Alaska Airlines from Pittsburgh International Airport to New York

So, you've decided to jump on the bandwagon and join the quest for a life-altering journey, trading your humble Pittsburg abode for the 'City of Dreams,’ New York. And in your relentless desire for novelty, you've elected to fly Alaska Airlines, the carrier that has more in common with a majestic polar bear than a considerable number of its southern counterparts. Allow me to don my sarcastic hat and take you through a joyous, snow-capped sarcasm fest - buckle up!

Right off the bat, let’s burst a bubble. While you’re flying Alaska from Pittsburgh, don’t go off daydreaming about conversing with wolves or watching the Acrtic's perennial twilight. That’s the state of Alaska, dear dreamy wayfarer. I hate to be the bearer of boring realities, but the actual Alaska you will encounter is fabricated of steel, snug leather seats (if you're lucky), and flight attendants, not full of majestic glaciers or tales of the Northern frontier. Speaking of the icy wonderland, did you know Alaska has over three million lakes? That's right, water sports enthusiasts eat your heart out. But let's push the pause button on our geographical musings and focus back on our domestic flight from the 'Steel City'.

As you wave goodbye to Pittsburgh International Airport, clutching onto your precious round-trip or one-way ticket like it contains the secret of eternal life (they do get ridiculously expensive sometimes), you'll soon experience the glorious American pastime that is known as 'the layover’. Should you be an aficionado of unexpected delays and random strangers, layovers will reveal themselves to be delightfully intriguing. But if you’d rather not make friends with airport furniture, Alaska offers direct, non-stop flights - a concept as pleasing as coffee to your parched and travel-weary soul. And we all know coffee equals survival, especially when you know you've got several airborne hours ahead.

Suppose you are lucky enough to snag that coveted non-stop flight. Chances are you might spot ‘cheap flights’ and ‘Alaska’ in the same sentence as frequently as spotting an actual polar bear during your flight. Still, it’s not like mortgaging your house for an airplane ticket, oh no. It’s merely akin to exchanging that antique collection for flight deals. They say it’s all about perspective, don’t they?

We've embarked on our dandy journey, you're already gnawing your fingers in anticipation, and PA’s cityscape is shrinking in your window. Let's talk classes now. You see, there’s the Einstein of flight schools - the First-class. Remember that comfy leather seat? Imagine that with legroom that doesn't make you feel like a contortionist. Coming runner-up is the Business class, but let’s face it, in the grand scheme of airfare hierarchy, it’s premium economy with its foot nudging ‘economy’. A reminder here, dear traveler - your baggage allowance and seat comfort are directly proportional!

You might find solace in their Mileage Program, though, assuming you managed to decode the inscrutable conundrums they call ‘frequent flyer terms and conditions’. Naïve is he who believes these programs are solely for the benefit of the customer, but who are we to shatter illusions?

Finally, as all great trips must, yours would come to an end, leaving you with a bank account lighter than a mountain marmot's lunch and a beaming smile - New York City, you’ve arrived. You're a tad wiser, just a pinch sarcastic, and inexplicably ready for your next big adventure. What's next, my dauntless voyager? Perhaps a red-eye flight to the actual Last Frontier? Who knows?