frugaltravel

I don't understand your reasoning. OW Emerald is OW Emerald is OW Emerald. IF, as Gardyloo posted, LAN plays when it suits them, what is the point of the Alliance??? On codeshare flights , should not all elites on the same level be treated the same??? Do you not think in the tit for tat world of airline codeshares, the money equals out in the end?

I realize this is a rhetorical question (or if not, then I wonder!). Alliances are all about the airlines and their revenue and operations. It has little if anything to do with the passengers (except of course their own PR spin). They tout "seamless connections" but those were always possible through interline agreements. Nothing new there. Mile earning is not the same across the alliance. An E fare on one airline might earn 100% miles in one program but 50% or 0% miles in another program within the same alliance. This is just one instance of "discrimination" between programs, whether that pertains to elites or anyone.

Now the entire "alliance" concept is rapidly deteriorating. As PaulMCO said, airlines treat their own elites better than alliance elites. You find this in the SkyTeam alliance as well.

Note that some airlines don't allow Expert Flyer to show their award inventory. Delta has not been in Expert Flyer for as long as I can remember. Most Star Alliance members including United also disappeared last year. Expert Flyer is no longer the resource it once used to be. I believe greatam thinks so highly of it is because she generally has American Airlines miles.

If the only goal is to get to the tram than the Crow Creek side and the shorter hike is perfect, particularly with your busy schedule. The longer hike from the resort side is very scenic and is as much a reward as the tram but would take quite a bit longer. We haven’t hiked from the Crow Creek side but see the trail head when we drive up that road. Parking might be an issue. Frugal will know.

Not an issue since they made a new parking lot a couple of summers ago. Plenty of parking spaces on the Crow Creek mine side.

Yes, it is difficult with most airlines to use miles these days.

If you looked closer at the British Air connection using AA miles, you would have seen that besides the required miles, you would have had to pay several hundred dollars in "fuel surcharges" (regardless of what they are called by each airline, it is a hefty surcharge).

Note that getting close to Hubbard Glacier in May and early June can be iffy. When I did it in early June one year, we only got 8 (!) miles from Hubbard Glacier, no closer. Quite disappointing.

So I would take a cruise that includes Glacier Bay and let Hubbard be an extra bonus if it also includes that.

It is about 3 miles to the tram one way. It does seem like quite a ways although the trail is mostly flat with boardwalks in some areas. It's nice hike even if you don't get to the tram. You can get to the tram from the Crow Creek side which would take transportation to get to that side. Probabably about 5 miles from Alyeska. The hand tram is about 1/2 mile hike from that side.

Much easier to hike to the hand tram from the Crow Creek side, but it sounds like the OP already has transportation (rental car) so it is a non-issue.

Personally I would not drive all the way back to Anchorage after the PWS tour. I would probably spend the night in Girdwood. That would give you more time to explore this area the day that you drive to Seward.

I assume you already have your one-way car rental booked with Hertz.

When does your cruise depart? You really don't need a car in Seward if you want to save some costs.

Find a bus stop that is not necessarily closest to where your cruise ship docks. It might mean walking to another stop further away, but if you board in a different spot (i.e. further west or south of the cruise area) you might (or might not) have a better chance of it not being full. Of course, you don't have a ton of time if your ship docks at 11am and the bus is at 11.20. But if the ship docks at 11am and you are waiting 15-20 minutes before then, you will be off the ship very quickly.

As was said, no need to call them. You can find that info on each company's website. Also, most booking engines won't let you book a pick up when the rental agency is closed.

Generally off-airport companies are open Mon through Friday from early morning until 6pm or so and on Saturday mornings.

How early do you mean when you say "early June"? I assume on/after June 8th since camper buses really don't start until then.

I absolutely disagree with the above information. How many of the posters on this thread have been on camper buses, and especially this first morning departure from Wonder Lake? I have been on it more times than I can count on two hands.

1 - you CAN take a camper bus with a shuttle bus ticket. You just can't start at the WAC on a camper bus unless you are camping. But after it leaves the WAC, it is fair game to anyone with a camper or shuttle bus ticket if there are open seats. It is included in the "any green bus" that shuttle bus ticket holders may board.

