Pinin' for Pittsburgh? Folks in Fargo?

Longing for Little Rock? Family in Fayetteville? Well, 'tis the season to grab a bargain air fare to some of the most obscure, high-priced destinations in the Lower 48.

You can thank Delta Air Lines, the world's largest air carrier, for starting this pricing skirmish last week. Thankfully, Alaska Airlines has gotten on board to many (not all) destinations. Other airlines, as they are wont to do, followed suit.

This new crop of air fares is for travel between Aug. 17 and Nov. 17, 2010. You have to purchase the tickets 21 days in advance -- or by July 29, 2010. The best prices are available for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Here are some highlights:

1. The entire state of Montana is on sale. Between Anchorage and Bozeman, Billings, Helena, Kalispell or Great Falls: $445 roundtrip, all-in. Alaska Airlines and Horizon have the best schedules.

2. Fargo and Bismarck: Alaska doesn't fly there -- this is Delta country. Choose either destination for $445 roundtrip, all-in.

3. Florida. Wow. Fly between Anchorage and Orlando, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa or Ft. Myers for as little as $474 roundtrip, all-in. The only Alaska Airlines destination is Orlando -- and I couldn't find many seats until September. But a trip to Florida is a great "mileage run" for those folks trying to top off their mileage accounts for "MVP Gold" status.

4. High-priced hubs. Cincinnati and Memphis are both Delta hubs. Fortress hubs. But with this sale, you can grab tickets to either destination from Anchorage for as little as $454 roundtrip, all-in. To Minneapolis, the price keeps changing. Delta has a stranglehold on the Twin Cities -- so competitors like Frontier Airlines and Sun Country have to be nimble and quick. I found seats on Frontier Airlines for $410 roundtrip, all-in, during August.

Charlotte, NC is a hub for USAirways -- and you can fly there for as little as $445 roundtrip, all-in. Flying to nearby Atlanta will cost $189 more ($636) on Alaska Airlines.

5. T for Texas. There are several Texas destinations on sale, but not the biggest ones. Forget about Dallas and Houston. The value is in places like El Paso, Amarillo, San Antonio and Austin. Just $454 roundtrip, all-in.

6. All over the map. Anchorage-Las Vegas: $445 roundtrip, all-in. It's the same price for Little Rock, Pittsburgh, Akron/Canton, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio and Nashville.

7. Standout specials. Fly to Washington DC from Anchorage for as little as $386 roundtrip, all-in. Fly between Anchorage and New York City (LaGuardia or Kennedy) for as little as $421 roundtrip-all-in.

8. Ongoing specials. There still are great bargains between Anchorage and Portland ($400 roundtrip) and Anchorage-Denver ($375 roundtrip).

There are a bunch of other cities on sale -- but my fingers are getting tired. Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Lexington, Ky., Killeen, Tex., -- and on and on. Best to get out your calendar, then search online or check with your travel agent before the best seats are gone.