Los Angeles to Anchorage: Airlines, Airport Arrival and ID for the Flight

Somewhere between the Pacific Coast and the first glimpse of the Chugach out the window, the question settles in: how exactly do you get from Los Angeles to Anchorage? The answer is a flight, and a direct one exists. It lands at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, a few miles from downtown, where the Alaska trip begins in earnest.

Which airlines fly from Los Angeles to Anchorage?

Alaska Airlines is the carrier most tied to this route, and it is not the only name on the Anchorage departures board. Los Angeles is one of the airline’s hubs, and so is Anchorage, which puts both ends of this trip inside the same network. The airline is headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, and its primary hub is Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, with other hubs in Portland, San Diego and San Francisco.

Los Angeles is also on the list of cities with non-stop flights to Anchorage in summer, alongside Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Newark, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle/Tacoma. More than 240 flights arrive at the Anchorage airport each day, so the airport is a busy one even if it does not feel like it from the street.

Alaska Airlines and its history with Anchorage

The airline has deep roots in the city. It began on April 14, 1932, as McGee Airways, and that company’s first service ran between Anchorage and Bristol Bay. In the 1940s the airline’s headquarters were in Anchorage itself, long before it moved to the Seattle area.

Today it focuses on connecting West Coast cities, including Alaska and Hawaii, to more than 100 destinations in the contiguous United States, North America, Asia, Oceania and Europe. It belongs to Oneworld, the third-largest airline alliance in the world, and its frequent-flyer program is called Atmos Rewards. For a traveler who already collects miles with the airline or one of its partners, that is a reason to look at it first.

Other airlines that serve the airport

The airport’s South Terminal handles domestic flights for Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Condor (departures), Delta Air Lines, Discover Airlines (departures), Sun Country Airlines and United Airlines.

Cargo is a big part of the airport’s life too. Alaska Airlines, Atlas Air, FedEx Express, Polar Air Cargo and UPS Airlines all use it as a hub, and FedEx is its largest cargo facility. You may notice freight planes lined up on the field as your passenger flight descends.

Where do you land?

You land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which sits 5 miles southwest of downtown Anchorage. Its address is 5000 W. International Airport Rd., and its code is ANC. From the plane you are close to the city, and the Anchorage visitor guide notes that most people plan at least three days there during their Alaska travels.

Terminals and gates

The airport has two terminals. The South Terminal, with 24 gates, is the domestic one, and it is where a flight from Los Angeles arrives. The North Terminal has 8 gates and serves Condor arrivals, international seasonal charter flights and military flights, so a Los Angeles traveler will rarely have a reason to go there.

The runways are long, the longest at 12,400 feet, and next door is Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the busiest seaplane base in the world. Floatplanes taking off in the same view as the big jets are one of the first signs that you have left the Lower 48 behind.

From the airport to downtown

Anchorage People Mover bus Route 40 serves both the North and South terminals and connects to the downtown Transit Center. It comes every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on evenings and weekends, which is useful to know if your flight lands late.

Downtown is also where the Alaska Railroad Depot stands, at 411 West 1st Ave (phone +1 907 265-2494). Visitors can book an Alaska Railroad trip, and many Alaska vacation deals include motorcoach and train excursions along with overnight stays and activities. Others add a flightseeing tour or a day cruise, or a stay in a remote Alaska lodge.

The season you arrive in

The best time to visit Anchorage runs from May to early September. In summer the city gets up to 19½ hours of sunlight, with the sun setting just before midnight, so an evening arrival still leaves you light for a walk. Daytime highs average around 68°F and nights around 55°F, which means a layer in your carry-on is useful even in the warm months.

What do you need for the trip?

You need acceptable photo ID to get through the checkpoint, and nothing more in the way of documents, because this is a domestic flight within the United States. For adults, that means a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport. Alaska is a U.S. state, so the rest of the trip is about packing and planning.

REAL ID and other accepted IDs

REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, and travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights. A license or ID with a star (or a flag), or one that says Enhanced, shows that it is ready. The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 and sets minimum security standards for how licenses are issued and produced.

A passport is an acceptable alternative and may be used instead of a REAL ID driver’s license to board. The airport itself reminds travelers who do not have a REAL ID or acceptable ID that they may have a problem. Anyone without an acceptable form of ID must pay a $45 fee under the TSA ConfirmID program.

Who has to show ID

Adults 18 and older must show valid identification at the checkpoint. A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of ID, while TSA currently accepts an expired ID up to two years after its expiration. If your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed into the screening checkpoint, so check your card before you leave home.

Children under 18 do not need to provide identification when traveling within the United States. Unaccompanied minors who are eligible for TSA PreCheck must show an acceptable ID to receive expedited screening. TSA also accepts variations in name suffixes on boarding passes and ID, and suffixes are not required on boarding passes. The list of acceptable IDs is subject to change without notice.

Planning resources

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

Good to know before you go

Summer is the season most of the non-stop flights from Los Angeles are described for, and it is also when daylight stretches into the late evening. Pair that with at least three days in the city if you can, since Anchorage is the starting point for the train, the flightseeing and the lodge stays. Keep the ID in your hand before you reach the checkpoint and the first day goes smoothly.