2 - shuttle bus times on the schedule are the EARLIEST times they will depart from those stops. They are required to wait until those times and not depart earlier (occasionally a driver violates this rule, but it is very rare). They might be late. But if you switch to the earliest camper bus that departs Wonder Lake about 6.30am it is scheduled to arrive at the WAC at 11.20am. Even if it is two hours late it will be back by 2pm. That is a very dependable arrival time for the most part. It goes directly from Wonder Lake to the WAC (not through Kantishna) and besides those who board at Wonder Lake it generally only picks up backcountry campers (day trippers won't be too far into the park yet as you see from the schedule you looked at). It is never full either. They make few stops en route for wildlife sightings since most on the bus sleep or chat for a good ways and are not looking for wildlife. Plus, there usually are very few people on this bus, so fewer eyes to spot wildlife. I am often on this bus and have never, ever seen it close to full. Now the camper bus that departs Wonder Lake at 8am is a totally different story - very often that one is full. But not the 6.30am departure.

Also, when you board the bus at the WAC (or better yet at the Tek rest stop), tell your driver that you are planning on taking the camper bus back to the entrance. If your bus is late heading into the park, he will flag down the camper bus so you can transfer to it when it passes.

YES this is VERY doable.

Since we stick to the Holland America Excursions so in case there is a problem, the ship will wait for us, I can only speak for cruise-sponsored excursions.

Have you ever heard of an independent operator in Alaska leaving cruise passengers stranded after their cruise ship departed? In years and years of traveling there, I haven't. That line is actually just a "scare tactic" for the cruise lines to discourage people from booking independent excursions.

Harv & Marvs is a great example - 6-passenger boats vs. the 100+ passenger boats the cruise lines contract. Four hours on the water vs. +-3 hours for the cruise excursion. Free drop off at Mendenhall Glacier (not sure if the cruise line option even offers this, though they might).

I have Plat status with Delta and have been known to pay to sit up front more often than not but I have never noticed any kind of preferential treatment with respect to meal choices or service. Am I just not paying attention?

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Helen

DL doesn't do that.

Just to confirm, the Global Entry status doesn't help with coming back through Customs at the cruise terminal during disembarkation? i.e., there isn't a special GE line? My husband and I are strongly considering applying for the TSA precheck program, but I wasn't sure if the GE program would do us much good.

Global Entry is one program ($100 for five years) and TSA Pre Check is another ($85, I think also for 5 years).

I haven't heard anything new about GE for arriving cruise ship passengers.

Sorry to jump in. What about car rentals? Are they open until midnight as well?

You have to check each car rental company's hours. Many are open well past midnight.

To clarify, it is the rules of the airline that is the "most significant carrier" in the itinerary. It sounds like you have a non-stop flight from Chicago to Madrid so the airline that operates that flight would be the one whose rules you follow.

If someone were first connecting on a shorter flight within the USA to the longer transatlantic flight, they would use the rules of the airline that operates the transatlantic flight.

I would definitely try to do something in/near Haines vs. going to Skagway. Skagway is much more commercialized. Haines is quieter, more "real" if you want to use that word, no big commercial shops, jewelry shops, etc. The Glacier Point excursion is popular. Renting a car and driving up the Haines Highway and/or to Chilkoot Lake will be very scenic and popular.

You don't say when you are going, but if later in July or Aug/Sep, you have a good chance of seeing bears as you drive to Chilkoot Lake.

Two nights at McKinley Princess is definitely at least 1 night too long. But if you stick to the cruisetour, I would take the full day in Denali and book a shuttle bus to Wonder Lake. You can always get off at Eielson and turn around to the entrance. At Eielson you can do a couple of activities with rangers - a noon hike that is about a 1,000 foot elevation gain or a 1pm much easier "stroll." Or you could just get off the bus and do your own hiking in the park.

I was not an elite with AA in Sept when they took mine a good 10 hrs early.:rolleyes:

I have been trying to find the federal rule/law that requires checked luggage to be accepted no more than 4 hours before departure and can't find it. Perhaps someone can post a link to that rule. Maybe the person who posted that it is a rule or anyone else?

