please support our advertisers! It helps us help you! –cjm

UAL: BEST ON TIME PERFORMANCE—EVER? Yep, it’s true. According to the DOT, United was on time 91% of the time this past November, its best performance since the government starting tracking it in 1987. How did this happen? It’s all about the money according to gadling.com. Since last winter, United has offered all employees a $100 bonus each month the airline tops the DOT on-time ranking. They get $65 for second place.

Alaska Houses

Amy has been earning her realtor fee with us! She spent the first day on
a marathon househunting run, about 12 hours by the time we were done!
She's also been very patient with our indecisiveness, and done a great job
finding houses we might like to look at. She's very down-to-earth, not
pushy at all, and cares more about finding us the right house than
putting money in her pocket. You won't catch her trying to impress you
with a fancy suit, or trying to push you into a house you don't want.
Maybe that's why she had the second highest sales last year, even though
she works from home.

The very first house we looked at in Alaska, we call the "Ugly" house.
Not that the house itself is necessarily ugly, it's actually quite nice inside,
but the outside colors are hideous. The price was well within our price range,
but we don't like the location at all... it's right behind the lumber yard. The
Fireplace was the best part, but the inside just wasn't what we were looking for.

Alaska Houses
Alaska Houses
The next house ended up being our favorite for quite a while. We called it the "Sarge"
because there was a picture of an Air Force Staff Sargeant. I love the street name, it's
on Beaujolais Ave. It also backs on some woods, something surprisingly hard to find
here. After looking at several more houses over a couple days, we finally put a bid on
this one. Guess we moved too slow, because they accepted someone else's bid. There
was something fishy about the selling agent though, and the sellers never even saw
our offer. I think it was her own client that had the "winning" bid.
Alaska Houses
Alaska HousesWanting to Explore all our options, we looked at some pretty interesting houses.
This one someone had started a massive addition on, adding an entire second floor.
The odd thing is that whoever started the project knew what they were doing,
what was finished was professional work. No idea why it suddenly went up
for sale half finished. If the living space downstairs had been in better shape,
I might have been more tempted to get this one. The price of $250k in a less
desirable area didn't make it any more appealing.
Alaska HousesWe decided to take a drive out to the Palmer/Wasilla area, because there
are some REALLY nice houses out there for much lower prices than the
Eagle River area. Amy has been showing a model home built by Hall Homes,
which apparently does some pretty good quality work. Brian Fredericks, our
friend and co-worker from Tyndall bought a nice Hall home in Palmer. The model
home is gorgeous! The yard is huge, about 1/2 acre, and there's a creek across the
back. That house was listed for $252k, which we could easily afford. We were
almost ready to put an offer in on it, until we drove back to the hotel. It
took us 25 minutes just to get to Eagle River, so add another 30 minutes
to Heather's work. That was in good weather. I can't even imagine how
long it would take to get to work on bad days, like this morning when it
got icy, and it took about an hour just to get to work from Eagle River.
So here's a pic of the beautiful house we had to turn down because it's
just too far from base. Being new construction, I think the value will go
up considerably once the subdivision is paved and landscaped.

Alaska Hotels

So it may be terribly far-removed from the United States homeland, but for all the work it takes to get to Alaska, it is truly worth the effort. Alaska is a joy for any traveler, no matter how experienced they are, and its natural beauty is second to none. Many people who visit Alaska come to explore the great outdoors here, and as such many of them prefer to look for accommodations in Alaska that allow them to be close to nature. Getting away from it all is easy to do in Alaska, as the state is the largest of the United States and boasts one of the lowest population numbers. Among the top draws in Alaska for outdoors enthusiasts is the great Alaska fishing. But Alaska isn't just about the outdoors. In the larger cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, you can get a taste of urban Alaska and still enjoy the surrounding natural beauty.

