Plan to be in Anchorage this summer. Spent the better part of the night plugging options into various airline reservations services. When I saw a $312 (!) round trip from EWR I jumped. Turned out to be Northwest with one stop in Detroit.

At that price, I can live without the FF miles, but they also won't make seating assignments until I get to the airport. Am I destined for a middle seat on a packed plane?

Why don't you call NW and have them make seat assignments? If NW won't, airlines block two full rows of seats specifically for airport check in--plus all the seats they block from their "premium" passengers are released also.

For this price I wouldn't worry. Just get to the airport early. Also try to call Northwest again. You would be surprised how different agents give you very different information.
Do research on this forum and you will find great recommendations, ideas, places to see and visit. Have a great time planning your vacation. Is this your first visit to Alaska?

Sis and Nolan, thanks for the input. Yes, it is my first trip to Alaska and I'm really looking forward to doing my "homework" on this and other websites.

I doubt that additional calls to NorthWest will get me seat assignments. The small print on the e-ticket, which I read after making the reservation, clearly states that frequent flyer miles are not awarded, and seat selection must be made at the time of travel.

At that price, I would have booked it anyway, but I hate that middle seat!

Don't need information on accomodations, but I'd appreciate any other insider information regarding sights to see and what kind of weather I can expect in Anchorage in mid-July.

I also got booked with NW through Priceline, and they were adamant about not giving advance seat reservations for those tickets. But call NW and ask for a confirmation number (NW may call it something different, but it's their identification number for your reservation). Then, I believe you can go onto their web site within 24 hours of your flight, and get a boarding pass and seat assignment (I'm not 100% sure of this, as I didn't try it).

It's worth a shot. Thanks.

Check with NW to determine type of aircraft and seat configuration so you will be prepared to request a seat assgnment as soon as you get to the airport.