Future residents:BEWARE the cost to attend events down south (Anchorage: hotel, weddings)

[Haolejohn]

We get a lot of "I want to move to Alaska" questions and we residents give some darn good advise. One of the things that we mention but don't really stress enough (despite the fact we mention it in probably every thread) is the cost to leave the state for life events. There are times you will just have to be ok with missing weddings or funerals or family get together.

I made a decision today and it was a very difficult decision. It was heavily influenced by costs as well as effectiveness of time away from my immediate family. The costs to leave our state for a death can run around $3k for one person for a week. Plane tickets alone were costing almost $2k.

Before you move here, ask yourself if you can skip important life events.
Thankfully my memories of our loved one aren't confined to a memorial service.
And another thing, 'make sure wills and wishes are easily found by survivors.

[jdhpa]

Some airlines have special fares to attend funerals. You can call them to find out what's available.

[stiffnecked]

With Facebook Live and other streaming services it's possible to participate in real time without actually being there.

[GnomadAK]

Originally Posted by jdhpa

Some airlines have special fares to attend funerals. You can call them to find out what's available.

Good luck with that. I was never able to get one. So I missed both grandparents funerals and nearly my mothers, due to finances.

[Metlakatla]

I think Alaska Airlines still offers bereavement rates, but it has to be immediate family and within a short, specific time frame. Even with that, I've heard it's not that much of a discount anymore.

The cost of this type of traveling is one of the points that a lot of newcomers don't consider.

Sorry this happened to you and your family, Haeljohn.

[jdhpa]

Originally Posted by GnomadAK

Good luck with that. I was never able to get one. So I missed both grandparents funerals and nearly my mothers, due to finances.

I used it three times, about thirty years ago. I don't know how it works now, but worth looking into if you're in that situation.

[GnomadAK]

Originally Posted by jdhpa

I used it three times, about thirty years ago. I don't know how it works now, but worth looking into if you're in that situation.

It was 2000 the last time I tried and they really weren't interested, but that's Alaska Airlines for you.

[jdhpa]

Originally Posted by GnomadAK

It was 2000 the last time I tried and they really weren't interested, but that's Alaska Airlines for you.

Sorry to hear that, especially under those circumstances.

[Meemur]

On the other hand, sometimes people move to Alaska so that they have the perfect reason to never interact with their families in-person, again.

And if some of the bums in my family hadn't died when they did, I certainly would've considered a move that far away a great blessing.

[Haolejohn]

Originally Posted by jdhpa

Some airlines have special fares to attend funerals. You can call them to find out what's available.

Sure do. 10% off the highest fare. Problem we ran into is that our bush carrier wanted $300 plus to change my flight (already had one purchased for Christmas in Anchorage) and the 10% discount on the way down was $800 or 20k miles. Return flight was going to cost another $300 to change PenAir plus $800ish unless I stayed longer than a week, which hotel costs start canceling out the cheaper flight cost. Basically you just need to be willing to miss things or pay a crap load of money.