Overnight at Anchorage Airport

[Vashtie]

We plan to take the train from Seward that arrives in Anchorage around 10PM.  Our flight departs 6am next morning for home.  We are thinking will just go to the Airport and wait on the morning flight.  Appreciate any recommendations regarding places to stay in the airport especially any that might allow a few hours of sleep?

 

 

[Glaciers]

Hopefully someone will chime in here with some good ideas. At the least, walk north from the baggage claim area to the international terminal through an enclosed walkway, less than 10 minutes.  It’s usually pretty quiet over there. The domestic terminal can get quite busy due to a block of flights departing in the very early AM.

[GTJ]

The website, Sleeping in Airports, http://www.sleepinginairports.net, provides varied advice for sleeping in airports throughout the world. Some airports have more advice than others. As to Anchorage, consider the following general advice provided by the website.

 

"Reviewers have described ANC Airport clean, quiet and safe but they’ve also noted that it’s very cold, especially the floors, and that there are very few seats without armrests. Have a sleeping bag or travel mattress and blanket handy, as it is likely that you will be sleeping on the floor.

 

"In terms of specific sleep-friendly spots, Concourse C has row upon row of armrest-free seating. A small observation area just before Gate C1 is quieter than the rest of the airport, and a reviewer strongly suggests the area at C9, under the hanging airplane, for a nice place to sleep. There is also an area near the Raven Alaska ticketing/check-in desks that is supposed to be quiet and has armrest-free seating. Otherwise, a pair of earplugs or noise cancelling headphones will help block out overhead announcements that happen frequently and well into the night.  Explore our guide to sleeping in Anchorage Airport or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips."

 

In addition, there are five pages of very detailed Anchorage airport sleeping reviews that provide advice on many specific places to get some sleep. http://www.sleepinginairports.net/reviews/anchorage-airport-reviews.htm

 

Finally, since you're probably seeking to avoid the cost of a hotel for relatively short rest, you might also want to avoid the cost of taxi between the railroad station and the airport. On weekdays you can use bus route 40 for $2.00 per person (half-fare for seniors age 60 and above), with the last bus departing downtown at 11:16 p.m. Not an option on weekends because the last bus departs at 7:07 p.m. http://www.muni.org/Departments/transit/PeopleMover

[Vashtie]

4 hours ago, GTJ said:

The website, Sleeping in Airports, http://www.sleepinginairports.net, provides varied advice for sleeping in airports throughout the world. Some airports have more advice than others. As to Anchorage, consider the following general advice provided by the website.

 

"Reviewers have described ANC Airport clean, quiet and safe but they’ve also noted that it’s very cold, especially the floors, and that there are very few seats without armrests. Have a sleeping bag or travel mattress and blanket handy, as it is likely that you will be sleeping on the floor.

 

"In terms of specific sleep-friendly spots, Concourse C has row upon row of armrest-free seating. A small observation area just before Gate C1 is quieter than the rest of the airport, and a reviewer strongly suggests the area at C9, under the hanging airplane, for a nice place to sleep. There is also an area near the Raven Alaska ticketing/check-in desks that is supposed to be quiet and has armrest-free seating. Otherwise, a pair of earplugs or noise cancelling headphones will help block out overhead announcements that happen frequently and well into the night.  Explore our guide to sleeping in Anchorage Airport or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips."

 

In addition, there are five pages of very detailed Anchorage airport sleeping reviews that provide advice on many specific places to get some sleep. http://www.sleepinginairports.net/reviews/anchorage-airport-reviews.htm

 

Finally, since you're probably seeking to avoid the cost of a hotel for relatively short rest, you might also want to avoid the cost of taxi between the railroad station and the airport. On weekdays you can use bus route 40 for $2.00 per person (half-fare for seniors age 60 and above), with the last bus departing downtown at 11:16 p.m. Not an option on weekends because the last bus departs at 7:07 p.m. http://www.muni.org/Departments/transit/PeopleMover

Thank you very much...

[disneyochem]

Be sure to eat dinner or bring food.  You’ll find very little food options at that time.  
 

Two years ago, we also took the train to Anchorage, Ubered to the airport and waited for a 3 am flight home.  Thought we could just hang out in the Alaska Air lounge but it closed at midnight.  Long night but lots of other folks were there as well.

 

Uber was about $10 including tip.

[Glaciers]

The international terminal has very limited flights and few travelers even know that it’s there since the walkway is at the north end of the baggage claim area. It is the quietest area of the airport, hands down.  Another area that used to have large comfy chairs is the mezzanine area near the Native Art Display in the domestic terminal although it can get busy.

[AKJonesy]

You mentioned getting sleep so I would try to go over to the other terminal which is connected by a walkway in the baggage claim area.  You can do the same by walking outside of baggage claim and walk down to the other terminal via a sidewalk and go through the exterior doors.  You didn't mention what time of year you are coming, but if you are interested, you can go for a walk at night because it's light up here in the late spring and early summer.  You can walk over from the other terminal cross over the road to where the private aircraft are parked and head toward Lake Hood.  There is a walkway around the lake which would take good hour plus and maybe even catch seaplanes taking off at Lake Hood.  Just another option if you don't want to be in the terminal for the entire time you could spend a few hours walking outside.  Depends on time of year.  Later in the summer it would be dark.