Amazing flight! Staff was very friendly, our pilot was very skilled, friendly, and experienced. Just did the 30 minute Anchorage flightseeing tour, but it was so cool! I highly recommend it! If we come back we will try one of the longer flights. 10/10 read more

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One of the most seamless and professionally run services I've ever had. I was a little nervous for the take off/ landing on water but it was way smoother than anything I've experienced on land. During our tour we saw so many bears and the lunch was great too! Thank you to rusts for the BEST experience ever!! read more

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Took the full day trip to Katmai national Park and preserves out of Anchorage. Jim our pilot kept us entertained and we always felt safe. He made sure we had a scenic flight ensuring to make the most of our flight. We spotted beluga whales, Denali, waterfalls and an insanely blue lake. read more

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Great trip! Crazy beautiful scenery. Perfect flight into the mountains. Would recommend this to anyone traveling to the Anchorage area. Very smooth getting signed up and the plane was perfect read more

Took flights through Rusts as part of a bear spotting tour we took last month and it was an amazing experience. Dan was our pilot and he mad the whole experience so much fun and he was able to tell us all about the landscape and the geological activity the it undergoes as well as point out wildlife we saw. All in all it was an unforgettable experience. 10 out of 10 such a good time getting to experience Alaska from a different perspective. read more

Long time, locally owned business. In Alaska there is no better service with a wide array of planes and destinations. We flew to lake Clark. Pilot was super chatty and we did a spectacular 90 degree turn into a crystal clear lake with bears roaming about. On the way back we went on the otter, which is an amazing plane that skimmed over the top of the mountain range on way back to anchorage. They have the experience and track record. There are cheaper services but rusts I'll pick you up at hotel and they have lots of lobby space in case your flight is delayed by weather. If you have the money do a trip on a floatplane. It's amazing. read more

Rust's Flying Service - Spectacular Alaska range. Flying over the top. - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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We had an excellent experience with Rust's Flying Service. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans and impacted our trip, but the entire team went above and beyond to help us every step of the way. Every employee we interacted with was kind, understanding, and genuinely wanted to help us find a way to make our flight happen. Even the manager stepped in personally to assist and explore every possible option. While Mother Nature is out of everyone's control, outstanding customer service isn't--and Rust's Flying Service absolutely delivered. We truly appreciated their professionalism, communication, and compassion throughout the experience. We wouldn't hesitate to fly with them again. read more

Overall: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Plane: 8/10 Pilot: 10/10 (Scott was great!) Value: 9/10 Absolutely amazing! Did the 3 hour Denali flight. Great information, flight was great and by far the best way to see Denali (especially from Anchorage). Highly recommend Rust's for seeing the area by sea plane. Yeah, it's a little pricey but it's fair and completely worth it! read more

Rust's Flying Service - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

- we chose the mountain denali package and it was breathtaking the pilot (Spence) was very knowledgeable about lands and animals - there was a bathroom breakstop in the middle - we stopped in Willow for a beer and pizza - the tour lasted roughly 3.5 hours read more

Best of the best if you're looking for a floatplane tour, charter or guide service to see all that Alaska has to offer. Rust's cares about safety which should be everyone's top priority. If the weather isn't ideal conditions, they have no problem cancelling a flight and refunding your money. We were hoping to do a flight down to Prince William Sound but weather wasn't cooperating so we opted for the shortest trip available, the Anchorage Flightseeing Experience which lasts about a half hour. In just a half hour, you get to experience what would take hours of driving to see, while floating about 1500' above which offers an excellent view. The 4 of us piled into the Cessna 206 along with our pilot Bruce and took off out of Lake Hood. Much to our surprise the takeoff and landing were superior to anything we've ever experienced, and we all work for the airlines! Perhaps a sign of the thousands of hours Bruce has on these floatplanes. Bruce narrated the trip through the headsets as we flew and answered any questions we had. We saw a lot, and we learned a lot all while checking another box off the bucket list! You're in good hands here so don't pass on the opportunity to go on one of the many awesome tours offered by Rust's. I'll definitely return for a trip down to PWS next time I'm in town! read more

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I am usually NOT good on planes, but I genuinely had such a great time flying with Rust's. Their pilot Will was knowledgeable about both the aircraft and the region and was so friendly, and I felt comfortable the whole time. I also just could not stop staring out the window at the jaw dropping scenery. We even spotted some Beluga whales on the way to Lake Clark NP! And if you're into aircraft, they can tell you all about the planes + you even get to hear air traffic control on the headphones. 100% would do this again! read more

