:meme:Alaska Airlines is fully tuned in to getting your fish home in fine shape. I've done it both ways: coolers and waxed boxes. Both worked great and no loss of fish or notable thawing.

We went on a trip where we rented a room & kitchen and had access to a boat. Packed clothes and food in the coolers and then jettisoned nearly everything on the way home and brought frozen fish in the coolers, packed them to 50 lbs.and filled any remaining airspace with clothing. We then duck taped the lid to keep it air tight. It took us 24 hrs to get home and everything was still frozen solid when we got home (I was nervous the whole time that it wouldn't be however).

Next two times we flew from AK into Ptld and just used the waxed boxes that you can buy up there for $15 a pop. Both times the fish were in the boxes about 12 hours and no thawing at all.

You should see them loading those planes for the ride home. They use forklifts and have those waxed fish boxes stacked about 3' high on pallets (multiple pallets) loading them into the Alaska Airlines planes. Some of the planes have cargo space up front behind the pilot; to balance the load I would imagine. They know how to get your fish home for you. The planes are full of fishermen, fisherwomen an fish catching kids. Each time we went it was August and warm out. Trust'em.

 

We have always done it with fish boxes. Alaska Airlines is indeed well tuned for your fish shipping needs. We have also been known to use their cargo shipping service to send fish boxes back particularly when we wanted to take the ferry back instead of flying. Aunt and Uncle used to run a charter boat in Sitka so fish was a regular item for us.

 

Super easy, wax boxes or cooler, don't go over 50#, secured with tape or straps so it won't open, name and phone number clear on outside, check like a suitcase, pick up next to baggage carousel where they cart out oversize bags.

 

Is there a charge to bring the fish boxes back on the plane and if so how much???

 

Alaska Airline has a cold storage/freezer capability at their SEA-TAC freight operation so if you ship fish periodically during an extended trip it can be held there for you or pick up by others. Not sure about any of their other operations but might be worth a call or check their website.

 

In Soldotna/Kenai you can buy fish boxes at Fred Meyer, Safeway, WalMart. You'll find the best prices there.

 

First two 50 lb bags are $25 each. If you can cram your luggage into a carry on and large personal bag (free), then you can bring 100 pounds of fish home for $50. The third checked bag is either $50 or $75. Frugality says that 100 pounds of fillets is enough.

 

I have brought back fish from Canada and Alaska over 30 times. I've always used waxed boxes and have never had an issue. Just make sure it is labeled correctly as stated it posts above and don't go over the weight limit for the airline you are using.

 

The system is built around using the special, waxed fish boxes.
Vacuum pack and freeze the fish hard.
Don't exceed 50# per box.
At baggage check-in they will properly band the boxes closed.
No magic, just handle like luggage.

 

I've only done it twice, and the waxed boxes worked great.

 

I just throw the vaccum sealed filets right in my suitcase.

Fly nonstop to pdx and it frozen solid on arrival.

Took about 25 pounds of filets in my carryon last time to avoid any charges. TSA could care less.

 

One time coming back from the Nush my box was 52lbs. seems the scale at camp was a bit off when they weighed it. Took a filet out at the airport counter and put it in my carry on and everything worked great. Depending on where you fish 50lbs of filets is a lot of fish.

OAM

 

Not sure if this has changed......Make sure your fish is totally frozen when you pack to fly home. Back to a couple of years ago......although totally within the regulations.......I put some dry ice in a cooler of fish coming back and got a bunch of flack from the baggage checker in Anchorage (Alaska Airlines). They have to store dry iced coolers in an enclosed part of the the plane due to the CO2 coming off the ice......If you need additional cooling use the frozen blue ice packs. Nik:twocents::twocents:

 

Thanks for all the info! Excited for my first trip to Alaska!

 

If you have an Alaska Air credit card your first check bag is free too. Earning miles helps too. They are our favorite airline for all travel anymore. Best service of any line we have found although generally a bit of a premium for travel around the US.

 

I've traveled to Alaska to fish five times and only had two problems:
1st- My fish didn't make the plane change and arrived on the next flight.
2nd- Someone grabbed my fish boxes (two of them) and left. To the airlines
credit, they tracked down the individual (older lady from Hood River)
due to the fact that her two boxes were still at the airport! My fish
was delivered two days later in perfect shape.

All in all, I'm confident they do the best they can considering all the fish they ship.

Mike

 

I've also done the thing where I packed my clothes in a cooler on the way up and fish on the way back. I put a little dry ice in the cooler and taped it shut after checking it at the counter in case they wanted to weigh the ice. There's a limit on how much dry ice you can include. Fish was still solid when I got home. Even though I used a fairly basic cooler, I think I probably only had capacity for about 40lbs of fish after factoring in the weight of the cooler. If I did it again I'd buy the wax box and squeeze in another 20% of filets in lieu of cooler weight.

 

I'll be honest, I gt there 3 - 4 times a year to visit staff. Each time at the airport we put frozen fish and game into my suitcase with clothes around them. After I land at PDX and drive the hour home to Molalla, it is still frozen solid. I did the same with lamb I raised. Took an entire cut & wrapped lamb up last December and it to was frozen solid when I grabbed it from the carousel. Of course it is taken out of the ice chest and into the suitcase right before passing security. Not ideal but in every case there has never been an issue. this summer though it'll be a chest as we too will be rafting the Kenai and then going out for some halibut. I'm thinking very optimistically!

 

Get the Alaska Air CC. Free bag and a companion fare. Must have for any AK trip.