Alaska Airlines from Omaha to Myrtle Beach International Airport

Curiously enough, despite the name, Alaska Airlines doesn't hail from the wild North Pole but instead, from the sunny shores of Southern California. This airline, which routinely chews through 44 million gallons of jet fuel before breakfast and somehow still wonders why it can't win the 'greenest airliner of the year' award, is about to be your personal chariot from Omaha to Myrtle Beach International Airport. With a reputation that swings between 'fabulous' and 'oh dear, what now?' faster than an expertly crafted meme, Alaska Airlines is a prime contender for your money, your patience, and a generous chunk of your vacation time.

Start by checking out their flights. Alaska Airlines operates a sizable fleet of planes that seem to miraculously stay airborne despite the occasional spat between their pilots, the laws of aerodynamics, and gravity. Luckily, the frequent flyer kleptomaniacs can breathe a sigh of relief as that piece of airplane that fell off mid-flight was probably nothing important.

Ready for a challenge? Try deciphering their flight schedule. For an airline named after the state where summer days routinely last for 18 hours, Alaska Airlines does love its red-eye flights. Prefer a layover? Congratulations! Your ability to spend endless hours traversing the length and breadth of nondescript airports while dragging a monstrosity of a suitcase that laughs in the face of any sensible baggage allowance will come in handy.

Could you be the lucky winner of one of those coveted non-stop, direct flights? Sure, if you manage to crack the enigma of their flight duration which seems to fluctuate more than bitcoin prices. But hey, remember: the Earth is round, so technically, we are all going in circles anyway.

Don't forget to unlock the Pandora's box that is the airfare. Myrtle Beach waits for the select few brave enough to navigate a labyrinth of terms such as one-way, round-trip, cheap flights, last-minute flights, flight deals, international flights, domestic flights, and occasionally, combinations that sound like an ill-advised attempt at state-craft than air travel. Still, at least you have a reason to put that Business class, Economy class, Premium economy, First-class education to use.

But really, why the long face? Alaska Airlines may not have won a customer satisfaction award recently, but their in-flight services are designed to thrill, entertain, and mostly keep your mind off the fact that you are floating thousands of feet above solid ground in an oversized tin can. It is a remarkable illusion of safety created by a team so impressively skilled at holding everything together with a smile, a snack mix, and a free onboard movie.

So here are you are, armed with the knowledge of Alaska Airlines' flight cancellation policy and hazy recollections of airline reviews, all set for that quintessential modern adventure called air travel. Frankly, does it matter that the distance between Omaha and Myrtle Beach is precisely 1,042 miles and would make for a comfortable 17-hour drive? In an airline world where your only choices are infinite patience or endless irritants, you'd be happier staring at the scenic ride from a windows-down, wind-in-your-face old-fashioned road trip.

Well, returning to our good friends at Alaska Airlines, I'd like to finish on a high note – quite literally. Did you know that the state of Alaska has more pilots per head of population than anywhere else in the US? Maybe that's where the airline gets its unique staff from!