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Definitely recommend! Our pilot, Joe, was great! Got to see some amazing views that the pictures definitely do not do it justice. read more

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I had an enjoyable experience traveling by airplane. I encountered some bears that I'll discuss in a future review. The pilot was friendly, and they offered tasty snacks upon landing. Highly recommended! read more

Rust's Flying Service - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

What an organized, cheerful and thoughtful tourism outfit! We signed up for the Anchorage to Katmai National Park salmon and bear watch tour. We were picked up on time at our hotel early in the morning to their base, and allowed to have our luggages stored there. Jeff, our pilot and guide flew us up to Katmai with our lunch in tow. Jeff was an experienced pilot with wealth of knowledge about flying and the vast geography. Once we got to Katmai, he also volunteered to hike with us through the park to the sightseeing deck, and made sure we were properly signed in with the park rangers to go on the observation deck before leaving us to tend to the seaplane. Once we got back to Anchorage, a shuttle bus was waiting for us to take us and our luggage to a hotel in downtown. Fantastic service all around. Great experience! read more

Rust's Flying Service - Rust Anchorage base - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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I booked a last minute trip to Denali. Seriously thee smallest plane I have ever been in. If you get nauseated easily take some anti nausea med prior. The turbulence over the thermals. The views are too die for. You can't views of mount denali any other way besides hiking it. read more

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Amazing four hours with Rust Air today touring Denali Park that includes a landing on a glacier lake with tons of wildlife around. In addition to the amazing mountains saw salmon jumping along with moose and bear from above. Was $499 per person when booking direct with them. Tip: bring a few beers or other beverage of choice to enjoy for the 30 minutes you out on the glacier lake's beach. read more

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Rusts's flew us to our lodge on the Yetna river. Very capable pilots and friendly service. It was a great experience! read more

Rust's Flying Service - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Rust's have been amazing during my stay in Anchorage! I had booked two trips with them about 2-3 months in advance. One was Katmai Bear Viewing and the other Chinitna Bay Bear Viewing. I called a day before the trip to reconfirm and get a pick up time for their shuttle service. The shuttle arrived on time and upon arrival at their hub, we were checked in and weighed. All of the staff members are super friendly! Sadly, our Katmai trip got canceled that morning due to rainy weather and poor visibility due to fog. Everyone was bummed of course. They offered either a full refund (as rebooking was impossible due to the rest of the season being full) OR you could go on a bear viewing trip to Redoubt Bay Lodge. I decided to take the alternative, and boy was I glad I did! Redoubt Bay Lodge is a pretty short flight away. Upon arrival you board pontoon boats and go looking for bears that way. It took less than 10 minutes before we saw a momma bear and her 3 2y/o cubs. After that we saw another momma bear with 2 new-born cubs. Unreal! We also saw a black bear from further away. Our viewing there ended with an amazing home cooked meal at the lodge. Then Paul flew us all back quickly and safely on one of the floatplanes. The next day was my trip to Chinitna Bay to do some more bear viewing. Marc was our pilot today on the airvan. He flew us through the mountains on the way there, which offered amazing scenery. He also has an amazing eye for spotting beluga whales in the water. Once on the ground, we boarded converted school busses to go look for bears that are either eating grass or digging for clams this time of year. There's quite a high concentration of bears here; the trick is to find some that are close enough to observe; which we did thanks to local guide Tony. Once we finished our bear viewing, we hopped back onto the plane and got a little snack box for the way back. Both trips were very well organized and coordinated. I had an amazing time and would definitely book with them again and recommend them to everyone! read more

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You really shouldn't leave Alaska without seeing Denali National Park. At a formidable 20,320 feet tall, Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) is the centerpiece of the park. Since we only had 5 days in Alaska, we opted to take a pontoon plane from Anchorage and flew 45 minutes to reach the park (vs. the 5-hour trip if you drove!). The airplane ride is spectacular and you'll get a birds-eye view of just how desolate the land around Anchorage really is. I can't tell you how many times I yelled out loud, "Someone lives down there!?" This area is remote -- and you'll see cabins seemingly hundreds of miles away from civilization in every direction! We went with Rust's Flying Service, which conveniently is located near the The Lakefront Anchorage. They offer a variety of tours, but we really enjoyed the 3-hour flight that went above Denali's lower peaks and viewed the entire length of the rugged Ruth Glacier. You're connected to your pilot the entire time on a 2-way headset where you can ask questions and learn more about the land below. We opted for the standard Denali sightseeing tour that included a quick stop along a lake (aka, a nice bathroom break halfway!). It was an exciting way to start off the trip and you'll feel like you are definitely in Alaska! Cost: $425 per person plus tax for the standard Denali tour (with midway landing at the lake). Or $495 per person plus tax for the Denali tour with a landing on a glacier. read more

