Herbert E.
Yelp
'Ello Chaps,
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the state's busiest airport, seeing approximately six million visitors each year.
That's busy for Alaska, but slow for someone from a major city. However, that's also what makes this airport standout. There is great design and aesthetics throughout the airport that truly make you feel like you're in Alaska. The art on display and throughout the terminal is fantastic.
There's a fun kids play area and a small library (though a bit more care could be given to the condition of this little control tower library). Also, if you have time to spare, head upstairs to the Observation area. Great views.
There are a variety of restaurants and shops pre-security and post-security, although the prices are excessively high. 49th State Brewery charged $20 for a basic glass of wine; even for Alaska and airport standards this is excessive.
Another complaint is the rental car companies who act like predators in their process, trying to take advantage of customers who may not know any better, attempting to get a 'yes' on every single upcharge. Many people have personal car insurance and credit cards who provide insurance coverages for rental cars. These rental car companies already have a person's information on file before arrival, so what should be a 90 second process becomes a 10-15 check in process per person, which is the last thing you want to deal with when you've landed after 12 hours of travel at 1 a.m. As a "non corporate" location, the car rental companies seem to make up rules willy nilly that not only counter corporate rules and policies, but further aggravate the customer who rents vehicles on a near weekly basis.
Whether you're in the airport or out in the perimeter, the plane views are in a league of their own. The airport has a number of publicly-accessible spaces where you can see some of the largest aircraft in the world fly in and out with a steady flow of 747s, 330s, 777s, and more.
Overall I give Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport 4 Stars out of 5. It's very accessible, clean, and just a cool airport, but the excessive cost of goods and services and predatory practices from the rental car companies leave something to be desired.