Alaska Hotels
Alaska Hotels
Alaska HotelsPart port city and part alpine resort town, Seward, Alaska is a popular place to visit, both for its history and for its activities. A top destination for Alaska fishing trips, and a major docking point for Alaska cruise ships, the top choice for Seward hotels are its lodges. You can find Seward hotels for any budget, which makes enjoying this beautiful city and the nearby Kenai Fjords National Park a true possibility, even if you are tight on funds. When you stay at one of the Seward hotels or lodges, you take advantage of all the Kenai Peninsula has to offer. Not far to the north, but not exactly an easy trip other than by plane, Anchorage has plenty of choices for Alaska hotels that also fit any budget. In the summer months, however, the hotels in Anchorage can fill rather quickly, so getting your reservations in ahead of time is a good idea. You can find listings for hotels in Anchorage online, and your best bet for selection can be found either downtown or near the airport. Anchorage is a wonderful place to visit, with something for everyone. If you like museums, don't miss the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, and if you like the outdoors, you might try sea kayaking for the first time. Almost needless to say, the surrounding views in Anchorage are stunning.
Alaska Hotels
Alaska HotelsAfter visiting Anchorage and Seward, your next point of interest just might be Juneau, which is the state's capital. Juneau is a great city for tourists, and as such, you will find the Alaska hotels here to be quite pleasant, regardless of your budget. The Juneau AK hotels almost all afford amazing mountain views, and if you consider booking your accommodations in Alaska at one of the Juneau AK hotels, you might choose one that can help you arrange some interesting Alaska tours. Juneau is a great base from which to explore Mendenhall Glacier, as well as schedule a visit to Glacier Bay National Park. Stay in one of the Juneau AK hotels, and you have some of the best that an Alaskan vacation has to offer. Skiing, fishing, hiking, shopping, or just sightseeing, Juneau is an all around travel destination. Not far from Juneau, the town of Sitka offers some of the best fishing in North America. The hotels in Sitka that arguably have the most character are those that reflect both the heritages of the Tlingit Indian culture and Czarist Russia. You can find both luxury and budget hotels in Sitka, and booking a fishing charter with one of the local companies is sure to net you that big catch.
Alaska Hotels
Alaska Hotels
If it's the Northern Lights you are after, not to mention a top Alaska destination, then you can book a winter trip to Fairbanks. This activity-laden city is great any time of the year, and Fairbanks has plenty to offer in the way of accommodations in Alaska. Among the Fairbanks Alaska hotels, you can choose to stay downtown, or opt for a lodge perhaps on the Chena River. Many of the downtown Fairbanks Alaska hotels are close to the city's best museums, and as with the other major Alaska cities, there are a handful or more of chain hotels that present a good option for cheap hotels in Alaska. Your flight to Alaska could arrive either at Anchorage or Fairbanks if you plan to visit Denali National Park and Mt. McKinley, and you may be able to find cheap hotels in Alaska by finding a package deal for either city. You might choose to stay at one of the Fairbanks Alaska hotels or at one of the hotels in Anchorage before you head to Denali, where you will find a wide selection of hotels, lodges and cabin rentals just outside of the park's entrance. Skiers will find that Alaska skiing is among the best in the world, and you can find some of the best Alaska resorts at the best skiing areas.

Alaska Wallpapers

Alaska Wallpaper
Alaska Wallpaper
Alaska Wallpaper
Alaska Wallpaper
Alaska Wallpaper
Alaska Wallpaper
Alaska Wallpaper

Alaska Northern Lights

The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are coloured and white flashing lights in the atmosphere north of the Northern Hemisphere. The lights are the result of the ionization of atmospheric molecules, at low temperatures, by solar and cosmic radiation. This phenomenon also occurs in the Antarctic, where it is termed Aurora Australis. This photo of the phenomena was taken over the Alaska’s night sky and has been selected as the Daily Cool Photo on Running Wolf’s Rant for the 20th of February 2011.

Alaska Northern Lights
Alaska Northern LightsProbably one of my most successful shots. I planned the shot of the Igloo with the Northern Lights for quite some time. Unfortunately mother nature does not always cooperate with photographers. After we built the Igloo, which took us two days, the weather changed (almost as "usually" beforte a "big shot"). It was frustrating to have the Igloo ready for days but the weather would just not work with me. I spent night after night out here hoping for a gap in the clouds and freezing my butt of at the same time. Temperatures sometimes were below 40.

After a few days the weather finally cleared and I was happy that clouds did not longer block my view into the cold Alaska nights. If I remember right, it was the third night that finally weather AND northern lights were on my side. I actually planned this shot on my 8x10 large format camera, but I had to set up the camera waaay before dark, by the time the northern lights arrived the shutter was frozen and I could not open the aperture. It was quite painful after all the waiting, sitting and freezing - but not everything was lost. I used my Contax 6x4.5 with a external battery pack, I was able to keep the camera "warm" all day and night so I did not run into the same problem.


Alaska Northern Lights
Alaska Northern Lights
Alaska Northern LightsI set inside the Igloo a Coleman Lamp which provided a warm enough light, I messured all the details before the Aurora borealis started dancing. After about 30 seconds into the shot I had to switch the Lamp off to make sure the Igloo will keep all the details and will not be washed out. Although I can't recall today the exact shutter speed I used I remeber that it was around 5 minutes, which makes sense when you look deep into the picture and focus on the stars which left a short star-trail behind.

The Igloo with the Northern Lights is still one of my very favourites - not only because it was a lot of hard work involved.
Alaska Northern LightsAfter a few days the weather finally cleared and I was happy that clouds did not longer block my view into the cold Alaska nights. If I remember right, it was the third night that finally weather AND northern lights were on my side. I actually planned this shot on my 8x10 large format camera, but I had to set up the camera waaay before dark, by the time the northern lights arrived the shutter was frozen and I could not open the aperture. It was quite painful after all the waiting, sitting and freezing - but not everything was lost. I used my Contax 6x4.5 with a external battery pack, I was able to keep the camera "warm" all day and night so I did not run into the same problem.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has expanded its in-flight Wi-Fi, and it's currently presented to passengers flying between Southeast Alaska and Anchorage and Fairbanks.

