Alaska Airlines from Midway International Airport to Calgary

Oh boys and girls, gather 'round as we regale you with the adventure of a lifetime. That's right, we're taking an epic voyage from charming Midway International Airport, located in the always balmy city of Chicago, and soaring on the wings of an (insert drumroll here) Alaska airline all the way to the winter wonderland that is Calgary. Hold onto your parkas, you're in for a wild ride.

Alaska, the airline, not the state, offers such nifty things as direct flights, which is nothing short of a modern miracle. Who’d have thought we’d live to see this day? Seriously though, isn't it just peachy to avoid the hassle of layovers and skip right on to our destination? Bravo Alaska, you truly know how to keep our hearts aflutter!

Oh, have you heard? Alaska is the only U.S. state that does not collect sales tax, or levy an individual income tax on either earned or unearned income. It’d almost make you wish you could move there instead of flying with an airline bearing its name, wouldn't it? But don't pack your bags just yet! The flights come with a baggage allowance, which just narrowly stops short of letting you stuff that polar bear from your Alaskan hunting trip into your suitcase.

Opening up the Alaska airline website, we're greeted with a dazzling array of airfare options. Business class, economy, premium economy—you name it, they've got it. And believe it or not, they even offer reasonably priced options, to pacify our eternally-empty wallets. This indeed is a gesture of goodwill we deeply appreciate, however they continue waxing eloquent about their 'competitive' pricing strategy.

If you're not a fan of last-minute flights, there is a useful little tool called the 'flight schedule.' Look upon it as your magic Lamp of Aladdin. It lists your flights, tells you the flight duration, and even tells you when to wave goodbye to enjoy the wonders of Canada. Just a word of caution though – do not, I repeat, do not mistake the flight schedule for your work calendar. It will undoubtedly lead to awkward zoom calls in 40,000 feet altitude.

We also need to talk about Alaska Airlines' frequent flyer program, intriguingly called the 'Mileage Program.' Their sales pitch involves luring unsuspecting travelers into this seemingly irresistible web of points and freebies. The fact remains undisputed that after circumnavigating the globe about 20 times, you may just have enough points to buy a cup of lukewarm airline coffee. Oh, the absolute joy!

Now, while the prospect of flying may send some of us hyperventilating into paper bags, have no fear, in-flight services are here. Alaska Airlines promises a top-notch display of snacks and beverages that you'll nibble on, while trying not to make eye contact with your seatmate who's enthusiastically digging into his 3-course meal from home— you might as well get that paper bag ready.

We are nothing if not fair, so credit must be given where it’s due. Alaska's flight cancellation policy is beautifully straightforward, it's almost poetic. If you need to cancel for any reason between now and the second coming of Elvis, they've got you covered. It might involve a small mountain of paperwork, phone hold times enough to listen to all of Mozart’s compositions twice or thrice, but hey, the option is there.

So, dear hapless traveler, if you are contemplating the journey from Midway to Calgary, take a gamble on Alaska. This experience will surely be a story worth telling... who am I kidding, we all know it isn’t. Happy travels, anyways.