Yukon & Alaska airlines

Airlines, along with banks and government, are favorite targets for people in general to vent about. In the Yukon and Alaska, however, we have airlines that people brag about, despite the fact that the airlines have, at times, some of the toughest weather conditions on earth to deal with.

Since Air North expanded into jet service to the Outside, they have been getting consistent rave reviews from passengers, and investors fight to get on the list to buy into the next stock offering. The direct flights to Calgary make visiting my daughter much easier than it used to be, and the cabin crew are, I’m certain, among the best in the industry.

Last week, J.D. Power and Associates ranked Alaska Airlines first among North American network carriers with five-star ratings in six areas: overall satisfaction, flight reservations / scheduling, check-in, aircraft interior, flight crew and boarding / deplaning / baggage. Notably, Alaska Air was one of only two airlines that showed overall improvement this year over 2007. I’m about to leave to guide another Yukon-Alaska motorcoach tour, and will have the pleasure in a couple of weeks of flying Alaska Airlines from Anchorage to Juneau on my way home.