There is a new airline flying within the U.S. and it may very properly be America’s strangest airline.
It is Northern Pacific Airways, an offshoot of a small airline flying tiny prop planes all through rural Alaska. Northern Pacific had a a lot grander imaginative and prescient: A low-cost provider flying from the mainland U.S. to Alaska and onward to locations all through Asia. However the closure of Russian airspace amid its invasion of Ukraine made that plan not possible – and a backup plan to fly all the way down to Mexico hasn’t materialized but, both.
A number of pivots and a spherical of crowdfunding to again the airline later, Northern Pacific lastly took flight for the primary time final month … flying between Ontario (ONT) in California – not Canada – and Las Vegas (LAS) … on a 181-seat Boeing 757. As of publication, that is nonetheless the airline’s solely route, flying thrice every week.
We needed to see for ourselves what this unusual new low-cost provider was like, so I hopped on a Northern Pacific flight from Ontario to Las Vegas final week. Learn on for the total assessment.
Reserving Northern Pacific Airways Flights
You’ll discover Northern Pacific’s flights on Google Flights to check with different airways. However when it comes time to guide, your greatest wager is to take action instantly on np.com.
The airline began off flying simply as soon as every week between Ontario (ONT) and Las Vegas (LAS). However as of Aug. 3, Northern Pacific Airways flies this route thrice weekly: Flights function to Las Vegas on Sundays, Thursdays, and Fridays whereas flights departing Las Vegas depart on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.
Oddly, the airline appears to solely load the schedule as much as one month prematurely of journey. As of publication, you may solely guide flights by means of Sept. 4.
Once I booked my flight, it was a simple course of on Northern Pacific’s web site. You may have the choice to guide a primary, normal, plus, or top notch ticket. All fares embody a carry-on bag plus a private merchandise. Since this was a brief one-hour flight, I simply selected primary.
The primary distinction between primary and normal is that normal contains superior seat assignments and primary doesn’t. Plus fares are seats with further legroom and top notch is a normal home top notch recliner seat.
Curiously, if you are going to buy a normal or higher-class ticket, you will be given the choice to pay more cash to make your ticket absolutely refundable. It is $50 further every approach for normal, $100 for plus, and $200 for first.
You will not discover Northern Pacific Airways flights obtainable to guide with Chase factors by means of the Chase journey portal. If you would like to make use of factors to guide, you possibly can guide the ticket along with your Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Card or Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card, then take away the acquisition out of your assertion utilizing your factors.
Upgrading to First Class
The good half about flying Northern Pacific Airways is the potential for an affordable improve to top notch.
I used to be given the choice to improve to top notch on the airport on the day of my flight for a mere $30 – and I had bought the most affordable primary ticket. In whole, I paid $124 one-way ($94 for a primary ticket plus a $30 improve) to fly top notch on this quick flight, which was $60 lower than if I had booked a first-class ticket initially.
Whereas there isn’t any assure this selection will probably be obtainable on each flight, it is value asking an agent throughout check-in if there are any upgrades obtainable to top notch: It could be rather a lot cheaper than you’d assume. Upgrades appeared to be provided on a first-come, first-served foundation so it’s possible you’ll wish to head to the airport early for those who’re .
At Thrifty Traveler, we don’t settle for freebies. We use our personal factors, miles, or money to pay for each single flight or resort you see reviewed right here – together with this one.
Checking In & Departing on Northern Pacific
I acquired a textual content and an e-mail roughly 24 hours earlier than departure reminding me to examine in for my flight on-line. Nonetheless, after I tried to take action, I solely acquired this message.
That left me a little bit involved as this new airline did not have one of the best monitor file. After the inaugural flight from Ontario to Las Vegas, it needed to cancel its first flight from Las Vegas again to Ontario resulting from mechanical points.
I referred to as customer support to confirm that the flight was nonetheless scheduled and on time. The telephone agent assured me every little thing was good to go although the web site was having points.
Northern Pacific flies out of Terminal 4 at Ontario Worldwide Airport. It is a pretty small airport however you will discover signage exterior.
