5 Reasons Why I Always RSVP Grand Canyon Plane Tours

How does one put the Grand Canyon into perspective? Take an airplane ride. These air trips show in an hour what would take days on the ground. Its what makes them so popular and it's why I strongly suggest you buy your seats ahead of time. Listed below are five more reasons you'll want to RSVP:

1. Makes certain you fly the day that's right for you. These tours are incredibly popular. Each aircraft holds 19 people. Quite often, they sell out with charters and groups. Pre-book early and prevent getting bumped.

2. Allows you to lock down the most ideal flight times. Travelers line up for early morning and sunset trips. No wonder, either: The best visibility is in the am, and sundown rides are beyond amazing.

3. Gives you more re-scheduling convenience. Sometimes the weather at the canyon can change and flights must be detained. If this happens to you as a morning departure, relax. You'll be the first to go once the clouds part.

4. Offers you peace of mind. I don't know about you but the last thing I want to do is make travel arrangements when I'm there. I'd rather be out walking the Rim Trail or gazing at The Bellagio Fountains than negotiating with a ticket broker.

5. Saves you cash. The Grand Canyon has its share of peak season travel months. This means prices increase. Purchase before these travel surges and you lock in a cheaper rate that can't be hiked up. Also, booking at the air terminal or The Vegas Strip costs more. Much more.

There are two main spots in the Canyon to which planes fly: The West Rim and the South Rim. For Las Vegas travelers, the West Rim is the obvious choice as it's just 120 miles away (there's a Las Vegas to South Rim flight but more about that later). South Rim trips depart from Grand Canyon Airport, located minutes outside the Park's main gate.

The fantastic thing about West Rim air tours is the side trips. Yes, you will find air-only flights, but if genuinely want to gain access to the canyon's mojo, you can extend your package to bundle in Grand Canyon Sky Walk tickets, a guided tour of the West Rim, a helicopter descent to the floor, or a boat ride on the Colorado River.

At the South Rim, there's an amazing 50-minute flight that includes the South, East, and North Rims. The major add-on is the 1-day no-rapids float trip. This journey departs from Tusayan and lands near Glen Canyon Dam, the place to start for pontoon boat trips down the Colorado.

The Las Vegas to South Rim flight takes 45 minutes. It follows the Colorado River from Las Vegas to the South Rim. Upon landing, you transfer to a luxury motor coach and go into the park. There's plenty of time to explore and all the most important lookout points are covered. There is also an option to include a chopper ride.

All Grand Canyon air trips are all-inclusive and come with hotel pick up and drop off, lunch, and side-trip transportation. Flights are year round (the South Rim smooth-water raft tour is seasonal and runs from April to November). Incredibly, these are 1-day adventures, which means you will be back in time for your evening plans.

Travelers are really catching on to the benefits of taking a Grand Canyon airplane tour, especially people who want to spend just several days at the canyon. The popularity of these flights, however, means more sell outs. This can be avoided if you buy your air tickets ahead of time. You will not only save yourself money, but also you'll be assured of having a seat. Take time to RSVP. Then sit back and enjoy the best ride the canyon has to offer.