San Francisco to Anchorage: Airlines, Landing at Ted Stevens and ID for the Flight

Somewhere over the Gulf of Alaska, the window shade goes up and the passenger in 14A sees the first jagged white ridgeline of the trip. That is the moment the practical questions arrive: who flies this route, which terminal will it be, and what has to be in the wallet. For the flight from San Francisco, the answer is a nonstop to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, with Alaska Airlines as the carrier with a base at both ends.

Which airlines fly from San Francisco to Anchorage?

Alaska Airlines is the carrier to know for this trip, and Anchorage lists San Francisco among the cities with nonstop flights to its airport in summer. Alaska keeps hubs at both ends of this route, since San Francisco and Anchorage are both on its list of hubs, alongside Seattle–Tacoma, Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon) and San Diego. The airline is headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, and its main hub is at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.

Anchorage is also where the story of the airline begins. Its ancestor, McGee Airways, flew its first service between Anchorage and Bristol Bay, and in the 1940s the company’s headquarters sat in Anchorage. When you step onto an Alaska Airlines plane bound for the city, you are flying a route with deep roots in the state.

The nonstop in summer

The summer nonstop list at Anchorage includes San Francisco next to Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle/Tacoma. That is the season the airport itself points to, and it matches the stretch from May to early September that is described as the best time to visit Anchorage. If your dates fall outside it, the nonstop is not something the airport promises, so connecting through a hub such as Seattle is the other path to picture.

A busy airport waits at the other end. More than 240 flights arrive in Anchorage every day, which tells you the city works as a true gateway to the state, with travelers fanning out toward the railroad, lodges and day cruises.

Other airlines in Anchorage

Alaska is not alone in the South Terminal. The domestic terminal also serves Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Sun Country Airlines and United Airlines, along with Condor and Discover Airlines for departures. Those names matter mostly if you plan to build a return or an open-jaw itinerary, flying into Anchorage and leaving from somewhere else in the lower 48.

Alaska Airlines also belongs to the Oneworld alliance, and its frequent-flyer program is called Atmos Rewards. If you collect miles, that is the program tied to this carrier, and the alliance link means partners are part of the picture.

Where do you land?

You land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which sits at 5000 W. International Airport Rd. in Anchorage, about 5 miles southwest of downtown. Because Alaska Airlines flies in from San Francisco as a domestic flight, you arrive at the South Terminal, the one that handles domestic carriers.

The airport has two terminals and 32 gates in all. The South Terminal has 24 of them, and the North Terminal has 8 and is used for international arrivals such as Condor, seasonal charters and military flights. For a traveler from the Bay Area, the North Terminal is the one you will most likely never see.

A big airport with a seaplane base next door

Ted Stevens is far more than a passenger airport. It is a hub for cargo carriers including FedEx Express, Atlas Air, Polar Air Cargo and UPS Airlines, and the FedEx facility alone can handle as many as 13,400 packages per hour. Alongside the passenger planes you may notice the cargo jets, a reminder of how much of Alaska depends on air freight.

Next to it lies Lake Hood Seaplane Base, described as the busiest seaplane base in the world. Floatplanes are part of daily life here, and it is a fitting first look at a state where so many places are reached by air.

From the airport into town

Anchorage People Mover bus Route 40 serves both the North and South terminals and connects to the downtown Transit Center. It runs every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes in the evenings and on weekends, so a weekday arrival gives you the most frequent service.

If your trip continues by rail, the Alaska Railroad Depot is at 411 West 1st Ave in Anchorage, and its phone number is +1 907 265-2494. Visitors can book an Alaska Railroad trip, and many Alaska vacation packages combine motorcoach and train excursions with overnight stays and activities.

Light on arrival in summer

A summer landing often comes with long daylight, since Anchorage receives up to 19½ hours of sunlight and the sun sets just before midnight. Daytime highs in summer average around 68°F, with overnight lows near 55°F, so the first walk out of the terminal can feel pleasantly cool after a California departure.

Most people plan at least three days in Anchorage during their Alaska travels. That gives room for a flightseeing tour or a day cruise, both of which visitors can book, and for a night in a remote Alaska lodge if the plan reaches that far.

What do you need for the trip?

You need acceptable photo identification at the airport checkpoint, and nothing more in the way of documents, because San Francisco to Anchorage is a flight within the United States. Adults 18 and older must show valid ID to get through security, and anyone whose identity cannot be verified is not allowed into the screening checkpoint.

REAL ID or a passport

REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, and U.S. travelers must now be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights. The Act itself was passed by Congress in 2005 and sets minimum security standards for how licenses are issued and produced.

A license or ID marked with a star, a flag or the word Enhanced signals that it is REAL ID ready. A passport is an acceptable alternative and may be used in place of a REAL ID driver’s license to board a domestic flight. A traveler without an acceptable ID can pay a $45 fee under the TSA ConfirmID program.

Other ID details

A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification. TSA currently accepts an expired ID up to two years after its expiration date, though the list of acceptable IDs can change without notice. Variations in name suffixes are accepted on boarding passes and ID, and a suffix is not required on the boarding pass.

Children under 18 do not need to provide ID when traveling within the United States. The exception is an unaccompanied minor who is eligible for TSA PreCheck, who must show an acceptable ID to receive expedited screening.

Planning aids for Anchorage

Before you go, the free Official Anchorage Visitor Guide is available and includes a business directory of local businesses in Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska. You can also sign up for the Anchorage e-newsletter for trip inspiration, travel deals and planning tools.

Good to know before you go

The stretch from May to early September is named as the best time to visit Anchorage, and it is also the season for the nonstop from San Francisco. Evenings stay light, so a late arrival still leaves time to look around. Pack for daytime highs around 68°F and cooler nights, and keep your ID within reach for the checkpoint on the way out of the Bay Area.