Rust's Flying Service - Look out below! Flying sideways above the mountain peaks. Not for the faint of heart! - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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We had the best time! The pilot gave us a beautiful tour and interesting information about the area. We would love to go back and take a longer tour next time. Do not hesitate to book with them---you will not regret it! read more

We took the Lake Clark National Park Bear Viewing Tour. Have you hiked for hours hoping you'd see a bear in the far distance? Or sat quietly for hours hoping a bear would make themselves visible on a high mountain peak? Spent countless early mornings driving up and down a remote road hoping to spot bears in the wild? Then, yes, this tour is for you. No? Then either this will be the beginning of a life long love of bear sightings, or you are not right for this tour. Our tour started with a van pick up at 7:15am, and then once at the floatplane port, we were swiftly boarded and in route to the lake. The flight was just over an hour, and the scenery was fantastic. Our pilot, Curtis, was also fantastic, pointing out sights and sharing his local knowledge, and quite humorous. Upon arrival, we were divided into small groups and put in pontoon boats and immediately started scouting out the shores to see bears. Halfway through the day, we stopped for lunch and a bathroom break. The meal included a simple salad, rice, salmon and cookies for dessert. After lunch, we boarded our boat again, and started trolling the lake for bear sightings. Our guide was a lovely young lady that is passionate about what she does and clearly cares for the wildlife. We were lucky to have perfect weather, we saw 12 bears and quite a few bald eagles. After a full day, we were then picked up by our pilot and flown back to Anchorage. Floatplanes are just FUN, it's such a novelty to be on one, and you quickly realize their value when in Alaska - how else would you get to all these remote places??!! Anyway, I would HIGHLY recommend this tour, as it was the one thing we scheduled before our cruise through the inside passage. This topped all the tours we took from the cruise, and was truly the highlight of our week. It's a once in a lifetime experience. I'll cherish the memories. Tips: Bring your own binoculars, a camera with a decent telephoto lense, wear sunscreen on your face, but have warm clothes, especially earmuffs or a hat, as it gets a bit chilly/windy on the lake, and bring cash to tip your guide at the end. They are doing all the work to find the bears and do an outstanding job. Again, if spending 6 hours on a pontoon boat looking for bears isn't appealing to you, then this is not the tour for you. It was a dream trip for us, since our vacations are often focused on seeing wildlife, and this met all our expectations!! read more

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BUCKET LIST!! An incredible experience that will ALWAYS be remembered. Mark Stadsklev, our pilot, was not only VERY experienced, but great to fly with and the tour was amazing and informative (but very safe). He is an OUTSTANDING photographer and showed us views of Denali one could ONLY see from the bush plane. I can't imagine going to Anchorage and NOT taking this tour. 5 Stars - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! read more

Rust's Flying Service - DENALI!! - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

What an awesome experience we had, I had no clue we'd get to fly so close to Denali! We did the Denali tour in the Turbine Otter and wow was it awesome! I can't recommend these guys enough! Cheers! The staff was very friendly as well, good people! read more

Rust's Flying Service - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Rust's was our chariot into the wilderness for some back-country fishing, and we found them to be great to work with throughout the process. We booked flights months in advance to get out into the Chugach National Forest, but when the day came, it was foggy and raining in Anchorage, foggy in the mountain pass, and raining in the little valley and lake we were flying into. Rust's let us know early that they weren't going to be able to fly us based on the weather and the forecast for the day, so we were able to spend the day around town. The next day dawned poorly, but when the weather lifted they were able to get us out on about 90 minutes notice, which was awesome (as was the flight itself, if there is a better way to see Alaska in all its glory than a sight-seeing flight, I don't know what it would be). Then a day and a half before our scheduled flight out of the wilderness back to Anchorage we called to check the weather forecast, and it wasn't good. On less than a day's notice, they were able to come back out 12 hours early to pick us up before the weather moved in, and again we had a stunningly beautiful flight (but sure enough the weather was awful by the time we'd have been trying to fly back out at the original time). On top of their flexibility, everyone we dealt with, from the reservations folks, to the shuttle driver that picked us up from the hotel, to the baggage handlers and our awesome pilot was friendly and professional. I wouldn't fly with anyone else next time, but the weather is unpredictable, so you've got to take it in stride like they do! read more

