Alaska Airlines from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego

"Good old Des Moines, brimming with corn and hospitality. But aren’t you a little tired of the wholesome Midwest charm? Thirsting for a taste of the West Coast’s saltiness? Craving for the thrill of gliding into a city where the sun doesn’t seem to call it a day till your second happy hour drink? And, amidst poetic possibilities, I present you the perfect solution: a sojourn from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego. But before you conjure images of suffocating in coach squeezed between an oversized elbow on one side and a snoring symphony on the other, allow me to propose an elegant alternative – embrace the high life, quite literally with the ‘First-class’ sojourn.

Don’t be beguiled by ‘Cheap Flight’ deals or ‘Last-minute flights’ promising thrills at economy class. Yes, you might save a couple of hundred dollars that might seem like a win, but remember all flight deals are not created equal. What looks like a savvy saving could land you on a ‘Red-eye flight’, sleep deprived in San Diego and counting the regretted pennies while nursing a jumbo latte. Did you get tricked into a ‘Round-trip’ to save, only to realise you can't stand more than a week away from your beloved cornfields? The answer my friend, lies in the ‘One-way’ ticket - seasoned traveler’s code for 'I make my own rules'.

“But what about the noble pursuit of clocking miles in a ‘Frequent flyer’ or ‘Mileage program’?” I hear your diligent saver alter ego protest. Well dear reader, let’s not forget, as the great explorers of yore knew, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. A ‘Non-stop’ might mean you crash head first into your vacation without the awkward ‘Layover’ small talk, but then do you want to take ‘Connecting flights’ just to stretch out those air miles, including some dubious ones that seem to believe that adding Alaska in the middle of your trip actually makes geographical sense?

Allow me to convey an interesting miscellany before we return to the subject at hand. Alaska, the exciting detour, was purchased by the United States from Russia in 1867, for a mere 2 cents per acre. Talk about one of the greatest ‘Flight deals’ in history, wouldn't you say? Moving on.

Moreover, picture this. Flights from Des Moines to San Diego could offer you a chance to enjoy ‘In-flight services’ that go well beyond warming your dinner and losing your ‘Baggage allowance’. A ‘Business class’ aboard an Alaskan airliner might very well turn out to be an epic airplane romance you didn’t know you needed.

So, ‘Best time to book’ you ask? Yesterday, if you ask me. But stick to rule number one of Flight club: Never Monday. Airfare becomes more adventurous than crossing the Sahara on foot. By Wednesday, the airlines are waving white flags and making peace with the wallets of their passengers, so by the time the Friday frenzy hits you can sail through cyber space towards a plush First-class seat.

Of course, the true ‘Flight Duration’ will depend on whether you choose to leap straight into Californian skies or enjoy a relaxed waltz, touching other parts of the American repertoire. The options for ‘Direct flights’ or ‘International flights’ or the mystery of an uncalled ‘Flight Cancellation Policy’ exercise, only time will tell.

So here's the wisdom; forget about bargained ‘Domestic flights’. Instead, indulge in a little higher altitude, a little luxury, a little more leg room and a lot more of that ‘premium economy’ sandwich that's, ironically, anything but economical. Trust me, the cornfields will still be there when you return. San Diego sirens are calling, are you ready to answer?