question about ANC to Brooks air travel

Question

Based on current airfares, flying Alaska Airlines from ANC to King Salmon is about $460 round trip in September. The round trip flight from ANC to King Salmon on Katmai Air is $900/person. If we arrive in King Salmon the day before our stay at Brooks Lodge starts then Katmai Air can put us on the 9:00 am flight from King Salmon to Brooks. There are three of us and so it seems to be a no-brainer to use Alaska to get to King Salmon and then find a place to stay the night before.

The problem is the flight back, which leaves Brooks at 1:00 and gets to King Salmon around 1:30. The Alaska flight from King Salmon to ANC doesn't leave until 6:30 pm. Is there anything to do in King Salmon during that time or should we bite the bullet and just take Katmai Air all the way from Brooks to King Salmon to ANC with us back at ANC at 3:20. I wouldn't mind saving the money but also don't really want to be stuck in King Salmon or sitting at the airport waiting for our flight.

Are the flights from ANC to King Salmon prone to delay/cancellation?

Answer

Flying from Anchorage (ANC) to King Salmon and then to Brooks Lodge involves careful timing, especially in September when weather in Alaska can be unpredictable. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide between using Alaska Airlines to King Salmon versus flying Katmai Air all the way from Brooks to ANC.

Option 1: Alaska Airlines to King Salmon, overnight stay, then Katmai Air to Brooks Lodge

This is cost-effective, as you noted, but your return trip creates a long layover in King Salmon. Your Katmai Air flight from Brooks arrives around 1:30 pm, but Alaska Airlines doesn’t depart King Salmon until 6:30 pm. That gives you roughly 5 hours in town.

King Salmon is a very small town with limited activities. Options include walking around town, visiting the King Salmon Visitor Center, or a quick drive to the nearby Katmai National Wildlife Refuge visitor areas.
The airport itself is small; there are limited food and lounge options, so much of the wait would be sitting in the terminal.
Weather delays are possible in September, particularly with regional flights like Alaska Airlines ANC–King Salmon. While Alaska Airlines generally has good reliability, fog, rain, or wind can cause cancellations or delays, which may complicate a tight connection.

Option 2: Katmai Air all the way from Brooks to King Salmon and then ANC

This is more expensive but simplifies logistics and reduces stress:

You will fly directly from Brooks Lodge to King Salmon and connect immediately to your Alaska Airlines flight back to Anchorage. This avoids the long layover in King Salmon and the need to find activities or accommodations for several hours.
Katmai Air has smaller planes and schedules are subject to weather, but they are experienced with these routes and coordinate with lodge departures to minimize missed connections.
You’ll have more peace of mind, especially since delays or cancellations are more manageable with a direct lodge-to-airport transfer.

Considerations:

Weather in September can be variable; small aircraft are more sensitive to conditions than Alaska Airlines mainline flights. However, the timing of your Alaska Airlines return flight is not tight, giving you a buffer if the Katmai Air flight is slightly delayed.
Cost savings with Option 1 are real (~$440 per person), but the tradeoff is a 5-hour wait in a small town with few amenities and the potential stress of missed connections if flights are delayed.
For comfort and convenience, especially after a backcountry trip at Brooks, Option 2 is often preferred by most travelers.

Summary Recommendation:

If your priority is saving money and you don’t mind a few hours in King Salmon, Option 1 is feasible. Bring snacks, reading material, and plan for airport downtime. If your priority is convenience, stress-free travel, and minimizing risks from weather or small-plane delays, paying extra for Katmai Air all the way to ANC is the safer choice.

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