The Grand Canyon often gets added to travelers itineraries once they realize it's only a quick plane ride away from Las Vegas. And when they learn about some of the great tour discounts available, they are more eager than ever to include the Grand Canyon in their travel plans.

Airplane tours of the Grand Canyon are ideal for people who just want to take a quick getaway from the glitz of Vegas and don't have time to take an all-day tour. By plane, the West Rim is only 25 minutes from the Vegas Strip, and the South Rim is 45 minutes away. Typically, you can expect an airplane tour to take up to three hours from beginning to end, but you can arrange to take an extended tour that lasts as long as 6 hours. Even better, these air tours arrange for you to be picked up and dropped back off at your hotel on the Strip in Vegas.

Both rims are great to visit, but if you want adventure and thrills, you probably want to go to the West Rim, and if you want to see some stunning scenery, you may appreciate the South Rim more. For example, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is at the West Rim, and that's also the only place you can take a chopper down to the canyon floor and then board a boat for a float trip down the Colorado River. The South Rim offers scenic panoramic vistas such as those seen from Yaki Point and Mather Point. That's also where you will find Grand Canyon Village.

Fixed-wing Vistaliner planes are used for touring that have been specifically designed to allow optimum sightseeing. The cabins of these 19-passenger planes are remarkably spacious, and the viewing windows are huge. Each aircraft has two pilots, who also serve as tour guides by describing the features you're flying over.

Be sure to take the time of year into account when looking for the best deals on Grand Canyon air tours. Since the busiest seasons are spring through fall, the tour prices are usually higher then. But if you book your tour in advance, you can save some money. I always recommend booking at least 72 hours ahead, but the farther out you book, the better the flight discounts you can find. Not only will you make sure you have a seat on a tour, when you book early, you also have a wider choice in flight times and tour options.

It is never too soon to start shopping around online for special offers on Grand Canyon airplane tours. By shopping online, you will get the best price. Just make sure you read the details and understand what all is included in the tour. Some deals don't save you any money once you read the fine print. For instance some tours may not pay for your park admission, they may omit lunch, and they may add on a fuel surcharge. Some have blackout dates.

As long as you are careful, you can find some great air tour specials online. I regularly book tours at up to 35% off. You don't have to be an expert bargain hunter to find good deals either, you just have to dig around and compare offers. To get the biggest discount on your airplane tour of the Grand Canyon, you need to know two things. One is you have to book well in advance of your trip, and the other is you have to make your purchase online. Don't buy your seat from any place besides the tour operator's website, even from their customer service number.Avoid ordering through online chat too.

You can have the experience of a lifetime at a really great price if you follow even some of the advice on this page. Happy hunting!And don't forget to buy your ticket online!