These 5 Tips Help You Get the Perfect Grand Canyon Flight Trip!
You can tour the Grand Canyon in several different ways. However, nothing beats seeing the Grand Canyon from the air. Below are five tips for taking a fun-filled air tour over the canyon.
Before you even book your tour, you have to figure out which of the rims you will go see. Pick the West or South Rim The West is 120 miles from Las Vegas, while the South is 277 miles away.
Further, you'll want to do the West Rim if you are into thrills and excitement. For instance, the West Rim is home to the world famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. You can also choose to ride a helicopter down to the canyon floor when you go to the West Rim.
The Scenic Rim
As for the South Rim, you'll want that if you want natural scenic beauty. Moreover, the South Rim is accessible from Las Vegas, Tusayan, Phoenix and Sedona. Just remember there are no tours that fly between the West and South Rims, if you want to see them both, you have to take separate tours.
When you tour the Grand Canyon by air, you can go by plane or chopper. Helicopters offer fantastic views since they can fly lower than planes. Also, the choppers can land on the bottom of the canyon at the West Rim. One good thing about airplanes though is they get you to the rim a lot faster. Plus, if you want to tour the South Rim and depart from Vegas, you have to choose an airplane tour since choppers can't make it that far.
Another very important tip to know is the helicopter tours sell out pretty fast during the busy summer months and on holidays. So you want to book your tour one or two weeks ahead of time. If you don't, you might not be able to get a seat. If the chopper tours are full, try to get an airplane seat because they hold more passengers and you may have better luck.
Price
Next is price. Helicopters are more expensive than airplane rides. This is because seating is limited to six people. Keep this in mind because if there are more than six people in your party, you'll have to ride in separate choppers. If you want to stay together, just take an airplane tour instead as these carry 19 people at a time.
Let's discuss the coveted window seats. I get asked all the time for them. Here's the deal. You can book a window seat in advance for an additional fee. A window seat in a helicopter will cost you $50 extra. An airplane window seat costs $10 more. Prices are subject to change but in general these are going rates.
And here's a bonus tip: If you weigh more than 300 pounds you'll be charged extra. If you take a helicopter tour and weigh over 300 pounds, you need to buy two seats. As for planes, expect to pay between $100 - $200. The fee has to be paid when you check in for the tour when you will be discreetly weighed. I'm not a big fan of the "weight tax" but I do understand it because aircraft have a maximum payload.
Enjoy Your Tour
I hope this article included five things that will help you pick the helicopter or airplane tour of your dreams. The Grand Canyon is truly a spectacular place to see and the ultimate way to do it is by flying over it or flying down into it at the West Rim. Whatever tour you choose, get your seats early. The tours are so popular they sell out quickly, and after you take one, you'll understand why!
Before you even book your tour, you have to figure out which of the rims you will go see. Pick the West or South Rim The West is 120 miles from Las Vegas, while the South is 277 miles away.
Further, you'll want to do the West Rim if you are into thrills and excitement. For instance, the West Rim is home to the world famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. You can also choose to ride a helicopter down to the canyon floor when you go to the West Rim.
The Scenic Rim
As for the South Rim, you'll want that if you want natural scenic beauty. Moreover, the South Rim is accessible from Las Vegas, Tusayan, Phoenix and Sedona. Just remember there are no tours that fly between the West and South Rims, if you want to see them both, you have to take separate tours.
When you tour the Grand Canyon by air, you can go by plane or chopper. Helicopters offer fantastic views since they can fly lower than planes. Also, the choppers can land on the bottom of the canyon at the West Rim. One good thing about airplanes though is they get you to the rim a lot faster. Plus, if you want to tour the South Rim and depart from Vegas, you have to choose an airplane tour since choppers can't make it that far.
Another very important tip to know is the helicopter tours sell out pretty fast during the busy summer months and on holidays. So you want to book your tour one or two weeks ahead of time. If you don't, you might not be able to get a seat. If the chopper tours are full, try to get an airplane seat because they hold more passengers and you may have better luck.
Price
Next is price. Helicopters are more expensive than airplane rides. This is because seating is limited to six people. Keep this in mind because if there are more than six people in your party, you'll have to ride in separate choppers. If you want to stay together, just take an airplane tour instead as these carry 19 people at a time.
Let's discuss the coveted window seats. I get asked all the time for them. Here's the deal. You can book a window seat in advance for an additional fee. A window seat in a helicopter will cost you $50 extra. An airplane window seat costs $10 more. Prices are subject to change but in general these are going rates.
And here's a bonus tip: If you weigh more than 300 pounds you'll be charged extra. If you take a helicopter tour and weigh over 300 pounds, you need to buy two seats. As for planes, expect to pay between $100 - $200. The fee has to be paid when you check in for the tour when you will be discreetly weighed. I'm not a big fan of the "weight tax" but I do understand it because aircraft have a maximum payload.
Enjoy Your Tour
I hope this article included five things that will help you pick the helicopter or airplane tour of your dreams. The Grand Canyon is truly a spectacular place to see and the ultimate way to do it is by flying over it or flying down into it at the West Rim. Whatever tour you choose, get your seats early. The tours are so popular they sell out quickly, and after you take one, you'll understand why!
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