Decided on a winter holiday, and found out that we could do a Alaska + mainland USA trip, with a SGD$1500 (US$1200) flight itinerary that earned us 22000miles on UA, which is a heck of a good deal. Flight itinerary is as follows:
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=sin-sgn-nrt-ord-anc-den,+sjc-nrt-sgn-sin
This trip story will cover the first part of the long trip, which is the Alaska segment. The thought of going Alaska in winter used to be met with reservations, knowing how harsh the climate could be. Somehow my mind decided to take the plunge and go for it. No regrets, Alaska is an amazing winter wonderland! I think it's an experience everyone should try once in their lives!
Took Jetstar 3K551 to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, from home in Singapore. This is a placement flight for my long haul flight on ANA and UA. *TRAVEL TIP: Flying out of SGN compared to SIN saves up to SGD$1000 at times!* SGN is also a modern and cosy airport to stop for a while in, and it has a pretty nice lounge with good food for star alliance gold members!
ANA offers an overnight flight from SGN to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), Japan, for connections to USA the next morning/afternoon. As with the last trip on this flight, I chose the shrimp porridge japanese breakfast set. Very delicious, ANA food never disappoints! *TRAVEL TIP: I stayed up during the whole of this flight to get myself jetlagged to USA time, so that I'd be tired enough for the next overnight (but very short night) flight and wake up as I arrive in USA the next morning* NRT is a fantastic airport to be in, modern facilities, ANA's star alliance lounge is very very very good!
Flew on NH12 from Narita to Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Flight was good as expected, and the night went past real quick with a comfortable sleep made possible by being extremely tired from staying up the previous night. However ORD is a horror of an airport to arrive as an international passenger. Immigration queue took 2 hours and the airport was dreary and lacking in facilities. Star Alliance lounge in ORD provided the bare necessities, and very limited food and drink. *TRAVEL TIP: try not to use ORD for a long layover or international entrance point to the USA, as an O&D passenger I think it works just fine*
Endured a 7 hour long domestic flight in a 737-800 on United from ORD-ANC. One of those things I will have to endure again to go Alaska. Nevertheless, we arrived and checked in and rested for the night. ANC is a nice cosy airport, and Anchorage gave friendly vibes!
Did a road trip from anchorage to Fairbanks and back. Saw Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, as well as other sights along the way. Watched the aurora from Cleary Summit, a hilltop aurora viewing spot just north of Fairbanks. Alaska is way too amazing! *TRAVEL TIPS: 1) if you're visiting Alaska in winter, although the official daylight hours are short, daybreak and twilight durations are very long thanks to angle at which the sun moves across the sky and under the horizon, so do not worry too much about daylight hours! 2) Temperatures can get very cold so stay warm!*
Drove out of Fairbanks to visit a tiny little town called North Pole, it's a santa claus themed town, with candy cane street lights! Went back to Cleary Summit for the countdown to the new year under the aurora!
Set off the next morning and drove back to Anchorage. Once again another set of amazing scenery on the road, including a half frozen river. Started snowing as we entered Anchorage, it was quite a joy to see snow falling! Checked in to ANC for our yet another 7 hour long red-eye domestic flight to Denver and waved goodbye to Alaska. *TRAVEL TIP: try the reindeer meat hotdogs, they are mouth-wateringly good!!!*
