Alaska Airlines to Offer Discounts on Flights to See the Northern Lights

By Paul Riegler on 13 January 2020
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Alaska Airlines is making it easier for people in the Lower 48 states to see the Northern Lights.

Using the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute’s aurora forecast, the Seattle-based carrier will discount airfares to Fairbanks and Anchorage based on the Northern Lights forecast.  The more “intense” the forecast, the lower the fare will be, the airline said.

Fairbanks, given its northern latitude and excellent night sky visibility thanks to a lack of light pollution, is an ideal location from which to view the Northern Lights.

“We’ve been helping people chase the Northern Lights for more than 25 years by tracking and posting aurora forecasts online,” said Mark Conde, a professor of physics at the university. “The Geophysical Institute team is thrilled to see our data come to life through aurora seekers.”

The discount will be based on the Kp-index, a scale of numbers between 0 and 9 also known as the planetary index that represent global geomagnetic activity, Alaska will discount fares up to 35%.  If the Kp index Is forecast to be 8 to 9 on the day of flight, the discount will be the full 35%.  It will be less on days with a lower Kp index.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)

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