Grand Canyon 123 |
Keith Speaks |
Grand Canyon Helicopters
And the Difference Between "Air-Only"
And "Landing" Tours
It's usually from a person just starting the trip planning process and it goes something like this:
Reader: "Hi, I'm looking for a cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tour."
Keith: "OK, where are you starting from?"
Reader: "Las Vegas. What are the cheapest prices?"
Keith: "Air or landing tour?"
Reader: "What's the difference?"
Never Assume!
I used to think "air" and "landing" were self-explanatory but after quite literally hundreds of conversations like this I'm convinced it isn't.
So let's set the record straight. Air is another term for aerial, and these are the most inexpensive option. Further, these tours DO NOT land, which means you stay in the aircraft the entire time. Or, to rephrase, you don't deplane from the aircraft and explore the canyon on foot. Moreover, whenever you see a Grand Canyon tour ranging in price from $209 to $245 dollars per adult passenger, it's an air-only flight.
(Some might wonder why there's a significant price range. It's based on supply and demand and time of year. Thus if you purchase a flight in July you'll buy in at the high end of the range. Same goes if you purchase within 72 hours of the tour date. Read this article for more about tips on "timing" your purchase.)
Landing Tours
Landing tours are exactly as the name implies: the helicopter either lands at the top or bottom of the Grand Canyon. Please understand that bottom-landings are only available from Las Vegas and ONLY go to the West Rim of the National Park.
Tours that include a landing will always be more expensive than aerial trips. If you see a site offering a landing tour under $300, I advise you to stay away from it. For instance it's technically impossible for a tour operator to offer the Champagne Tour at that rate because they'll be out of business by the time you arrive in Vegas to do it (I'm partly joking here but very serious, too).
Relatedly, I want to address a chat question that came in just yesterday. The fellow asked about coupons and stated he had one wherein he could get a helicopter tour for $129 per person. Folks, again, that's impossible. If you see a promo for an air tour priced anywhere near $129, it's an air-only airplane tour and it's HIGHLY limited and HIGHLY restricted (read the fine print!).
Time is Money
Let's circle back to helicopter air tours. These are extremely popular. Partly because of price and partly because they take just 3 hours (includes hotel pick up and drop off) to complete. The trick to maximizing the value of this particular tour is to book it for mid-morning. This is when you get max clarity. Or get the last departure because technically this will be a sunset flight.
Landing tours can be a bit trickier but here are a few rules of thumb: The cheapest is the "early bird and it fills up fast. That said, I'm not a huge fan because you have to wake up early in order to get the shuttle to the airport. And I definitely don't recommend it in fall/winter because of minimal sunlight. I also recommend you do any thing that lands in an EcoStar 130 for these reasons.
I do suggest that you consider both air and landing flights that originate from the Las Vegas Strip. These will cost you more but they are worth it in terms of convenience. The other option is to depart from Boulder City, which involves pick up from your hotel and then the stretch (about 30 or so minutes) to the Boulder Municipal Airport. Really boils down to budget.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. Air versus landing and what the terms mean when it comes to booking a Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas. If you have questions, come on into chat and ask or email me at grandcanyonkeith AT gmail.com and I'll assist. Bottom line is DO take a chopper ride. It's an incredible way to view the National Park and an experience you'll cherish for life!
Click Here for Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour Prices & Flight Times
Travel on!
