The news of three airline carriers (Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier) at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, while seemingly exciting to the community, did not really cause much of a ripple in my thoughts when recently reported by the local media. After all, the airport “is so far away” and “only goes to off-beat locations,” right? Well, I recently found out that those perceptions were innaccurate.
My wife and I recently decided to fly to Dallas, a trip that either involves making a stop on the way if we are using the low cost carrier, Southwest Airlines, or a more expensive fare (plus bag charges) if we are using the other carriers. It turned out those fares, without consideration of the bag charges, were just too expensive to contemplate. But since we really wanted to go to Dallas, we decided to check out the carriers at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
We were surprised to find that the Spirit Airlines non-stop directly to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (even with the charges to reserve a seat and check a bag) cost us one-third (1/3) of what the ticket prices were on the other carriers. This deeply discounted price just floored us. At first we felt it was too good to be true, but we proceeded figuring that there must be something really wrong with the flight, the airplane, the commute to the airport or just something. Well, the flights were late at night, but that actually was an advantage in many ways because there was no traffic getting to the airport; there was parking in a lot adjoining the airport; and going through security took about 30 seconds. It doesn’t take long when there are very few airlines and flights at an airport.
The commute there was 26 miles instead of the 15 miles to Sky Harbor, but frankly the time from the garage door going down to standing at the ticket counter checking bags was much less than if we went to Sky Harbor. The airplane was clean, new and had comfortable leather seats. Best of all, the flight left early and arrived early. I guess it is easy to be timely when you are always first on the runway for take-off.
This airport and its carriers are a hidden gem for the East Valley and frankly for most of the Valley of the Sun. I encourage everyone to check it out, try it and make it a part of their selection process. With continued patronage, the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport will be an important part of air travel for our residents and will likely save them a lot of money.
Gary Freed
Mesa
Maddog posted at 4:17 pm on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
When you own a $600,000 dollar house in the flight path it isn't a gem. When I first moved there almost 5 years ago Allegiant was the only airline out here and flying only on Wed. and Saturdays. They didn't fly out over my house either. Now they fly at all hours of the day and night right over my home. There have been times where I thought they were going to land on my roof it's so loud..Go to Sky Harbor
DavidNichols posted at 3:02 pm on Tue, Sep 18, 2012.
Too bad Mesa Gateway is so far away from "Downtown"?
It is hard on Downtown Residents.
And I wonder how dangerous all of the Drones flying out of, and circling around Gateway are?
Hope nonne of them collide with passenger flights.
They are fun to watch taking off accross the freeway with no windows at all.
Big Brother is Spying on us all, our homes may as well be built of glass.
downtownresident posted at 1:47 pm on Tue, Sep 18, 2012.
Agreed.
I used to have to fly to Minneapolis and drive for 4 hours to reach my destination in SW Minn.
Now I can fly in to Souix Falls SD and be at my place in less than an hour.
And I only live 5 miles from Gateway.[beam]