The MOST Unusual Flight in the USA (Alaska's Milk Run)
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Published 2024-06-08
One of those flights is even the shortest commercial flights in the USA!
Every day, Alaska Airlines links small cities and towns along the Southeast Coast of Alaska with the world beyond in their “Milk Run” along the west coast of North America with this Alaska 737. This is one of the most iconic and significant flights in the United States (and probably the world).
This Alaska Airlines Milk Run flight ranks high on most #AvGeek bucket lists and in this video, we'll explore what it's like to fly on the Alaska Airlines Milk Run, along with the history, and unique nature of the flight. The Alaska Airlines Milk Run is unlike most other flights in the world and this video breaks it down so you can understand all of the unique quirks of it.
Along the way, you’ll have to let us know what you think of the most unusual flight in the United States!
Of course, as always, we'll take a look at the seat, service, entertainment, food, and lounge, and give the whole thing a “JebScore,” but we'll also look deeper at the Alaska Airlines Milk Run as we travel onboard this special Alaska Airlines 737-700 in Alaska Airlines Business Class. Of course, it doesn’t go exactly to plan, but watch this video to find out how!
0:00 Introduction
2:40 Seattle to Ketchikan
7:17 Ketchikan to Wrangell
8:12 Wrangell to Petersburg (Shortest Commercial Flight in the USA!)
9:23 Petersburg to Juneau
12:39 Juneau to Anchorage
14:16 Alaska Airlines Milk Run JebScore
16:25 Bloopers
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Music:
To All the Glory - Howard Harper-Barnes
Through the Maze - Dream Cave
Winded - Jones Meadow
Numb (Instrumental Version) - JAKE $ING
Rush Slow - par
Alaska - Alek Bluntz
Not Quite There - Water Mirrors
Cool Eyes (Instrumental Version) - Sylvia Peyton
Interruption - Craft Case
Be with You (Instrumental Version) - Erik Fernholm
Waiting for Your Call (Instrumental Version) - Snake City
All Comments (21)
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Your guys attitudes while getting your flight canceled and having stay overnight shows why you are the best travel youtubers. Keeping a positive attitude and enjoying the journey is so awesome.
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Milk run is a staple of the airline’s history
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One of the cool things in regard to Ketchikan is the fact you have to take a ferry to the airport. I was just recently there and was told the airports runway is so long and the apron is larger because it was designed to handle the large military aircraft planes.
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Before the airlines started “hubbing” I did the “milk” run starting in Bismarck, North Dakota with stops in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Montana and Spokane, Washington going on to Portland Oregon. This flight was in the later 1970’s.
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Back in 1976 I was a freshman at USC and several of us had driven up San Francisco for the USC-Stanford football game. We stayed in the city for two nights and then watched the game before returning to our hotel to get our bags and head home. The problem was we’d ended up with one more friend that wanted a ride back to LA. Since my dad was a retired United pilot and I had positive space tickets I could use anytime they dropped me off at SFO with the idea I’d fly back. The problem was all flights were sold out because of the game. Thankfully I’d checked out the schedule and knew of their milk run, known as the Valley Queen, a route that my mother had flown as a stewardess back in the 1950s. We flew from SFO to Stockton, then Merced, Visalia and finally LA. I think it took about 3 1/2 or 4 hours. I was given seat 1A and the flight attendants made a big deal about the fact I was flying the full route. It doesn’t exist anymore but I’m happy I had the chance to fly it!
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1:34 now that’s something you don’t see everyday 😮💨
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A classic milkrun service can be found down under in Australia - Airnorth (second oldest airline in Australia) operates a milkrun service from Darwin - Tennant Creek - Katherine - Alice Springs and have been for the last 25 years or so. The airline is a staple of the 'Top End' of Australia and operates this particular milkrun weekly on an Embraer Brasilia.
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A mentor of mine once said: "The quality of an organisation is NOT on never having problems, it is how they cope when they do have them." I have always tried to judge organisations based on that principle some are good in a crisis and others go to pieces Alaska Airlines seemed to cope reasonably well with their problem. At least it was Juneau and not Petersburg where there might not have been enough beds for the passengers.
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I have flown to to Europe several times with a no frills airline, known as the Air Force. Troop seats for seating, and painted plywood floor. The good part is we normally had the entire aircraft to ourselves to get comfortable, and find a place to sleep. As the crew chief, we would work 8 hours to prep the aircraft, jump on board, sleep, and go right back to work on arrival.
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Being a military aviation fan going back to my childhood, I thought a "milk run" was a supposedly easy mission...I didn't know the term actually had something to do with milk! Seeing the delay on the last leg of your trip brings to mind my flight from Auckland to LA that was recalled because of "electrical issues" and had to return to NZ...two days in a row! Each return flight required over an extra hour in the air to use up/dump fuel. My "13 hour" flight ended up being over 48 hours long. Looking forward to seeing your Alaskan cruise adventure!
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Come to Scotland and get the beach landing in Barra ticked off, then the shortest flight between Westray and Papa Westray! 🏴
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You are the nicest, charismatic people I watch on YouTube. I really enjoy the content you produce it’s always so relaxing to watch.
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Thank you guys. Even though I've been flying professionally for the past 27 years, your videos are always informative, even for professionals like me, and I like to have a positive spin. This attitude is rare these days. Regards my dear friends
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"BISCOOOOFFF!!!" I remember you doing that fabulous Biscoff crossover!
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Born and Raised in Alaska. What a unique opportunity to see Alaska! Not to mention a employee in the Early 80s What a complete venture! Thanks you Two for bringing it back!
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“Hello, Jetsetters!” is music to my ears.
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As a resident of Juneau, we avoid this flight whenever we can! I will say you got the authentic Milk Run experience and at least you didn't get stuck in Wrangle the accommodations are slim!
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Your bloopers are so funny it keeps me going when I have a bad day! Thank you for always putting a smile on my face!
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The CS agent texting back "??" Is absolutely wild lmao
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I did almost the same itinerary on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry last summer (Bellingham/Ketchikan/Wrangell/Petersburg/Sitka/Juneau - I got off in Juneau and then flew to Anchorage); it was a wonderful experience.
