Planning for Japan & Reviewing Alaska Airlines

Updated: May 23, 2026

10 min read

Hey there, Travellers,

It happened again. I booked more flights. This time, to Greece!

A couple of weeks ago, I got a message from family friends in Alabama saying that they're coming over to Europe in July, and would my mum and I like to meet up with them?

Of course, the answer to that question was a resounding "yes!" But as all you worldly-wise travellers will know, peak-summer fares to Greece were not on our side...

As a professional bargain-flight finder, I was not willing to pay more than I had to. Cue hours of tearing apart Google Flights, comparing routes on different dates to different islands, checking various combinations of open-jaw flight, and working out how many Avios I had to spare in the piggy bank.

Eventually we opted to fly into Santorini with Jet2 (after all, nothing beats a Jet2 holiday) and out of Athens with BA (thank you, Avios). We're yet to work out how to join the dots, but the current plan involves island hopping to Paros or Naxos. Having never been to either, I'd love your advice—which island to choose and why? Or is there somewhere even better that we're missing? Please let me know in the comments!

Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Flying High

Alaska Airlines' Saver Class: Are the Savings Worth It?

By Jake

Jake is a New Englander living in the woods of Northern California. When he's not traveling the world or hunting down deals for JFC, he's at home watching old movies. His cat edits all his articles.

If you follow airline news as obsessively as we do, you’ve probably noticed Alaska’s name popping up more often lately. They’ve been making some big moves in the last couple of years, including a merger with Hawaiian Airlines that expanded their Pacific network and provided access to more wide-body jets. Add some new Europe routes, and baby, you've got a stew going.

In the meantime, their domestic network has continued to grow steadily. Alaska’s fares typically sit somewhere between bare-bones airlines like Frontier and the big boys like Delta or American, occupying that “lower middle class” zone with United and JetBlue. That’s good news for budget-conscious flyers who prefer not to be treated like human cattle, but is Alaska’s juice worth the squeeze?

As a frequently broke traveler who just got back from a trip to Fairbanks, I’m the perfect man to answer that question. This review is based on some basic economy fares I stubbornly refused to upgrade (in any capacity), so consider this the absolute floor of the Alaska experience.

Flight Details

I booked these tickets in Alaska’s “Saver” class, which is one of the more generous basic economy offerings out there. It’s nearly identical to their main cabin fares, the only major differences being auto-assigned seats and reduced miles for the reward program. The free carry-on was especially appreciated, since I'm used to flying out of San Francisco with stingier United.

An airplane wing with Alaska Airlines' signature design soars above the clouds.

General Facilities

As a grown man of grown-man size, the first thing I notice on any airplane is the legroom (or lack thereof). I’m thrilled to report that Alaska crushes the competition here, offering a solid extra inch of legroom over United’s basic economy seats. Sure, one inch might not seem like a lot when you take off, but you’ll definitely be feeling the difference by the time you land.

The same goes for the seats themselves, which are about an inch wider than United’s standard. That left the aisle feeling a little narrow, but it’s a sacrifice I’m more than willing to make.

Aside from the glorious surplus of breathing room, you're looking at typical basic economy fare. Two standard power sockets for every three seats, plus USB-C ports to charge your phone. Adjustable headrests, standard recline, Wi-Fi at $8 per flight (or free for T-Mobile customers). Nothing too out of the ordinary.

Food

I didn’t want to pay for a meal since my flights were pretty short. However, on the early morning flight from Fairbanks to Seattle, I sat next to a gentleman who ordered a hearty-looking breakfast bowl. Thinking (as always) of our beloved Jack's subscribers, I asked him how it tasted. He paused, considered the question, and then replied, “You know, it’s actually not bad.”

Take that review how you will.

On a personal note, I can confirm that the free snacks were terrific. I recommend going for the pretzels over the Biscoff cookies — when I close my eyes, I can almost still taste that Maui Monk flavor on my tongue. 10/10, well done, Alaska!

If you tend to get peckish on flights, you’ll want to order a meal ahead of time. Supplies were seemingly limited, and the attendants ran out of a few options on all four flights.

An airplane is silhouetted against a vibrant sunset behind a chain-link fence at an airport runway.

