For Jenn Maurer, Southwest's departure from the Bellingham market is on hold, so she's trying to find another option to leave town for her job as a wedding photographer.
“It's such a blessing to have a reliable local airport,” said the 30-year-old Bellingham resident. “Change is always difficult, so I'm sure we'll come up with something else, but I don't think we need to.”
Maurer is one of many Bellingham area residents who expressed disappointment with the decision and is now looking to find other options to replace the convenience offered by Southwest Airlines. The Dallas-based airline said delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing Co. and economic factors were the reasons for closing the BLI route and three other routes and reducing flights at two major airports. The airline announced that its last flight date will be August 4th.
BLI Aviation Director Kip Turner said the airport is optimistic that the airport's existing carriers, including Alaska Airlines and Allegiant, will ramp up service after Southwest Airlines leaves, and hinted at new options.
“We're going to offer more services to replace what's coming,” he said, without elaborating on which carriers would join BLI.
As travelers continue to look for solutions, here's a list of travel options and tips.
Let's keep going to BLI
Alaska Airlines operates three daily flights from Bellingham to Seattle. Allegiant also offers flights to Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego, although not all of them operate daily.
Turner encouraged travelers to continue departing from Bellingham, which is low cost and convenient for travelers.
shuttle to airport
Bellair Airporter Shuttle provides daily shuttle service between Bellingham and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport every 1 to 2 hours. Advance reservations are required and tickets cost up to $101 round trip. However, it's not the fastest way to SeaTac, taking over three hours if you start from Ferndale.
Bellair's shuttle also makes occasional stops at Paine Field, but you should call ahead to confirm the schedule. Its phone number is (866) 235-5247.
There is also a quick shuttle service from Bellingham to Vancouver International Airport. From BLI, you can take the afternoon shuttle at four different times and drop off at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond. From there, take a taxi or SkyTrain to the airport. A one-way ticket costs $44, and passengers can bring regular bags, carry-ons, and personal items.
Travelers can also take Greyhound buses from Western Washington University to SeaTac daily for about $80 round trip. The trip takes almost three hours and includes two stops at the University of Washington and his 6th Avenue South and South Lane Streets.
Departing by plane from Vancouver
You can also depart from Vancouver International Airport, which was recently awarded “Best Airport in North America” by Skytrax, the gold standard in airport ratings.
YVR is an hour north, but factor in the time you spend at the Blaine border crossing, and the fate of your trip is in your hands.
There are four parking options at the airport: Gateway Valet, Parking, Jetset YVR Parking, and Long Term Parking. The valet option is the most expensive, costing nearly $50 CAD per day and a $20 valet fee. Long-term parking costs CAD 27.50 per day, with free train access directly to the terminal.
If you're looking to travel internationally, YVR offers a wide range of flights to Mexico, Europe, and Asia.
Take off from Paine Field in Everett
Drive (approximately) an hour south to Seattle Paine Field International Airport in Everett and catch a flight on Alaska Airlines, the only airline. Destinations include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Orange County, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Anchorage, and Honolulu.
The airport also offers uncovered parking for up to $34 a day in premium parking and up to $24 a day in economy parking.
Depart by plane from SeaTac
Of course, SeaTac is an hour and a half south on Interstate 5.
Parking rates at SeaTac start at $37 per day if you drive and $47 per day with an airport reservation.
If you would like to park in another lot that provides a shuttle to SeaTac, the daily parking fee is approximately $20.
Train and transportation options
Seattle's Link light rail option has several drop-off points north of the city. If you're coming from Bellingham, we recommend parking at the Northgate light rail station near Northgate Mall or having a friend drop you off. A one-way ticket to the airport costs approximately $3.50.
Ride the Angle Lake Railroad for about 50 minutes or 17 stops and get off at Sea-Tac Airport Station. From there, it's a 7-9 minute walk to the terminal. Electric shuttle service between the light rail station and the airport sky bridge runs from 5 a.m. to midnight if walking access is not possible. There is space at the back of the shuttle to store your luggage.
You can take Amtrak trains to Seattle from Fairhaven Station, located at 401 Harris Avenue in Bellingham. The train will drop you off at King Street Station, but you'll need to take the light rail or rideshare to the airport.
Train tickets start at $27 for long-distance buses and go up from there. The average train time to Seattle is 2.5 hours.
Annie Todd is CDN's criminal justice/corporate reporter. Contact annietodd@cascadiadaily.com. 360-922-3090 extension 130.
