If you’ve ever looked at a flight map of Southeast Alaska, it looks like a chaotic spiderweb of hops over water and ice. Among those lines, Alaska Airlines Flight 62 stands out. It isn't your typical point-A-to-point-B journey where you settle in for a nap and wake up at your destination. This is part of the legendary "Milk Run."
For most travelers, a flight is a necessary evil to get to a vacation. For the people living in the Panhandle, this flight is a lifeline. Honestly, calling it a flight almost feels like an understatement. It's more of a high-altitude bus route that navigates some of the most challenging terrain and unpredictable weather in North America.
What is Alaska Airlines Flight 62?
Basically, Alaska Airlines Flight 62 is a multi-stop service that connects the dots between isolated communities. While flight schedules can shift seasonally, this specific flight number typically services the corridor between Fairbanks, Anchorage, and the Southeast "panhandle" stops like Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, or Wrangell, eventually heading toward Seattle.
You’ve got to understand that these towns aren't connected by roads. You can't just drive from Juneau to Sitka. You either take a ferry, which takes forever, or you hop on Alaska Airlines Flight 62 or one of its siblings like Flight 61 or 64.
The "Milk Run" nickname isn't just a cute marketing term. It’s a reference to the old-school delivery trucks that stopped at every farmhouse. On this route, the Boeing 737 acts as that truck. It carries groceries, medical supplies, Amazon boxes, and high school basketball teams. Without these specific flights, life in Southeast Alaska would look radically different.
The Logistics of the Short Hop
The flight segments are incredibly short. Sometimes you're in the air for barely 20 minutes before the wheels touch down again. This creates a unique rhythm. The flight attendants have to be incredibly fast with service, or more often, they don't offer service at all on the shortest legs because there just isn't time to safely move a cart through the aisle.
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It’s a specialized kind of flying. The pilots who fly these routes are dealing with narrow channels, heavy fog, and the infamous "gusty" approaches into Sitka or Ketchikan. If you’re a nervous flier, this might feel like a rollercoaster. But for locals? They don't even look up from their books when the plane tilts to navigate a fjord.
Why This Specific Route Matters for Travelers
Most people stumble onto Alaska Airlines Flight 62 because they are trying to reach a remote fishing lodge or they’re visiting a national park. However, there’s a growing group of "AvGeeks" (aviation geeks) who book this flight just for the experience.
It’s one of the few places left in the world where you can experience "island hopping" in a full-sized mainline jet. You aren't in a tiny bush plane; you’re in a 737-800 or a 737 MAX. Seeing a massive commercial jet land on a strip of tarmac carved out of a mountainside is something you don't forget.
The views are insane. If the weather is clear—which, let's be real, is a 50/50 shot in Alaska—you’re looking at Glacier Bay, the Tongass National Forest, and jagged peaks that have never seen a footprint. You’re basically getting a flightseeing tour for the price of a standard commercial ticket.
The Operational Reality of Southeast Alaska Flying
Flying in this region isn't just about the scenery. It’s a massive logistical puzzle. Alaska Airlines uses a technology called RNP (Required Navigation Performance). It allows their planes to fly very precise paths through mountainous terrain using GPS when visibility is low.
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Before this tech was perfected, cancellations were constant. Even now, Alaska Airlines Flight 62 is at the mercy of the "Juneau Gloom." If the fog rolls in too thick, the plane might have to skip a stop or "overfly" the destination. This is why residents always tell you: never book a tight connection when you're flying the Milk Run.
- Baggage is different here. You'll see people checking huge coolers of frozen salmon or boxes of caribou meat.
- The "Gold Streak" service. Alaska Air runs a cargo service on these passenger flights that allows people to ship items port-to-port for same-day pickup.
- Boarding is fast. People in Wrangell or Petersburg treat boarding like getting on a city bus. There’s no dawdling.
Common Misconceptions About the Milk Run
A lot of people think that because there are so many stops, the flight is cheaper. That’s usually not true. Because Alaska Airlines is often the only major carrier serving these towns, prices can be steep. You’re paying for the incredible infrastructure it takes to maintain safe jet service in a wilderness environment.
Another myth is that it’s always bumpy. While the landings can be "firm" because the runways are short, the actual flight at cruising altitude is often smoother than flying over the Rocky Mountains. The real challenge is the horizontal wind shear near the water.
Planning Your Trip on Flight 62
If you want to actually experience this, you need to be strategic. Don't just book a direct flight if you want the Milk Run experience. Look for the multi-city options.
- Check the "Stops" column. When booking, look for flights that show 2 or 3 stops but keep the same flight number. That’s your gold mine.
- Pick the right seat. On southbound flights (heading toward Seattle), the left side of the plane (Seat A) usually offers the best views of the coastline and the mountains. On northbound flights, aim for the right side (Seat F).
- Prepare for the "Turn." At stops like Wrangell, the plane might only be on the ground for 30 to 45 minutes. You usually stay on the plane while others deplane and new passengers board. It’s a great time to chat with the crew or just watch the ground operations.
Actionable Insights for the Savvy Traveler
If you find yourself on Alaska Airlines Flight 62, don't just put your headphones on. This is a rare piece of aviation culture.
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Keep your window shade up. Talk to the person next to you; they might be a fisherman heading home or a biologist working on wolf populations. They have the best stories.
Always pack snacks. Because the legs are so short, you might go four hours through three different stops without a full beverage service. The airline tries their best, but safety in the cockpit during a short descent always takes priority over a cup of coffee.
Finally, download the Alaska Airlines app and watch the flight path. Seeing the plane navigate the intricate waterways of the Inside Passage on your screen while looking at the actual fjords out the window is the best way to understand why this flight is a lifeline for the Last Frontier.
Check the weather patterns for your travel dates. While summer offers the best views, the "shoulder seasons" of May and September often have crisper air and fewer tourists, making the Milk Run feel even more like a local secret. If you're using miles, this is a high-value way to spend them, as the cash price for these multi-stop routes is often disproportionately high compared to the distance covered.
Pack a portable power bank. While most Alaska 737s have power at the seat, the constant ascending and descending can sometimes interrupt the power supply on older aircraft variants used as backups. You don't want your camera to die right as you're clearing the Stikine River delta.
Understand that you are a guest on a working route. For you, it's an adventure; for the person in 12C, it's their commute to a job at the hospital or the cannery. Respect the space, keep the boarding process moving, and enjoy one of the last true "flying" experiences left in America.