Alaska Airlines announces annual PFD sale for Alaska residents

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines has announced its annual Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) sale, offering bargains for travel within, or to and from, the 49th state for Alaska residents.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 on approach to Seattle Sea-Tac Airport
Alaska 737 on approach to SEA
The start of Alaska's (NYSE:ALK) PFD sale comes less than two weeks before the state mails the first round of PFD checks for 2016’s $1,022 dividend to qualified residents on Oct. 6.

The Alaska Permanent Fund was established by a constitutional amendment in 1976, as the Alaska pipeline construction neared completion. The amendment directs that "At least 25 percent of all mineral lease rentals, royalties, royalty sales proceeds, federal mineral revenue-sharing payments and bonuses received by the state be placed in a permanent fund, the principal of which may only be used for income-producing investments."

The income is distributed to qualified residents annually and represents an important source of income for some Alaskans, particularly those in rural Alaska, according to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation’s website.

This year's amount is only about half of last year's disbursement of $2,072.

Alaska is offering one-way fares from $79 for travel between Fairbanks (FAI) and Anchorage (ANC), $99 between either ANC or Juneau (JNU) and Seattle (SEA), $149 between FAI and Las Vegas (LAS), to $189 between Sitka (SIT) and Los Angeles (LAX) and $199 between ANC and Salt Lake City (SLC). Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 10 for travel from Oct. 15 to May 24, 2017.

Alaska residents can save even more by joining the Club 49 program, the airline said in announcing the fare sale. Perks include free checked bags, Travel Now discounts and weekly fare sales.

Last year, Alaskans saved $22.5m by utilizing their Club 49 benefits. The program was started in 2011 as a way to honor Alaska Airlines’ history in the state and to help meet residents’ travel needs. Club 49 is only available to Alaska residents and requires enrollment in Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™. For more information about Club 49 visit www.alaskaair.com/Club49 or www.facebook.com/AlaskaAirClub49.

Customers may also combine sale fares to save on Alaska Airlines Vacations packages, which include air transportation, hotel accommodations, optional ground transportation and tours. Additional restrictions and fare rules apply. Visit www.alaskaair.com or call 1-800-ALASKAAIR (800) 252-7522 for additional details.

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Photo by Carl Dombek
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