While the grounding of the MAX 9 still complicates air travel, future options are open

There's a lot of news for travelers this week. Some of them haven't changed much from last week. But there are some bright spots looking toward spring and summer.

However, first on the list is a comprehensive account of the 737 Max 9. Since last week, Alaska Airlines has reported that its fleet of 65 Max 9 aircraft has undergone an initial inspection. But the airline is still waiting for further instructions from the FAA. Meanwhile, none of the Max 9 planes are carrying passengers.

Since the affected aircraft make up 20% of Alaska Airlines' fleet, changes and cancellations occur every day. According to Ben Minicucci, Alaska's CEO, the airline is canceling between 110 and 150 flights per day. This means that more than 15,000 or more passengers need to rebook every day.

At the moment, Alaska Air is canceling flights day after day and rebooking when it finds space on other planes. If you're planning to travel soon, make sure you're flexible and make sure you have travel insurance to cover canceled flights, hotels, car rentals, meals, and more. Alaska Airlines said it will compensate passengers. But you may find a travel insurance policy that covers rebooking, lost luggage and incidentals provides more peace of mind. You can compare policies on sites like Squaremouth.com and insuremytrip.com.

There are currently a few good prices to Europe, starting this month and extending into April and May.

[Tips for navigating air travel after the grounding of 737 Max 9 planes snarls Alaska Airlines flights]

You can fly between Anchorage and Barcelona for $450 to $500 round-trip on Delta or United. Travel between January 27 and May 10, although the best prices aren't available on all dates. These are good prices, but they are basic economy, which means you pay an additional $180 per person for a checked bag and a pre-assigned seat.

Fly from Anchorage to Madrid on Delta for about the same price: $450-$500 round-trip. Travel between January 27 and April 26. Delta also offers tickets from Fairbanks to Madrid for between $450 and $500 round-trip, but only between April 1 and May 9. And again, add $180 round-trip to get the full SkyMiles credit, a pre-assigned seat, and a checked bag.

Tickets between Anchorage and London dropped below $600 last week. Barely, though: $599 round-trip on Delta and Virgin Atlantic. Travel between January 28 and May 10. And add $180 for basic extras (mileage credit, seat assignment, and one checked bag).

Delta offers tickets to Lisbon from Anchorage for a little more: $609 round-trip. This is also a basic economy fare for travel until April 18.

Other destinations in Europe like Paris, Rome, Athens, and Amsterdam all have higher fares ($697-$818 round-trip). But these prices may change.

If you're heading to Australia, United and Delta offer fares between $819 and $842 round-trip. Travel from February 17th to June 11th. You can get the basic economy price with a free checked bag. At Delta, the only “extras” you get by paying $200 for a main cabin fare are a pre-assigned seat and a full SkyMiles credit.

If you want to fly from Anchorage to Auckland, New Zealand, you can depart immediately for $903 round-trip on Delta. Travel until March 21. And again, your first bag will be free, even if you purchase a basic economy ticket. The cost to get a pre-selected seat and earn SkyMiles credit is $100.

For a flight to South America, the best deal is a ticket on American Airlines or United between Anchorage and Bogota, Colombia, for $438 round-trip. The price of an American Airlines ticket fluctuates from day to day, but you can get a ticket for between $438 and $500 round-trip for travel between March 19 and May 2. The cost between basic and main is $90 round-trip on American, and $110. On United for a checked bag and seat assignment.

Ticket prices to the Lower 48 have risen since Christmas – and again since the Max 9s were discontinued. But there are some destinations that stand out. Between Anchorage and Raleigh-Durham, fares are $374 round-trip between April 8 and May 1. Fly on Delta or American (basic economy).

You can fly from Anchorage to Cleveland, Ohio, for $353 to $399 round-trip on United, Alaska, or Delta. Carrier and price vary from day to day. Travel from February 2 to 12, February 24 to March 5, and March 19 to April 3. These prices are for basic economy.

Airline ticket prices are subject to change without prior notice and change all the time.

The summer travel season offers the best options for Alaskans who love nonstop flights.

Between Anchorage and Minneapolis, Delta offers nonstop service year-round. Daily non-stop service begins on March 10. Sun Country Airlines begins flying on May 18 and begins daily service on June 12. Alaska Airlines will begin daily nonstop flights from Anchorage to Minneapolis on May 16.

Nonstop service between Chicago and Anchorage resumes March 15, when Alaska begins weekend flights. Day trips start April 8. United will resume daily flights on April 8. American Airlines will resume daily flights between Chicago and Anchorage on May 6.

New this year: Delta is resuming nonstop flights on the long-dormant Anchorage-Detroit route. The airline will operate the route three times a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), starting Sunday 9 June.

Also new this year: Anchorage-New York/JFK with Alaska Airlines. This non-stop flight will be the longest in Alaska, taking seven hours! Starts Thursday, June 13th.

United Airlines just announced an all-new nonstop destination: Anchorage-Washington, DC/Dulles. This flight also takes seven hours, and operates once daily starting Thursday, May 23.

United won an award for adding the most nonstop flights during the summer, in addition to its daily flights from Anchorage to Denver throughout the year.

United's daily Anchorage-New York/Newark flights begin Thursday, May 23.

United's daily Anchorage-Houston flights begin Thursday, May 23.

United's daily Anchorage-San Francisco flights begin Thursday, May 23.

Alaska Airlines is also ramping up its daily flights from Anchorage to San Francisco a week before Thursday, May 16.

Delta Air Lines will resume nonstop flights from Anchorage to Atlanta on Thursday, May 23.

Delta is also resuming its nonstop flight from Anchorage to Salt Lake City, operating daily starting Friday, June 7. Alaska Airlines will begin a daily flight from Anchorage to Salt Lake City earlier, on Thursday, May 16.

American Airlines is returning early this year with nonstop flights from Anchorage to Dallas, operating daily starting Sunday, March 10.

Alaska Air will continue twice-weekly nonstop flights between Anchorage and Las Vegas (Friday and Sunday).

New this year: Alaska Air will open weekly nonstop service between Anchorage and San Diego (Saturdays).

Alaska Airlines continues daily nonstop flights between Anchorage, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle.

Delta is also continuing nonstop flights from Anchorage to Seattle.

Delta will resume daily flights from Fairbanks to Minneapolis on Friday, June 7. Delta and Alaska also fly from Fairbanks to Seattle daily.

United recently announced that it will resume daily nonstop flights between Fairbanks and Denver, starting Thursday, May 23.

Condor will operate a new aircraft between Anchorage and Frankfurt for nonstop flights in the summer: the A330-900neo. Flights begin on Saturday, May 18, twice a week, increasing to three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) on June 11.

Discover Airlines (formerly Eurowings Discover) will launch twice-weekly non-stop service to Frankfurt on Tuesdays and Saturdays, starting 8 June.

Air Canada will resume daily flights from Anchorage to Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday, May 14.

Alaska Air and its sister airline Horizon Air operate all jet flights within Alaska. From Anchorage, there are nonstop flights to Kodiak, King Salmon, Dillingham, Adak, Nome, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Cordova, Juneau, Prudhoe Bay and Utqiagvik.

We often take for granted the robust flight schedules from Alaska's major airports in Anchorage and Fairbanks. But the Max 9 crisis has put these timelines into sharp focus — and reminds us that safety must come first.