One of the most frequent questions I get from vacationers is, "Should I get my Grand Canyon helicopter ride in advance?" My response is always a booming "Yes." Besides the fact that demand for these trips exceeds supply, listed below are five more reasons why you should secure your seats at the earliest opportunity:

Sunrise and sunset flights tend to be overbooked. This is when the canyon really comes to life, and travelers who have done their homework know this. Cancellations are uncommon, especially during the summer season (high season).

Morning flights are the most enjoyable and offer the most flexibility. The air is smoother in the a.m. and visibility is at its best. Canyon weather conditions are fickle; if there's a re-scheduling, those on top of the queue fly first.

Helicopters hold only six people. This limits the availability of seats. Further, these aircraft require a proper distribution of weight - a passenger weighing between 275 and 300 pounds may be required to purchase two seats.

Days are shorter in fall and winter. This impacts the overall number of flights available. Moreover, this is "low" season, an occasion when tour companies decrease the number of flights they operate.

It's less costly. Book on the web in advance and you will save a huge wad of cash as compared to the retail/rack rate with which you'll get slammed IF you successfully buy a same-day flight at the heliport.

The rule of selecting your Grand Canyon helicopter tour in advance applies whether you leave from Las Vegas or the South Rim. For Vegas travelers, helicopter tours only visit the West Rim and the Las Vegas Strip. To do the South Rim, you should take a 45-minute airplane journey and change to a helicopter.

West Rim tours include:

Landing at the base. Fly down 4,000 feet to the base. Deplane and check out the primordial floor. Champagne toast included. Upgrade to include a no-rapids raft ride.

The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge. Land at West Rim. Access the "glass bridge," a amazing structure that hangs 70 feet over the edge and lifts you 4,000 over the Colorado River.

Basic air tour. Fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, a Joshua Tree forest, and the Mojave Desert. U-turn over the Grand Canyon West. Upgrade to include a Las Vegas Strip flyover.

South Rim flights, which embark from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, AZ, located just outside the gates of the National Park, fly above the Kaibab Plateau and directly into the Dragoon Corridor before turning back at the North Rim. For the ultimate flight, upgrade to an EcoStar 130.

Grand Canyon helicopter tours are very popular with visitors to Las Vegas and Arizona. To enjoy this aerial joyride, I recommend you get your trip beforehand. Seats are somewhat limited, especially during sunrise and sunset flights. The great thing is getting to the front of the line has never been simpler. Just log on to the Internet and RSVP. Then kick back and enjoy the Grand Canyon the way it was supposed to be experienced. From the air!