As soon as inside, you will possible discover a fairly empty terminal. I arrived about two hours earlier than departure and there was no line to examine in. The really helpful check-in time is 90 minutes earlier than departure and also you should be checked in not less than 40 minutes prior.
The airport brokers had been very pleasant and appeared excited in regards to the new airline. I requested to buy precedence boarding and the agent rotated and requested if I wished to improve to top notch for $30. Sure, please!
When you’ve got any checked baggage, you will pay throughout check-in relying on the fare you bought and variety of baggage. Bag charges begin at $30 for primary and normal fares and are included for most well-liked and top notch. Had I been checking a bag, the $30 improve would’ve already paid for itself.
Northern Pacific does not at present take part within the TSA PreCheck program however you may nonetheless get to the entrance of the road if in case you have a CLEAR membership, because it’s obtainable at Ontario’s Terminal 4 in addition to in Las Vegas.
Precedence Cross Lounge at Ontario Airport
To my shock, there was a Precedence Cross lounge at Ontario Airport: the Aspire lounge. The agent on the desk was completely satisfied to inform me that I used to be the primary passenger flying Northern Pacific Airways to enter the lounge.
When you’ve got lounge entry as a perk from a bank card, this is usually a excellent place to seize a drink and a chunk to eat earlier than your flight. It is on the opposite facet of Terminal 4 than the gate for Northern Pacific Airways … however given the scale of the airport, it is nonetheless solely a few five-minute stroll.
Boarding Northern Pacific Airways
The terminal appeared fairly empty general and much more so close to gate 402, which is the place my Northern Pacific flight was departing from that day.
There was loads of seating close to the gate, which did not shock me on the time since I anticipated this flight to be pretty empty. Because it turned out, the flight was truly fairly full so most passengers should have simply been milling in regards to the terminal.
Looking the window, the newly-painted livery on this 28-year-old 757 was fairly slick.
Boarding started about 40 minutes previous to departure, beginning with passengers needing extra time and help, households with young children, and active-duty navy, adopted by top notch passengers and the economic system cabin.
Northern Pacific Airways Cabin & Seats
As soon as I stepped foot on the aircraft, it was exhausting to inform that this was an older plane. The retrofitted seats upholstered in black leather-based with white accents look very sharp. And from the get go, it was clear that these seats had been an enormous step above the likes of ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit or Frontier.
The economic system cabin has a complete of 129 seats, three on either side of the aisle all through the cabin. Commonplace economic system seats begin at row 17 by means of row 38 behind the aircraft. These could be distinguished by an all-black leather-based seat (with out the white stripe under the headrest).
By far, one of the best seats in economic system are the exit row in row 30 the place you will have loads of legroom. The one draw back is that it could really feel cramped on the sides because the armrest holds your tray desk.
However you will nonetheless discover normal legroom, just like main U.S. airways, in another row within the economic system cabin. The foldable headrests will turn out to be useful for sleeping if these planes ever begin flying long-haul to Alaska and Asia … or for a fast nap after an evening out in Vegas.
In economic system, the seats are 17 inches huge with about 31 to 32 inches of pitch between the rows. That is similar to what you will discover flying Southwest between Ontario and Las Vegas … and a full three or 4 inches greater than Frontier’s cramped seating.
I solely sat within the economic system seat for a quick second nevertheless it felt fairly comfy. In actual fact, I would say these seats are on par with a significant provider like Delta.
The tray tables are massive so you may simply get some work completed in your laptop computer and nonetheless have room for a beverage. One other neat function is that there are USB charging ports at each seat – together with each normal USB-A and extremely speedy USB-C.
Northern Pacific Premium Economic system Seats
In rows 10 by means of 16, you will discover 36 seats with barely extra legroom and recline. These are Northern Pacific’s premium economic system or “Plus” seats. You’ll be able to acknowledge them by the white stripe below the headrest.
These seats may very well be good for longer flights nevertheless it’s most likely not well worth the fairly substantial worth distinction for the quick flight between Ontario and Las Vegas … until you get fortunate with an affordable improve.
The seat pitch for these seats measures in at 35 inches, however you will get much more legroom for those who select a seat within the exit row 13 or row 10, simply behind top notch.