That creates onboard Internet service available nearly statewide on its Alaskan routes, the airline said Friday.

Alaska's GoGo Internet access at present is free for travelers — about 70 percent of the carrier's planes are equipped for Wi-Fi — in Alaska and the Lower 48, through Dec. 9.

After Dec. 9, web access aboard Alaska Airlines will cost $4.95 and up, based on the flight's length and the device used.

Other airlines are offering free Wi-Fi throughout the holiday season as well as Virgin America. On-board Internet is free currently on all Virgin America flights through Jan. 2, 2011.

Alaska Airline
Alaska Airline
Alaska Airlines is parent carrier to its regional subsdidary, Horizon Air; both airlines being operated by the Alaska Air Group. Alaska is also a substantial codeshare parter of both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Alaska Airline
Alaska AirlineSkyWest had the most runway delays, with 10 flights stranded for at least three hours. With the new rules that took effect the end of April, airlines are subject to fines of up to $27,500 per passenger for all flights stranded on a runway for three hours or more where the passengers are not given the opportunity to exit the plane.
25 flights in March remained on runways for three hours or longer, with four sitting for at least four hours.
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines turned in the best on-time performances with American Airlines, ExpressJet and JetBlue performing the worst. SkyWest operates regional flights for Delta and United.

Alaska Airline
Alaska AirlineThese are a few of tastes , which provides you to earn a least expensive flight actually . There is no this kind of point as some thing As for absolutely nothing . Nevertheless , by exploring all the possibilities and applying the actions every day you will be astonished how quick you can earn reward flight . You can discover out a lot more about airline travel by Subsequent the actions....

Alaska

The cruising season for Alaska cruises starts in April and runs through September. Cheap Alaska cruises can be found by searching for your cruise during the least busy times, which are at the beginning and end of the season. June, July and August are the busiest cruise season and will be the most difficult time to find discount Alaska cruises. Try searching for cheap Alaska cruises during April and during the last few weeks of the season in September, when many travelers may not realize that cruises are still available and many cruise companies offer deals to fill up their last few cruise trips of the season.

Alaska cruise deals can be found on small cruise ships, but are more likely on the larger ships. While cheap Alaska cruises on smaller ships can be found (usually about a 10 – 15% discount off of the highest prices), larger cruise companies sometimes offer discounts of up to 25 or 30%. Due to their larger size, these cruise companies often are able to offer lower prices on discount Alaska cruises.

Alaska Beautifull Place
Alaska ShipTravelers can also search for cheap Alaska cruises by booking Alaska cruise packages. An almost endless number of separate activities (generally not included in cruise prices) can be booked in the towns and ports of Alaska. Wildlife tours, whale watching tours, whitewater rafting, fishing trips and other historical walking tours through towns like Anchorage can be booked with your cruise price. If you plan to fly into the town your ship leaves from (usually Anchorage, Seattle or Vancouver), you can also package your flight with your cruise ship price. Often by booking all of these travel amenities together, companies will offer a discounted price overall.
Alaska White Ship
Alaska Rock PicterLast minute Alaska cruise deals are yet another way to find cheaper cruises. You can sometimes find 7-night cruises for as low as $599 per person by searching for last minute deals on ships that are about to leave but still have a few empty rooms. If your travel plans are somewhat flexible, try searching for last minute deals. Early booking discounts are also offered by Holland, Cruise America and other major Alaska cruise carriers. They do not offer discounts off of the bottom line prices for early booking, rather, they offer luxury and ocean-view rooms at a discounted cost (usually for the same price as a standard room). As with regularly priced cruises, all cruise trips include breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Alaska River Pic
Alaska Nice PicOn the main street, the Strip – there are all the most famous casinos and a full sense of unreality. In the Venetian gondolas ply the canals, in Paris – Montmartre small, artificial clear sky and chanson in Wynn – show-room Ferrari in Bellagio – Picasso restaurant with scripts on the walls. The most touching – it’s fountains, the casino Bellagio, suiting water performances by Viva Las Vegas and My Heart Will Go On. Generally, in Las Vegas bouts of deja vu is much stronger than in New York. Fountains, you’ve probably seen in “Ocean’s Eleven”, where Bellagio was robbed. A canonical signs on Fremont Street – the famous cowboy and girl wander up and down in her stocking feet, we generally litsezreem more than Piggy with Stepashko. In fact that Vegas, where a kind word and a gun do better than just a kind word, no longer exists. Old Vegas, where ran the Mafia, the FBI executed in mid-1980’s – his agony is shown in the movie “Casino” by Martin Scorsese. Former casino demolished in their place appeared new, more bombastic, more expensive and owned by corporations, not families.