We are thinking of flying from Denver to Telluride on this airline. Has anyone used them? Are they reliable? Do they use e-tickets?

Any other insights?

Thanks
Diz01

Anyone out there with any comments?

Great Lakes flies out here in SW. I haven't been on a flight but know they are ok. A neighbor used to fly from Cortez to Denver alot. There can indeed be delays weather and other things.

Depending on time of year, the airport in Telluride is tricky [short, on a mtn]. After mid October, they only have 2 scheduled flights in and out of Telluride. They fly small planes 30 or 19 seat turbo props and probably the 19 goes to Telluride.

Yes, they use e-tickets.

I would suggest you look into flying into Durango from Denver on United and drive - it may be just as easy.

Hope this helps..
Debi

Thanks Debi - just what I was after. I guess the United planes to Durango would be bigger?

Diz01

My son has flown them three times between Denver and Page, AZ. He always manages to have a very short layover in Denver (25 minutes) between his GL flight and his UA or AA flight to another city. He's never missed it yet, but it was very close (running to the gate) two times.

They almost canceled one of his flights back to Page (due to weather and only two passenger to Page). Instead, they combined the flight with one to another city in AZ. He was on a very small plane. There wasn't even a curtain separating the passengers from the pilot and copilot, so he could see and hear everything (which he loved as he plans to take flight lessons). They fought some heavy cross winds coming into Page, and bounced several times upon landing. He said the pilot was grinning ear to ear and let out a big "Yee-Wah" once they landed.

He is young and the adventurous sort, so he finds all of this entertaining, and admires their ability to make adjustments the larger airlines can't.

I believe the United planes to Denver are small jets, not 100% sure thought. Bigger for sure than Great Lakes.
Debi

My daughter just flew on Great Lakes from Denver to Cortez and had no problems. Sure the planes are smaller, but....hey!

Telluride is a tricky enough airport to land and take off from that SOME Great Lakes pilots will divert their planes to Montrose or Cortez, midflight, if the slightest weather disturbance should pop up around Telluride. Thus, the weather is the greatest source of unpredictable reliability regarding Great Lakes and Telluride.

Both Cortez and Montrose are closer to Telluride than Durango is.

They may be closer, but Durango has more flights and jets fly into it. Cortez doesn't have jets and there is no rental car here. Not sure about Montrose -- whether they have jets, car rentals etc.

Durango is the closest "big" city to Telluride. The drive from Durango to Telluride is under 2 hours from Durango; 75 minutes from Cortez and about the same from Montrose.

Susan St. James' son Teddy was killed in a plane crash in Telluride not too long ago. Her husband, Dick Ebersole and other son were badly hurt. They sold their house in Telluride since then. I would not fly into Telluride.

Debi

Teddy Ebersole was killed in a plane crash in Montrose....not Telluride.

I've flown in and out of Telluride several times and, barring weather related problems, don't consider it any more dangerous than taking off and landing at any other airport.

I can't recall EVER hearing of a commercial plane crash happening during landing or takeoff at the Telluride airport..... those pilots are just too careful and will divert if they feel it is unsafe in any way.

I remember once flying in circles just west of Telluride for 30 minutes waiting for a thunderstorm over the Telluride airport to abate. When it didn't, the pilot finally diverted and landed us in Montrose.

I stand corrected; the plane crash that took the life of Teddy Ebersole did in fact take off from Montrose Regional Airport. I apologize for the inaccuracy.

I have flown GL many times. They are very good and would not take off to somewhere if they knew it would be dangerous. I trust them completely.

I fly out of a small town all the time and they are my first choice.

Debi - mapquest suggests 2 hrs 40 mins from Telluride to Durango airport. Is that about right?

Diz01

I think that is a bit on the high side. Maybe 2 hours and 15 minutes or so. The quickest route would be 550 from airport to 160 west to MAncos, then north on 184 to Dolores and north on 145 into Telluride.

Debi