I’d love to fly Alaska Airlines more often. Every time we’ve flown with them, it’s been a great experience, so I keep an eye out for chances to book them. But living in Orlando makes that tough—Alaska doesn’t have much of a presence here.
Until recently, their only nonstops from MCO were to the usual West Coast hubs: Seattle, Portland, San Diego, and San Francisco. Pretty standard.
So, when I saw that Alaska was adding new seasonal routes from Orlando this winter, I was excited. More chances to fly them!
Then I saw where they were flying.
Sacramento and… Boise?
Boise?
I have nothing against Idaho in the winter, but I struggled to think of many reasons for this route, especially from January to March. Maybe it’s for skiers heading to Sun Valley?
The schedule is limited, with MCO–BOI flights operating three times a week:
- Orlando to Boise: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday
- Boise to Orlando: Sunday, Wednesday, Friday
The final flight is scheduled for March 23rd.
Flights between Orlando and Sacramento run four times a week:
- Orlando to Sacramento: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Sacramento to Orlando: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
The last scheduled flight is April 21st.
At 2,194 miles, the Orlando-to-Boise flight is the longest nonstop route operated from Boise. Both of these routes are the epitome of point-to-point service, with limited (if any) connecting opportunities on either end. Plus, the flight times don’t seem ideal for onward connections.
Why These Cities?
Boise has grown rapidly over the past decade, attracting new residents from California and the Pacific Northwest. While it’s a hub for outdoor activities year-round, winter travelers might be heading to ski resorts or visiting family during the holidays and spring break. However, Boise isn’t exactly a top-tier leisure destination from Florida.
Sacramento, often overshadowed by San Francisco and Los Angeles, is California’s capital and a gateway to the state’s wine country, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s also home to a growing tech industry and a sizable population that might have demand for an Orlando connection—whether for Disney vacations or visiting family.
A Short-Term Experiment?
Airlines make interesting network decisions based on seasonal demand, aircraft availability, and internal strategy. Maybe Alaska sees untapped demand for West Coast travelers heading to Orlando for spring break. Or perhaps this is just a test to see if these routes gain traction.
With these flights only scheduled for 2-3 months, I’m not holding my breath for them to become long-term additions. Much like Delta’s brief stint operating MCO–London, this feels like a short-term experiment. Still, if you want to add MCO–BOI or MCO–SMF to your flight log, this winter might be your chance.
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