Moab Canyonlands is The Homiest Airport Ever

So going back to where I left off from my Utah adventure. After our day of whitewater rafting, I quickly did a mother of all mother-packing session. From a huge hockey bag, to a medium-sized business suitcase. Segregated all dirty clothes with instructions to the husband to wash on his next pit stop. (bless him, I came back from my work trip with crisp clean clothing)

Slept for about 4 hours and woke up real early to fly out of Utah.

I was really worried getting to the airport. It was pitch dark, and we’d been driving for 20 minutes straight without any signs of nearing any airport. It’s such a small quaint airport. Canyonlands Field is the name of Moab’s airport. Blink and you will miss it.

So this is what’s inside the airport. It was 4AM, I had few hours of sleep, so when I walked into this setting, I felt twilight zoned for a moment there. Did I just walk into someone’s living room?
The den looking set above is the terminal gate. The 2-lane check in counter is located along a hallway.
The only tell-tale signs that you are in an airport is an X-ray scanning machine to get your bags and personal items such as a cigar lighter through.

And check out the “food court” y’all.

I wasn’t feeling hungry but I wanted to get something for novelty. Out of order though. Take note of the sign to use the microwave in the pilot’s lounge.

Great Lakes Airlines is 1 of 2 airlines that fly out of Moab Canyonlands Airport. This airport is known more for skydiving and small sightseeing planes.

Anyway, I have known of Great Lakes Airlines for a while now but this is my first time to fly them. They are a regional carrier in the Northwest USA.

I was going to fly Moab – Denver – New York, (Great Lakes Airlines Moab-Denver and Frontier Airlines Denver-La Guardia) and I was worried about paying a hefty check in luggage fee. We all know that most airlines now charge for checked in bags, more so domestic US ones. To my surprise, they checked in my 2 bags NIL FEE. I read somewhere they take up to 3 without charge but I guess that depends on the plane loading.

The aircraft has got to be the smallest I’d flown. It was like a FLYING MINI-BUS

There were about 10 passengers altogether including me. True the flight was quite turbulent but that is to be expected on an aircraft this size. I love the fast no-nonsense service of Great Lakes Airlines.
The best thing has to be their generous free check-in luggage policy.

And I am also very pleased to report that despite the handwritten baggage tag , my 2 checked in bags made it in time and in one piece to La Guardia airport, via Denver.

So I made it safely to New York eventually. Let’s save my New York adventure for another post.