Rust's Flying Service - de Havilland Beaver - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Such a great experience! The two of us had a pick up and drop off at Lake Creek for two days of flyfishing. We loved chatting with pilots who are experienced and friendly. We did a couple circles around a moose we spotted! A really easy process, super friendly staff, no complaints here. Superb. read more

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Loved Rust's! They did a last minute trip over the Chugash which was an amazing way to start our trip. The pilot was a little cold at first but ended up being a nice guy in the end. Scenery was amazing and I appreciated them doing an on the spot flightseeing. The real winner was Katmai which was a breathtaking experience - literally and figuratively - with the most incredible flight and interesting times with the dozens of bears nearby. The pilot for that trip was an ornery old bastard as wel so I don't know if that's par for the course. I did appreciate their shuttle service but their clerk doing the phones was a total pain in the ass. Overall a very good experience. read more

More than just an air taxi service, the pilots are experienced and trained guides as well - a real plus. We booked a one hour flight from Anchorage over to our lodge in Tutka Bay and I was left wishing that it would have been a longer flight. It was so spectacular. Rust's is first class all the way. From the time your greeted at the front desk to the point of boarding your plane, you're treated as a VIP. Friendly staff that was willing to help with anything from general information to historical facts. Our pilot was an experienced guide that made our trip go quickly. When he spotted some orca's in the water he circled back to we could get a better view. He wanted us to have a great experience. Smooth flying and comfortable seats allowed for spectacular views out the windows; it was enjoyable. read more

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We had an amazing day, felt safe landing both times and had an enjoyable flight! Saw 11 bear sightings, along with Salmon everywhere learned about spawning and had breathtaking views! read more

Us four geriatric adults flew from Anchorage to Katmai for scheduled bear viewing experience. Our pilot, Steve Brooks, who flies for Rusts, made sure our flying experience was educational, memorable and most of all safe. His navigational and flying skills combined for amazing views of numerous lakes, glaciers and mountains during our three hour flight to and from Katmai. We also enjoyed our healthy box lunch provided by Rusts. We highly recommend flying with both Rusts and Steve! read more

Great experience. One of the best things to do in the Anchorage area. I walked from the home I rented to a local hotel to be picked up, and the cheerful minivan driver took all of us to the check in area. There are restrooms and areas for seating. We boarded the plane and the entire process and the flight was very smooth. When you are near the Denali area you really can see the geolocial beauty of Alaska and the entire range. We got what felt very close to the mountain and it's peaks, along with narrative from our very knowledgeable pilot. Really a great experience and the tales from the pilot gave a unique insight as to what life in Alaska is like, and the benefits and dangers of the large amount of flying that takes place all over Alaska. We saw moose on the way back. Mid way through the flight, we landed on a beautiful still lake and exited on the shore and got to walk around and take photos. An amazing experience. I see from my photos and videos that I am now the envy of all my friends. read more

Had the opportunity to try them out for a free ride for their anniversary. Fun and friendly. Check out their websites for different flight tours. read more

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Today I took a floatplane sightseeing trip over Anchorage and up through the mountains. Omar was our pilot. Words cannot describe how awesome this trip was. Omar was a great tour guide and a very patient pilot. He made us all feel very comfortable. I highly recommend Rust's. They are a great operation. Thanks Again Omar!! read more

Rust's Flying Service - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Had the perfect day traveling to Katmai with Mike, our pilot for the day trip. He was very knowledgeable and pointed out specific landmarks, volcanoes, and Beluga whales throughout our air travel. I HIGHLY recommend Rust's Flying Service for your travels. read more

We used them for our bear watching tour on Lake Clark and they were just exceptional. Went in a Beaver which was an amphibian plane, taking off and landing were smooth. They took us to Lake Calrk - views on the route were amazing. From there we went on a pontoon boat for bear watching and were able to spot 6 bears catching salmons, crossing the water banks. The whole experience was the highlight of our trip. It was planned in detail by them and they took good care. On the way back the plane which was supposed to pick us up got delayed and they had to send another one out. But apart from this, it was a tip worth remembering. read more

