Alaska Airlines from Raleigh to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

Why is the sun just now posting his flashy yellow smiley face on your day, my dear early bird? If I dare to venture a guess, it could be tad controversial, attributing it to that "red-eye flight" you've been mulling over. Yes, the ominous name does make you feel like you're in a Mission: Impossible movie, defusing a time bomb as beads of sweat trickle down dramatically or perhaps as seen in Twilight, with bloodshot vampire eyes. But, panic buttons aside, it's really just a clever word for traveling during those nocturnal hours when owls hoot and... Netflix users binge. So why don't you book one – more specifically, heading from Raleigh to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport on Alaska, the airline that is – not the state.

Here's something to put the humor in your coffee: A red-eye flight typically costs less because it departs after 9 p.m. and arrives before 5 a.m. At Alaska, we like to call that "airfare with attitude." Cheeky, isn't it? It’s like saying, "Come fly with us, we're the nocturnal bird with night goggles!" It's a cost-effective and time-efficient option that savvy travelers often pick for "domestic flights". No "layover" or "connecting flights" - just "non-stop" cruising like a comet in the cosmic highway. And if you’re smart about it, you can get some shut-eye and wake up refreshed in sunny Florida, ready to tackle the day.

When it comes to Alaska Airlines (no, still not the state, although it’s named after it), one can enjoy a superior travel experience while pinching their budget. Unlike the actual state of Alaska, where polar bears and moose roam, our "Economy class" seats have spacious legroom, in a humans only zone. No antler dodging or bear side-eyeing to worry about.

Here's another curveball: Did you know Alaska is the only US state to have coastlines on three different seas – the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Bering Sea? Now that’s a fact you can toss around at those boring cocktail parties and watch as the crowd marvels at your geographic genius.

Feeling posh? Try "first-class", where food isn't just prepared but 'masterfully crafted,' as our in-flight chefs would like to say. It's the airline equivalent of having a personal butler minus the stuffy British accent, serving you meals on china plates instead of plastic. And before you gasp in horror, no, we do not serve moose-burgers.

If you're the 'Why blend in when you can stand out?' type, then there's also the "Premium Economy" class featuring bigger seats, more legroom, and an early boarding privilege. And for those that like to have their cake and eat it too, our "Business class" ensures you strike the right balance between luxury and value. Yes, ‘work hard, fly better’ isn’t just a catchy slogan around here.

Look, you've got options. The 'best time to book' is as subjective as the ending of Inception. It's all about what works for you! Are you the adventurous last-minute Maverick (Last-minute flights) or the meticulous Monica (round-trip flight deals)? Either way, at Alaska, we like to keep things flexible, like a gymnast performing at the Olympics. Now, don’t fret, we’re talking about our "flight cancellation policy" here, not about in-flight yoga, you can relax your pretzel position now. So, whether you fancy a one-way ticket to paradise or a round-trip through cloud nine, Alaska has you covered.

Moral of the blog? The road less taken is sometimes the runway. So, why not an airway in this case? Yes, roads are, as Robert Frost says, 'lovely, dark and deep' but ever thought of the wonders of a nonstop flight that's also ‘lovely, dark and high’?