![\"Rolling](\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202107\/630\/P1000024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/br>Rolling Clouds against Mountain Range<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite weather not being the most cooperating, last year my friend and I explored a few popular places in Alaska with their most vibrant autumn colors. With COVID and few crowds, it\u2019s probably the best week-long trip I had. In fact, I liked it so much I decided to visit the state again this summer.<\/p>\n
Ticketing<\/span><\/h3>\nWith Alaska Airline’s rather generous award stopover policy, I got a set of roundtrip flights to Utqia\u0121vik, Alaska from Washington Reagan, stopping at Anchorage and Juneau on respective legs. <\/p>\n
\n\n06.30<\/td>\n AS3<\/td>\n Washington Reagan<\/td>\n Seattle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n06.30<\/td>\n AS127<\/td>\n Seattle<\/td>\n Anchorage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n07.05<\/td>\n AS51<\/td>\n Anchorage<\/td>\n Utqia\u0121vik<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n07.06<\/td>\n AS50<\/td>\n Utqia\u0121vik<\/td>\n Anchorage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n07.06<\/td>\n AS70<\/td>\n Anchorage<\/td>\n Juneau<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n07.09<\/td>\n AS176<\/td>\n Juneau<\/td>\n Seattle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n07.09<\/td>\n AS2<\/td>\n Seattle<\/td>\n Washington Reagan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n- For Anchorage, I wanted to hone my hiking skills on some of the more challenging mountains outside the city, since this time I was by myself thus didn’t have to leave my friend at hotel who was less avid in hiking.<\/li>\n
- Utqia\u0121vik, Alaska was the northernmost town in the United States that had no road access to the outside world. I would love to check out this isolated town and experience the polar sun.<\/li>\n
- Juneau was the capital city of Alaska, one of the few cities where Alaska Airlines allowed award stopover. I decided to check out Mendenhall Glacier with its famous ice cave along the way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So for 25k Alaska Airline award miles (plus some nominal fees)<\/span>, I booked myself on 7 flights totaling 9035 miles. I guessed whoever working at revenue control of Alaska Airlines mustn\u2019t be happy with me.<\/span> This post would be about the first 2 that took me across the entire country from Washington DC to Anchorage.<\/p>\nFlight AS3 from Washington Reagan to Seattle<\/span><\/h3>\nAfter wrapping up work on the afternoon of June 30, my friend took me to Fort Totten Metro Station. (Metro green line terminated there during 2021 summer for platform maintenance.) I decided to wear trousers to fit the Alaska climate, which meant it\u2019s quite a workout for me to navigate around the metro station with my two bags. And by the time I reached the platform, I was sweating heavily.<\/p>\n
Luckily, the metro train was punctual, and I timed my departure perfectly so that I sat at the gate for ~7 minutes before boarding time.
\nReagan National Airport\u2019s Terminal B had long been my favorite, for its modern views of National Mall and short security lines. (It\u2019s tenants, Delta, United and Alaska, didn\u2019t have as many flights from the airport as American Airlines which occupied terminal C.) This time, the TSA precheck line was even longer than the general line for security checks.<\/p>\n
- \n
- For Anchorage, I wanted to hone my hiking skills on some of the more challenging mountains outside the city, since this time I was by myself thus didn’t have to leave my friend at hotel who was less avid in hiking.<\/li>\n
- Utqia\u0121vik, Alaska was the northernmost town in the United States that had no road access to the outside world. I would love to check out this isolated town and experience the polar sun.<\/li>\n
- Juneau was the capital city of Alaska, one of the few cities where Alaska Airlines allowed award stopover. I decided to check out Mendenhall Glacier with its famous ice cave along the way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So for 25k Alaska Airline award miles (plus some nominal fees)<\/span>, I booked myself on 7 flights totaling 9035 miles. I guessed whoever working at revenue control of Alaska Airlines mustn\u2019t be happy with me.<\/span> This post would be about the first 2 that took me across the entire country from Washington DC to Anchorage.<\/p>\n
Flight AS3 from Washington Reagan to Seattle<\/span><\/h3>\n
After wrapping up work on the afternoon of June 30, my friend took me to Fort Totten Metro Station. (Metro green line terminated there during 2021 summer for platform maintenance.) I decided to wear trousers to fit the Alaska climate, which meant it\u2019s quite a workout for me to navigate around the metro station with my two bags. And by the time I reached the platform, I was sweating heavily.<\/p>\n
Luckily, the metro train was punctual, and I timed my departure perfectly so that I sat at the gate for ~7 minutes before boarding time.
\nReagan National Airport\u2019s Terminal B had long been my favorite, for its modern views of National Mall and short security lines. (It\u2019s tenants, Delta, United and Alaska, didn\u2019t have as many flights from the airport as American Airlines which occupied terminal C.) This time, the TSA precheck line was even longer than the general line for security checks.<\/p>\n