Highlights Over Grand Canyon Air Tour

Highlights Over Grand Canyon, the tour once sold as the Highlights Air Tour, is Papillon’s airplane flight to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim and back, without a stop: a short way to see the canyon without giving it the whole day.

The plane leaves Papillon’s air terminal at the Boulder City airport and reaches the rim in about 30 minutes, passing Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River and the Mojave Desert. Over the canyon you look down on Guano Point and Eagle Point, and catch the Skywalk glass bridge from the air. You fly in a Twin Otter Vistaliner or a Cessna Caravan: both have high wings and large windows, so every seat gets a clear view.

The flight takes about 70 minutes round trip, and the whole outing about 4 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. You can also drive yourself to the terminal, at 1265 Airport Road in Boulder City.

Everyone 18 and over needs an original REAL ID-compliant license or a passport; without one, Papillon refuses check-in and refunds no one in the booking.

Check in 45 minutes before flight time, or the booking is cancelled as a no-show. Changes are free until 72 hours before departure. Cancelling by then gets you a credit voucher for the full price, good for a year, not a refund; inside 72 hours, no changes or refunds. Reconfirm by phone a day or two ahead.

During Formula 1 race week, Las Vegas Boulevard and the Koval Lane and Flamingo Road crossing close, and hotel pickups move to Excalibur, Resorts World, Westgate and the Golden Nugget. If you drive, leave extra time.

Passengers of 300 pounds or more pay for an extra comfort seat at check-in. Children 2 to 11 have their own fare, under-2s fly free on a lap, and everyone 12 and up pays the adult fare.