Word needs to get out on airline deals

Planning a trip by air? Whether it's for business or pleasure, be sure to consider starting your journey in McCook rather than Denver, North Platte or Grand Island.

It just makes sense ... from the standpoint of time, money and peace of mind.

To understand why, let's listen to Doug Vap, a McCook resident who is a member of the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission.

"You are way, way ahead by starting your trip in McCook rather than going to Denver," Vap said. "Not only do you have the cost of gasoline if you travel to Denver by car, but you also have to pay daily parking fees and go through the hassle of security checks at Denver International Airport."

The minimum parking fee at Denver is $10 per day, which adds up quickly for vacations of a week or more. Then, too, there's the time factor. Starting in McCook at a few minutes before 8 a.m., you can be to the Denver airport in an hour, while by car you are four to five hours away.

"As an example, if you're heading to the Southwestern United States, you can board a plane in McCook at 8 in the morning, change planes in Denver and land in Phoenix by noon," Vap said. Connections are also excellent to the east, as it's possible to leave McCook in the morning and be in Washington, D.C. by 2 p.m.

To encourage air travel to and from Nebraska's smaller airports, including McCook, Vap is talking with the Tourism Division of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Working with Tara Hosick of Curtis, Vap is urging the tourism promoters to write a grant to promote air travel.

Unfortunately, because of tight budgeting, not nearly enough promotion has been done to encourage boardings at the small airports. There should be radio spots, newspaper ads and highway billboards, but instead the only advertising has been word-of-mouth.

Recently, Vap pointed out, Great Lakes had a $69 special rate for flights from Grand Island and McCook to Denver, but the word didn't get out, so very few people knew about it.

That needs to change. Both the state and the airline need to promote airline travel to and from Nebraska's small town airports. And, in order to grow and support the airport in McCook, area residents need to spread the word as well.