<p>DS and I are dreaming of a trip to Alaska in December (we want to see the northern lights and I understand winter is the best time to see the northern lights). We’ve found a resort called Chena Hot Springs that sounds fun, even in December. But how do we find the best airfare? Are there websites that will notify you if a great deal becomes available? When are the best airfare deals available - six months before a trip? one month? I don’t think I’ve ever tried to plan a trip so far in advance. I usually use hotwire or something similar to figure out which airlines fly to our destination and then go the individual airline sites but I’m usually planning only a month or less ahead of our trip. Right now it looks like the best deal we could get is around $800 each round trip. If we wait will we find better deals? I’ve been looking at lots of possibilities, like us both flying out of Oakland or SFO or DS flying out of LAX and me flying out of Oakland or SFO and then both returning to Oakland/SFO (we’d be traveling during his winter break and he’s at school in southern California). This is a total fantasy trip for us both and I’m really trying to figure out how to make it happen and not spend everything on airfare - if we have money left over we could go to dogsled school and learn to be mushers - something to fall back on if the math thing doesn’t work out for DS ;). Thanks</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn’t fly anyone but Alaska Air in and out of Alaska in the winter, because I’d want the years of experience. </p>
<p>That said, I’d expect to find limited flights in December, which implies that you’ll get the cheapest fares by booking as far as possible in advance. Have you checked <a href=“http://www.farecast.com?[/url]”>www.farecast.com?</a></p>
<p>Also, I would check on the cost if you fly in and out of Seattle, then look for discount flights from CA to Seattle. You could even spend a day or two in Seattle, which some of us enjoy in December, despite the incessant drizzle that’s common in December.</p>
<p>With little competition on this route fares are always high.</p>
<p>dmd, thanks so much for the link to farecast.com Its exactly what I was looking for!</p>
<p>Now is not the time to look for cheap fares to Alaska (think 1 million tourists). Fares usually drop in the fall. I use Kayak.com to watch fares. You can set it to have them email you daily with cheapest fare. It is a search engine just for travel.</p>
<p>Keep in mind December in Fairbanks is usually VERY VERY VERY cold and will only have 2 hours of day light. My suggestion is to plan to spend some time down here in balmy Anchorage too. We hardly ever get to 40 below!</p>
<p>Last time I left Alaska I flew Contenental. It was $200 cheaper than Alaska Air - plus they served lunch (for free) and showed a movie.</p>
<p>We use JohnnyJet - This site lets you comparison shop all the major consolidators.</p>
<p>Remember that flights from Anc to Fairbanks can get cancelled due to weather in December. The drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks is beautiful - rental cars do not have studded tires or block heaters and there are miles without cell coverage. Prepare for at least minus 20 temps.</p>
<p>Skiers-Mom is right - we can have great aurora viewing from Anchorage. Consider a trip to Alyeska ski resort, a usually safe 45 drive from Anchorage. Anyplace away from city lights.</p>
<p>That said we have done Chena Hot Springs in December and it’s worth the trip - but we live in Anchorage.</p>
<p>My husband is an aurora junkie - check out these two web sites : <a href=“http://www.spaceweather.com%5B/url%5D”>www.spaceweather.com</a> and <a href=“http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/d[/url]”>http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/d</a></p>
<p>We live in Fairbanks and I have to say that the best flights are the Alaska Airlines flights directly to Fairbanks. If you fly to Anchorage and then make the connection to FAI, especially the 11PM flight, you will most likely be delayed since FAI is the end of the line and they delay the last flights of the evening to make sure that all the flights make the FAI connection. December, during winter break, is also a very busy time since the locals are trying to escape, the college kids are all coming home, and we still have the tourists coming in. All that with one airline. 
Really. Delta et al only fly here in the summer. Alaska is the only airline to fly the Fairbanks route in the winter. Here is the link to the school district schedule
<a href=“http://www.northstar.k12.ak.us/index.php?&i_page=20&i_docView=2461&a_action=view&m_module=document[/url]”>http://www.northstar.k12.ak.us/index.php?&i_page=20&i_docView=2461&a_action=view&m_module=document</a> </p>
<p>which will give you an idea of the time frame for the most crowded times in Fairbanks. </p>
<p>As far as driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks in December, well, if you are traveling for a heart or kidney transplant and it is the only way, sure. If, however, you have an alternative to the 350 mile drive on a 2 lane highway through the mountains in 60 below weather, do that instead. And as for the lovely scenery, remember, it is dark for 21 hours a day in the interior, so you would miss a great deal of the beauty due to the dark. </p>
<p>Chena Hot Springs is a great experience, but remember, this is Alaska. Chena Hot Springs is on the rustic side, but the auroras from there are phenomenal. That’s all for now, but if you have more questions you can PM me any time.</p>
<p>You mean that Fairbanks in winter doesn’t look like Northern Exposure?</p>
<p>(Inside joke: Northern Exposure was filmed in Redmond, WA, on a sound stage, and the exteriors were filmed in and around Roslyn, WA. It can get chilly in Roslyn, but it’s no Fairbanks.) </p>
<p>(OK, some season 1 and 2 interiors were filmed in Roslyn and Monroe, but after that it was sound stages for interiors and the Roslyn area for exteriors.)</p>
<p>Thank you all for the great info! My son is totally excited about being somewhere where its dark 21 hours a day! And I’m up for the adventure. I hadn’t thought at all about driving - I liked the idea that Chena Hot Springs will pick us up in Fairbanks so I don’t have to worry about driving. I’m off to check out all the websites you wonderful folk have recommended! Thanks again.</p>
<p>yep, Oakland Mom, but it is the 21 hours of light in summer that we really enjoy! 80 degrees and sunny right now. Lovely. The school district actually lets out for winter break very late here this year, so you could even manage to miss the crowds and be here for the shortest day of the year (daylight wise) on December 21st. Bundle up!</p>
<p>We hit 75 in Anchorage today + All the salmon and halibut we can catch. Fished for sockeye at the toe of a glacier last night. Sky was clear, air was quiet, just the zen of fly rods. Wildflowers everywhere. Days like this make the long winters seem very far away.</p>
<p>crabbylady,
oh it sounds so beautiful - someday we’ll make it to Alaska in the summer too!</p>
<p>I’m going to try to visit Alaska. Can’t hack these snowy Buffalo winters.</p>
<p>hahahahahahaha! If you don’t want snow, come to the interior. Here it is frequently too cold to snow. When we see snow we know it has warmed up! Stay away from Southeast, especially Valdez. Am I right, Crabbylady? :)</p>