Alaska Airlines from Tulsa International Airport to Monterey

Meet Alaska Airlines: Providence's obedient servant. Now, dear traveler, if you're contemplating a jaunt from the balmy flatlands of Tulsa International to the picturesque seaside groves of Monterey, one must allow me to introduce you to her quixotic ways.

Firstly, you mustn't be deceived by her name. Although named "Alaska", she neither sleeps in icy caves nor feeds on solely salmon and crustaceans. It's not even true that all passengers must wear snow boots and parkas on board. The reality is that Alaska Airlines simply enjoys her union with the cooler climes. And, here's a little secret, Alaska's heart lies not in the Arctic Tundra but in Seattle, Washington. Indeed, an airline with a sense of humor and penchant for irony!

Now, as a salient fact of our frosty muse - Alaska isn't all mountains, moose, and -30-degree weather. It happens to be the only U.S. state that spans Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Just an interesting titbit to ponder on while you pack your bags.

On to the flights! Most travelers in their impetuous haste, hunt for "cheap flights" like starved hyenas scouring for the leanest meat. With Alaska Airlines, you are spared the indignity of this pursuit. She doesn't play "hard to get", offering direct flights from Tulsa to Monterey with an inviting coquetry.

The flight duration? A mere smudge in the sands of time. Seriously, it's shorter than the latest blockbuster everyone's raving about, and let me tell you this: the in-flight services are infinitely more entertaining. Missing out on those buttery pretzels and the perk of that first sip of lukewarm coffee is a tragedy that Shakespeare couldn't have better described.

Should you opt for a round-trip, do not anxiously ponder the mysteries of the baggage allowance. Have no reservations. In its economy class, Alaska Airlines like a doting mother, permits not one, but two bags. One could pack an extra assortment of hats just for the larks!

If you fly frequent enough, they generously offer you the chance to become a "frequent flyer" and participate in their mileage program - a game where one collects points and wins complex rewards that usually involves jigsawing one-way flights into elaborate plans that include layovers and red-eye flights. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Friends, the most significant question one must confront is not about the flight schedule or economy class but about when is the best time to book? One could invest in a crystal ball for these matters, or simply trust your intuition (and of course, relentlessly check the website until your eyes glaze over).

Now, a word of warning. If you, in fit of spontaneity, enact a flight cancellation, be prepared for Alaska Airlines' flight cancellation policy to shake a finger at you. It means well but, like any good friend, it encourages commitment.

As a final piece of advice: Do not, I entreat you, get swept away in the whirlpool of airline reviews. Travelers, like jealous lovers, can make mountains out of the humblest molehills. As long as your seat reclines a fraction and the person next to you is not committing the atrocity of chewing gum with their mouth open, one should be satisfied.

Therefore, perchance, should you decide to embark on this flying adventure with Alaska Airlines, do remember to pack a sense of humor, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and your baggage under the stipulated allowance, of course.