Enough time to catch flight?

Question

If I am on the Denali Star train arriving in Fairbanks at 8pm, what is the likelihood that I would have enough time to catch a 11:23pm flight? (I'd reserve an UBER ahead of time, and need to check in two hours early by 9:30pm). How often is the Denali Star train late?

Answer

Trying to connect an 8:00 PM Denali Star arrival in Fairbanks to an 11:23 PM flight is very tight and generally not recommended. The main concern is that the train can experience delays, sometimes substantial, especially in summer due to track work, weather, or other operational issues.

While Alaska Railroad schedules are typically reliable, delays of 15–60 minutes are not uncommon, particularly in the Denali to Fairbanks segment. An on-time arrival is possible, but there is always risk when your connecting flight is just a few hours later.

If you were to attempt this connection:

Reserve an Uber in advance so that it’s waiting for you upon arrival. The drive from Fairbanks train station to the airport is roughly 15–20 minutes under normal conditions.
Even if the train is on time and you depart immediately, you would arrive at the airport around 8:20–8:30 PM. With standard airline recommendation to check in two hours before, you would technically miss the advised check-in time for a 11:23 PM flight.
Consider whether the airline allows online check-in and mobile boarding passes, which could reduce the check-in time, but security lines can still take 15–30 minutes at Fairbanks airport.

Alternative options to reduce risk:

Book a later flight, if available, to allow a buffer in case of train delays.
Consider staying overnight in Fairbanks and flying out the next morning. This removes stress and risk entirely.
Look for a flight from Denali or Anchorage instead, if that aligns with your itinerary.

In short, while it might be technically possible to make the connection, it carries significant risk due to variable train arrival times and airport check-in/security requirements. A later flight or overnight stay is the safer choice.