Gustavus Airport. The "Gateway to Glacier Bay National Park"!…read more
This is quite the small airport. Without Alaska Airlines making a once a day roundtrip flight to and from here and Juneau, AK...this place would be irrelevant.
But, because of Glacier Bay...and because of the incredible interest in tourism that National Parks draw...I believe this is the primary reason why Alaska Airlines even flies here.
I paid about $100 each way to fly from Juneau to Gustavus and then from Gustavus back to Juneau.
So, for Alaska Air to simply fill the seats up at $200 a pop, roundtrip, I would have to think this is one of their most profitable routes!
And...flying times are like taking an NYC taxi, lol.
From Juneau to Gustavus...20 minutes being in the air.
From Gustavus back to Juneau...only 15 minutes time!
It's that easy.
I also looked up departures to and from Gustavus and Alaska Air flies the same route, the same flight #, the same times...every day.
JNU 4:03pm - GST 4:40pm - Flight 71
GST 5:40pm - JNU 6:12pm - Flight 77
Maybe schedules change when not in the prime summer travel season, but, basically, it's these flights that create all the action at Gustavus Airport.
I was actually riding a bike around town on the morning of my departure back to Juneau, and when it wasn't near the afternoon time...the airport was pretty much closed down.
To prove how small GST is, they don't even have a jet bridge or a terminal when entering or exiting the aircraft.
There's a mobile staircase that leads you up and down the plane, and then into and out of the airport.
Btw...I almost left out...what's really incredible abut Alaska Air's presence in Gustavus, is that they fly a Boeing 737 jet here! It's not like some small, regional aircraft or propeller plane.
They bring a jumbo jet, and when waiting for the quick, 45 minute turnaround back to Juneau...the plane holds a mighty stature for passengers to view while waiting in line.
That brings me to this point...
What I did...and what almost every other passenger did as well, was...while heading to and from the plane...you must take a picture!
Because...we're so accustomed to using a jet bridge, that when you have an opportunity for an up close and personal experience with a massive Boeing 737 plane, most people like to document it with a photograph, lol.
So...don't forget to do that.
One other thing...when I arrived for the weekend and then eventually departed a few days later...the entire town of Gustavus waited and watched from the parking lot.
I had these flashbacks to my childhood like, when my parents used to ship me to sleep away camp and everyone is at the bus departures depot either ready to say their sad goodbyes...or when returning in August after 2 months time, rejoicing in hugging reunions with loved ones.
It was weird...I was having a sense of nostalgia from this tiny Gustavus Airport.
For me, within my weekend excursion to Gustavus...
from the time my AB&B Host picked me up to suddenly waiving goodbye to her within a 48 hour period...it somehow left me with a familiar sadness.
I think it's the type of small town/homely experience you'll discover here in Gustavus...that's hard to replicate.
Lastly, I used the Alaska Airlines App to check-in for my flights. Once I was dropped off by my AB&B Host, I stood in the security line until the arriving plane had been cleaned/groomed for being turned around.
Security was tight in terms of it being crowded and congested. But once past it, it was just a matter of time before boarding started and getting on that 737 jet back to Juneau..
Overall, I appreciate these low key types of airports like Gustavus, AK (GST).
In the end, thank goodness for Glacier Bay National Park. And thank goodness for Alaska Airline's presence as well...for making a daily roundtrip flight here and allowing Gustavus to be so accessible to travelers from around the world.
