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If you book a flight from Denver to Moab through Boutique Air, things should feel pretty status quo until you arrive at the gate. You’ll check in, check your bag (which is free, by the way), pass through security, and arrive at your designated boarding area. That’s when you will be met by your gate agent and walk out to the plane to meet your pilot. The eight-seat aircraft—which is the same plane Boutique Air uses for private and charter flights—provides an intimate experience with your flight crew, as you all introduce yourselves and board together.
“You get to see what airport operations look like on the ground,” says Greg Roberts, Project Manager for Boutique Air. “Kind of the way flying was before TSA.” It’s also completely acceptable to take selfies with your pilot before take-off (in case you were wondering).
This is the only commercial airline with service to Canyonlands Field airport in the nation, which is a 15-minute drive to the Arches National Park entrance. The basis of Boutique Air is connecting small communities with larger airport hubs. For instance, you could fly direct to the small airport of McCook, Nebraska to visit family for the weekend. It’s also common for travelers arriving in Denver from international flights to book a seat to Moab and avoid the five-and-a-half-hour drive.
Boutique Air currently has five non-stops from DIA to cities in Nebraska and Utah, with a full list of national destinations here. The California-based airline launched in 2009, but just started flying from Denver to Moab this year—with plans to increase their presence in the Centennial state with flights to Cortez and Alamosa in the works. You can search their flight options through compare-sites like Kayak or Expedia, or go directly through their website. Like everything, costs vary but it’s not unreasonable to score a $99 one-way ticket to Moab (prices go up from there). Other perks include the absence of fees for itinerary changes and you can make a reservation up until takeoff—as long as there’s still a seat available. So, what are you waiting for?
—Photos courtesy of Boutique Air
