Alaska Airlines from Des Moines International Airport to Juneau International Airport

So you are ready to hop on a plane from the hubbub of Des Moines International Airport all the way to breathtakingly scenic Juneau—via Alaska, no less. Well, that's just great. After all, who wouldn't love a couple of turbulences at 30,000 feet? And let's not forget the sweet joy of time-zone hopping as your body tries keeping up with the sudden shift. Truly, nothing spells 'adventure' better than this.

Now, before you start packing your socks into those Dreadful Deadline Deals suitcases, let's run down the basics of booking—especially catching the so-called 'Cheap flights', 'Flight deals' or the 'Best time to book'. You can thank me later for saving you from emptying your piggy banks.

First on the list: one-way or round-trip? A round-trip ticket offers the comfort of a fixed plan. Isn't it fun to watch your hard-earned money ride the airwaves as you hope nothing ruins your plans because changing them will cost you more than your first car? Oh, surely it is! But if you like playing with fire, a one-way ticket can give you the flexibility to roll with the punches. Just remember that it has its consequences, like the potential of being stranded in Alaska forever... not that it's bad. After all, who doesn't enjoy 24 hours of daylight or darkness, depending on the season?

Next up: direct flights or connecting flights? A direct flight is typically faster and less stressful—though who would want to miss the joyous adventure of running like the Flash across an unknown airport amidst a stopover? Unless you are a sucker for an unpredictable adventure, you might want to aim for a non-stop flight to avoid layovers.

Touching base on the flight duration: well, let’s see. It ranges anywhere between 5 to 11 hours from Des Moines to Juneau, depending on the chosen flight. Longer flights might come with in-flight services like snacks, meals, and boredom cure (aka, in-flight entertainment). And for your added amusement, Alaska flights provide 'premium economy' that sits right between 'economy class' and 'first-class'. Pray tell, who wouldn't enjoy sitting in a middle ground where you get more legroom and maybe a snack box, without having to go the whole nine yards (and dollars) of the first class?

Let’s not forget about baggage allowance. Nothing trumps the fun moment when you have to decide which of your favorite sweaters gets left behind because your bag is over the weight limit. No worries, you can always pay an extra arm and a leg for your overweight bag. Now who said travel wasn't fun?

And finally, reviews. Do enjoy browsing through the endless stream of airline reviews that will ensure every trace of positivity about your impending flight dwindles gradually. It's your own personal horror movie unfolding. Spooky enough to keep you awake during your red-eye flight from Des Moines to Juneau!

Here's a fun fact to end your preparatory agony. Did you know Alaska, despite being the largest state in the U.S., is also the least densely populated? Imagine the amount of personal space that awaits you. Absolutely fabulous!

So buckle up, future ‘frequent flyer’. Your journey from the lusciously green Iowa to the frost-kissed mountains of Juneau is going to be eventful to say the least. Make sure to wave the Des Moines International goodbye as you weave your way through the magnificent clouds, miles away from the quintessential rationality we call 'land life'. Aren't flights just the best?