Northern Pacific Airways First Class
The primary class cabin consists of 16 seats from rows 1 by means of 4, with two seats on both facet of the aisle.
The seats are a normal home top notch recliner. They’re mainly the identical top notch seats that American Airways had on this plane earlier than Northern Pacific picked it up and retrofitted the seats. That is not a nasty factor.
The primary class seats are 21 inches huge with a 39-inch seat pitch, which is as much as eight inches extra legroom than economic system. In the event you’re on the tall facet, you will be completely satisfied to take a seat in these seats.
Between the seats, there’s a shared tray desk you may fold all the way down to set a drink. That is useful for those who do not wish to pull your tray desk out of your armrest.
Contained in the armrest, you will discover your tray desk, which you should use as a half desk if you would like.
Whenever you increase it to a full desk, it has loads of house on your laptop computer. And it felt sturdy sufficient to carry the burden, which is not all the time the case for a few of these trays.
In entrance of the middle armrests, you will discover each USB-A and USB-C charging ports to maintain your telephone charged throughout your flight. Nonetheless, there is not a solution to plug in a laptop computer or different digital units.
The primary class seats recline even additional than premium economic system. It felt good to lean again a bit and never really feel like I used to be invading the house of the passenger behind me.
The headrest has further padding and the flexibility to fold the edges inward for extra neck assist. I discovered it fairly comfy and useful if I wished to take a brief nap.
Northern Pacific Airways Service & Facilities
On a one-hour flight, you should not count on a lot so far as service. Whereas it was quick and candy, I used to be stunned we had been served something in any respect.
We had been solely at cruising altitude for about 15 to twenty minutes, however the flight attendants nonetheless managed to serve your complete 181-seat aircraft a drink and a snack.
Everybody will get a cookie. On our flight, it was a strawberry bobadoodle … no matter which means. In economic system, you will get a bottle of water to clean it down, however up in top notch Northern Pacific serves up California’s personal Korbel champagne.
It will not be the costliest glowing wine in the marketplace, however for the handful of top notch passengers on my flight, it did not matter. It was an effective way to kick off a trip to Vegas and get the get together began. And the flight attendants supplied free refills till the bottle was empty.
Firstclass passengers had been additionally given a bottle of water throughout boarding and as we exited the aircraft. I suppose they wished to maintain us hydrated earlier than a Friday night time in Vegas.
With all that hydration, you will be glad to know that there are 4 toilets on board. The one I visited appeared par for the course so far as airline bogs go. It was clear, tidy, and small.
You may discover air vents and studying lights above each seat. That is the place I may inform it was an older aircraft. The old-school lights and pale shade of the plastic coverings overhead confirmed. And I may really feel a drip coming from the A/C unit above. However the 100-plus diploma climate exterior most likely had one thing to do with that.
There may be complimentary inflight Wi-Fi in all cabins, with directions to hitch the community in your seatback pocket. That is spectacular … nevertheless, after I tried to scan the QR code or go to the net handle listed, I by no means acquired any web page to load. I used to be by no means in a position to get linked to check it out.
There are not any seatback screens at any of the seats so you will wish to carry your personal leisure. This may not matter an excessive amount of for the quick flight to Vegas, nevertheless it’s one thing to remember if Northern Pacific begins flying longer routes sooner or later.
Luckily, I had a window seat so I may simply gaze out on the surroundings. This is a shot of Lake Mead simply earlier than touchdown in Las Vegas. Even after a long time of flying, this view by no means will get previous.
Backside Line
Northern Pacific’s historical past is stuffed with twists and turns, nevertheless it’s lastly flying its lone Boeing 757 between southern California and Las Vegas, with goals to increase sooner or later. Finally, it hopes to fly between the U.S. and Asia with a cease in Alaska – very like how Icelandair operates over the Atlantic.
If my quick flight was any indication, it ought to be an pleasing expertise, nearer to main airways like Southwest and even Delta. The possibility for an inexpensive improve made it an excellent higher worth.
However solely time will inform if this distinctive airline flying practically 30-year-old planes will have the ability to work. For now, it is an affordable solution to skip the visitors and fly to Vegas for a fast weekend … as long as there are not any delays.