Air from Seattle to Atlanta

[Dothan1952]

We have done several Alaska cruises in the past (pre-pandemic) from Pittsburgh. We now live in SE Alabama. When looking at flight time for the return flight it looks like most flight from Seattle leave about 11:30 AM ( yes can be done but is risky ) or are red-eye flights around midnight or so. What are other cruisers doing that live on the eastern part of the country?

[CruiserBruce]

Air flight issues are discussed on the Cruise Air board. Logistics for getting to Seattle Airport are discussed on the West Coast Departures board. 

 

I would go for the 11:30 flight, or stay overnight,  and catch the 11:30 ( or earlier) flight the next day.

[klfrodo]

Living on the west coast but always sail from the east coast, we always spend the night before flying home. Allows us to relax and take our time getting off the ship, maybe do some sightseeing, check into the hotel, catch a nice dinner, then catch a good nights sleep before catching the early 6 hour flight home.

Edited May 3 by klfrodo

[FlyerTalker]

There's a reason for this.  It's called time zones.

 

Flying SEA to ATL is over 2100 miles and about 5 hours of flight time.  So a flight leaving at noon Pacific time arrives at about 8pm Eastern.  Just in time for the last connection bank.  So there's little reason to have other afternoon flights getting in late at night, or after midnight Eastern.  Thus, nothing until the red-eyes, which arrive in time for the morning connections at ATL.

 

You'll find this not just from SEA, but also SFO and LAX -- eastbounds have this afternoon lull for transcons.

 

There is one DL flight that leaves SEA mid-afternoon, but since it arrives around midnight, there's no onward connection until morning.  It's pretty much for local market, and to rotate aircraft back to ATL for maintenance.

 

 

 

 

[SelectSys]

If it was me, I would leave Seattle on the 11:30 flight unless you plan on spending a couple of days in the city.