How do you put the Grand Canyon into perspective? Take a plane ride. These air tours show in an hour what would take days on the ground. Its what makes them so popular and it's why I highly recommend you get your seats beforehand. Here I will discuss five more reasons you need to RSVP:

1. Makes certain you fly the day that's perfect for you. These trips are really popular. Each plane holds 19 travelers. In many cases, they fill up with charters and groups. Book early and avoid getting bumped.

2. Helps you to lock down the most desirable flight times. Travelers line up for a.m. and sunset rides. No surprise, either: The best visibility is in the am, and sunset rides are beyond amazing.

3. Provides more re-scheduling flexibility. Sometimes weather at the national park can turn and flights need be detained. If this happens to you as a morning departure, relax. You will be the first to go after the clouds clear.

4. Provides you with 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 going back and forth with a ticket broker.

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

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

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

At the South Rim, there's an excellent 50-minute flight that takes in the South, East, and North Rims. The main add-on is the 1-day smooth-water float trip. This journey takes off from Tusayan and arrives near Glen Canyon Dam, the starting place for boat rides down the Colorado.

The Vegas to South Rim flight takes 45 minutes. It follows the Colorado River from Las Vegas to the South Rim. Upon landing, you switch to a luxury coach and go into the park. There's ample time to explore and all the most important view points are included. There is also an option to include a helicopter ride.

All Grand Canyon air trips are all-inclusive and come with hotel pick up and drop off, lunch, and side-trip transportation. Departures are throughout the year (the South Rim no-rapids raft tour is seasonal and goes 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 canyon air 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 easily be avoided if you get your air tickets in advance. You won't just save yourself money, but also you'll be assured of having a seat. Make the effort to RSVP. Then kick back and relish the best ride the canyon has to offer.