Entertainment

Sadly, this was a major disappointment. Despite being the first US airline to offer in-flight movies back in the day, Alaska has recently removed all the seatback screens from their main cabins, so you’re mostly on your own when it comes to entertainment. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

It’s not all bad. You can access Alaska’s entertainment library from your own devices, but only if you’re a member of their rewards program (make sure you sign up before takeoff). There are little flip-out stands for phones and tablets on the backs of the seats, and the library itself is… fine. It’s hard not to be disappointed, though, especially since other low-cost airlines offer better options.

I mean, I watched The Wild One and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? on my last flight with United. Air France proudly includes Le Samouraï in their library. You could step it up a little, Alaska. Just sayin'.

Keep reading to see how Alaska stacks up overall and share your experiences in the comments...

Travel Tips

Plan for Japan

When it comes to countries we never tire of finding great Flights to, Japan is right up there at the top of the list. Thankfully, you lovely readers seem to feel the same way!

After Navigator Larissa's trip there last year, we put her straight to work writing down all her insider tips to add to our Travel Guides. But recently, she caught a second wind and magicked up even more advice and handy info to keep us on the straight and narrow for our future Japanese adventures.

Here's a taster:

A vibrant red Shinto shrine stands prominently in Kyoto, Japan, adorned with traditional lanterns and sacred ropes.

Shrine Etiquette

Many visitors bow at the entrance of the torii gate (entrance gate) on their way in, which you’re be encouraged to do as well. Bow, yes, but then walk around the side of the gate rather than passing directly underneath (this path is reserved for the gods).

If you’re comfortable, you can take part in the purification ritual once in the grounds of the shrine—you'll see other visitors take a cup of water and wash their hands and mouth with it (left hand first).

You don’t need to make an offering if you don’t want to, but if you would like to take part in the experience, you can toss a coin (5 yen is considered a good coin for this) into the offering box (usually found at the front of the main hall). You can then ring the bell and start your prayer. Some visitors will bow and clap as well. Read this guide for specifics on the hows and whens.

Alongside praying directly, you can buy a wooden tablet and write your ‘petition’ on it before attaching it to a nearby tree or board (it will be obvious where this should be hung). There are also fortunes you can buy (and tie to a tree if it’s bad luck).

Kyoto's Food Scene

Influenced by its proximity to Uji’s famed matcha fields, Kyoto is one of the best places to try all things green tea—matcha sweets, matcha lattes, and ceremonial-grade cups of matcha. You name it, you can find it.

It’s also a great place to find more traditional dishes, like soba, tofu, and all sorts of vegetarian delights, including pickled vegetables.

A hand prepares matcha tea in a traditional Japanese setting.

Here are some typically Kyoto foods and drinks you ought to try while you’re there:

Tsukemono: pickled vegetables, which you can easily find in Nishiki Market
Soba: buckwheat noodles in all kinds of flavors, including green tea! Sometimes served cold, so be aware of what you’re ordering.
Yuba: tofu skin served in various ways, like added to soup or as a fried side dish/snack in the form of tofu skin chips
Saba-zushi: a raw mackerel sushi, different from Edo-style (Tokyo)
Matcha: green tea powder, drunk hot or cold
Sake: the soft water in Kyoto is some of the best for sake production in the country—look out for brands like Gekkeikan (one of the oldest breweries in Japan), Sho Chiku Bai (known for its sparkling sake), and Tsuki no Katsura (specialising in cloudy sake).
Obanzai: home cuisine, usually small dishes heavy on the vegetables and soup

You’ll also find cuisines from all around the world, but less so than in Tokyo. For example, we were feeling like a break from Japanese food and found this highly rated burger spot. The food was delicious, but it was extremely busy (likely because there weren’t many other burger spots nearby) and there was no space to eat in, so we had to take our food back to the hotel.

Lesser-Known Tokyo Neighborhoods

A serene evening scene at Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, Japan, with its iconic red architecture beautifully illuminated.

Asakusa is one of the ‘quieter’ neighborhoods in the city, and where I’d recommend someone stay on their first visit to Tokyo.

We liked that it was well connected to the more ‘touristy’ parts of the city via the Metro, but there was also enough going on within walking distance of our hotel. The famous Senso-ji Temple gives the area a mixed feel between the traditional and the modern, and you’ll find plenty of restaurants, izakayas, and bars within 5–10 minutes of your hotel.

It’s also situated on the Sumida River, which does give a little respite from the concrete jungle of the vast majority of the city.