I am not a fan of staying just one night in a place unless really needed. So I totally agree that 2 nights in Seattle is better than 1 night in Seattle and one night in Anchorage. I would try to book a fairly early flight from Seattle to Anchorage. If you get in by about noon, you have your car by about 1pm, and will probably want to have lunch. So now it is 2pm before you start your drive. It is a 3 hour drive without many stops from Anchorage to Seward, but you will want to stop a lot. It is a very scenic drive with lots to see/do. It would not surprise me if you left at 3pm you would not arrive in Seward until 8-9pm. Girdwood, the scenic pullouts, the Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier area, maybe Hope or Moose Pass for dinner, etc.

Then you can take the morning of the cruise and either do a Kenai Fjords 6 hour boat tour (highly recommended) or visit Exit Glacier, Sealife Center, Seavey's kennels or numerous other activities before boarding your ship.

I have to disagree that if Jet Blue can't get you there, Spirit probably can't either. If the storm is concentrated further east on the coast, it is very possible that Jet Blue will have canceled flights to/from JFK, but Spirit's non-stop flight will still operate from upstate NY to FLL.

Nothing anyone can really say, except as was mentioned to continue checking. Realize that the longer you wait to purchase another ticket, the more expensive it will become. Often buying a ticket with less than 7 days, then less than 3 days before departure will increase the cost.

I have used Spirit a couple of times. Basically you pay for everything, even carry on luggage that won't fit under the seat in front of you. If you don't print your boarding pass at home or at the kiosk at the airport, they charge you. If you want seats assigned in advance, they charge you. The list goes on. The "seat pitch" (distance between seats) is the tightest of any airline in the USA. If you are aware of all this stuff in advance, and read every single page of their website as you go through the booking process, you won't have any surprises. But most people just click through page after page without reading, then complain when they hear about all the charges at the airport (and if you want until the airport to pay, you are charged more).

So? Is that a bad thing? Personally, we booked GW for Alaska this July and I enjoyed reading these posts! I have chatted with Teresa several times on-line and can't wait to meet her and Sean! Love the great reviews and intend to post one myself upon our return!

Not bad, just suspicious as I said. All of your posts on CC are not glowing reviews of one tour operator.

I never "plan" or "intend" to post a glowing review of any tour operator before I even take a tour. They have to earn any glowing review I give.

No, not really. Yes, a nonstop is, by defintion, a direct flight, but the OP said direct flight when I'd bet the bank that he/she meant not just any old direct flight, but one that is nonstop specifically. i.e. I'll bet they were referring to travel that included no intermediary stops in between boarding and deplaning.

You can "bet" all you want but that doesnt change the definition or the fact that the OP was correct.

I think its going to be an AA plane. The flight isn't until August 2nd so I have time yet but when I looked at seats, 3/4 of them are taken already.

Most likely 3/4 of the seats are not "taken" but many are blocked for frequent flyers.

Also, you should be able to tell now who is supposed to operate the flight. Airlines are required by law to tell you if the flight is operated by an airline other than the one you bought the ticket from.

In the spirit of correctness and to avoid confusion, SW is not the IATA abbreviation for Southwest Airllines. SW is the code for Air Namibia. The code for Southwest is WN. Julia

We have been through that diversion more times than anyone cares to count. SW is commonly accepted among the general flying public (i.e. not avid flyers and not DYKWIA's) as being Southwest. Heck, you obviously realized they were talking about Southwest :D

And in the further spirit of correctness and to avoid confusion, presumably what FlaGrl4Evr is referring to is a non-stop flight, not a direct one. WN has a LOT of direct flights that are most certainly NOT non-stop.

Actually all non-stop flights are direct flights. But not all direct flights are non-stop. So technically the poster was correct even if they meant non-stop.

I took Magic Bus from Anchorage to Whittier. They picked me up at the hotel, made a couple of stops along the way and we were in Whittier in plenty of time for the Prince William Sound day tour. I am sure you could do it with the train too - check the train schedules. You need a train that arrives before noon.

Do you realize you resurrected a 3+ year old thread? Plus, your only two posts on the forum are glowing reports of Glacier Wind? Seems a bit suspicious to me.