Rust's Flying Service - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Super awesome experience flying with Rusts. Originally had a tour of Denali booked but weather was not good so was offered another option to see the glacier fields and a volcano. Ummmm, yeah! Views stunning, our pilot Mike was they guy you hoped would be your pilot -- tons of experience both flying and tour guide. We got up close and personal with some amazing sights,,,,,saw Beluga whales and moose, circled for pics, enjoyed a quick break along the shores of a glacier lake, and learned about the area, the industry, the history, the environment. Highly recommend this company. Family run and the folks in the office couldn't be nicer and eager to please. read more

Went on a 3 hour tour to Denali national park. Pretty calm weather which lead to a smooth flight. Our pilot Dan was a pro. Provided lots of information of the land we flew over. He got us some great views from both sides of the plane at Denali. Overall great experience. read more

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Hubby and I really wanted to experience a nice float plane adventure while we were celebrating our 25th in Alaska. We decided on this company based on recommends from yelp. Unfortunately, we did not fully enjoy our trip. First, the headset I was provided was not functional. Second, the man who piloted our plane was not the friendliest sort of fellow. He was curt and somewhat condescending (which seems nuts since this is obviously geared for tourists). And third, the guide provided almost no information on the things we were seeing and never looked for wildlife at all. Perhaps we had a guide who would rather have been somewhere else or perhaps they are all like this. I can only speak for our experience, which was certainly not worth the over $700.00 we spent for two hours of flying. UPDATE: The company reached out to us and refunded half of the cost of our trip. I appreciate the willingness to work with us on these issues and greatly respect the decision to offer us a refund. Thanks "Cole" for your effort. read more

WOW...JUST WOW Needed to get to a remote lodge to go fly fishing. I had never flown in a small plane before. These guys are top notch! The office was great. Super friendly. They picked me up at my hotel and dropped me off. The pilot was great. Absolutely perfect experience read more

Booked an all day guided salmon fishing trip. Kinda pricey ($600 each plus $25 one day fishing license) but so worth it. Rust only flies you there and back. Rust partners with McDougal Lodge for the fishing. Both Rust and McDougal were top notch. Rust picked us up at our hotel and drove us to the lake near Anchorage Airport. Check in was fast and easy. They got us our fishing license and off we went. Mike took a group of 5 in the De Havilland Beaver float plane. We had a smooth take off from the lake, smooth 35 minute flight, and smooth landing at Lake Creek. McDougal Lodge is kinda like a rustic B&B. Our fishing guide Jim was super nice and knowledgeable. Forgot a pair of rain pants and Jim rounded up a pair to borrow. He took a group of 4 of us out in a small aluminum boat. Jim did all the heavy lifting - setting the rods and reels, baiting the hooks, and taking care of the fish. He found a spot for us to fish from the boat and within 90 minutes all 4 of us had our limit of 3 fish each (silver salmon...7-8 pounds). McDougal provides lunch cafeteria style. We had beef soft tacos and nachos in a ranch style dining common. Very satisfying lunch. While we ate lunch Jim took care of our fish - he cleaned, fileted, and vacuum packed our fish. Then it was back out on the lake for more fishing. Catch and release since we already had our limit. But we caught another 9 silver salmon using bobbers and spinners. It's easy to give them 5 stars because we caught so many fish. But regardless it was an amazing day - float plane ride, nice views, peaceful lake, and good food. McDougal and Rust staff all very friendly and accommodating. Both helped us get our catch back home on the airplane (you can either freeze and take back in a travel box or use a local processor). Special thanks to Jim our guide and Mike and Bruce our pilots. Tip - take rain gear and dress in layers. read more

We were scheduled to fly from Anchorage to Katmai National Park for bear viewing and, unfortunately the trip was cancelled due to bad weather, but we were very impressed with how Rust's handled everything. They monitored the weather patterns closely and kept us well informed during the hour between our check in and our scheduled departure time. Although we did not get to go to Katmai, I was glad that they put safety first and did not try to chance it. Once it was clear that we would not be able to make the trip, they offered the option of a full refund or an alternate trip with a partial refund. We took the alternate trip and flew to Redoubt Bay instead. I have a fear of small planes, but the ride was smooth and comfortable and the pilots to and from were highly skilled; I always felt safe. Redoubt Bay was a great alternate trip to a tucked away location with a nice, gourmet lunch, a pontoon ride with great views of brown bear swimming and fishing in the bay, and a roaring fire to warm us up after being out on the water. The staff at Rust's and on our full trip to Redoubt were all friendly and accommodating and we really enjoyed our day. Rust's also offers free shuttle service to and from the area hotels. read more

Rust's Flying Service - One of Rust's planes - Travel Services Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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