Commuting from EGE to DEN

[aerobat21]

Anyone got any info on commuting from vail/eagle co to Denver? Any of the Mesa guys know if those DH-8 are full/ weight restricted a lot? Also is it seasonal service? I am hoping to avoid the 2 hour drive to Denver.
THX

 

[Blucher]

If you've really gotta be there....drive. (Assuming no rock slides or any other such disaster has closed I-70!). I'm not sure how their service is into/out of EGE, but if HDN is any indication they have some serious issues with reliability. So much so that the town of Steamboat Springs wrote a letter to United specifically asking United to pull Mesa and put in Skywest.
On the bright side, if the flight is going and it's not overweight, the crews are great and always (in my experience) happy to help out jumpseaters.

-Blucher

 

[El Ocho]

Anyone got any info on commuting from vail/eagle co to Denver? Any of the Mesa guys know if those DH-8 are full/ weight restricted a lot? Also is it seasonal service? I am hoping to avoid the 2 hour drive to Denver.
THX

There is always service out of EGE, "worst" case scenario is on the dash, (smaller plane) in high season Boeings and Airbuses also service Eagle. The Dashes are sometimes full, but hardly ever weight restricted... much...

As for those HDN comments, I wouldn't give that much credence as the complaints are mostly local politics, and the airport wanting jet service which they foolishly equate with Skywest. (Of course both Skywest and Mesa operate both jets and turboprops) If you bother (or care) to look, the complaints were mostly to do with the poor (Skywest) ground handling service... so take that for what you like. In the end, Mesa still flies the dash there reliably though frequently subject to delays caused by Skywest ground handling... not that the folks on the ground are to blame, the Denver ramp (Skywest) is just frequently understaffed.

Finally, if you want some facts about the service in and out of EGE, I don't think this is your best resource in terms of accuracy. I'd call the EGE airport and let them tell you about their service and reliability... There's probably some government statistics you could pull up too, that is if you are interested in facts. All you will find here is conjecture, and a fair amount of "it makes me feel better" back-stabbing and name calling by bitter, overworked and underpaid regional pilots looking for some relief through put-downs.

 

[TOGA]

http://www.eaglecounty.us/airport/flight.cfm

Plus, look for "Frontier" Dash 8 Q400s in EGE in less than a year.

 

[TheJCNIs]

I commuted out of EGE for a year and had no trouble. Winter and summer season lots of bigger planes. Only in the spring and fall you have to deal with the Dch-8 but even then I had no problems. Hope that helps.

 

[Blucher]

On the bright side, if the flight is going and it's not overweight, the crews are great and always (in my experience) happy to help out jumpseaters.

-Blucher

Thought I'd re-post that part of my previous post, as it appears that el ocho missed it. Note the "in my experience" part. I'm speaking primarily from my own personal experience. Of the times I've tried to get from DEN to HDN on Mesa a/c I've ended up driving about 40% of the time, although I've met some nice fellow passengers in shared rental cars. Of the times I did get on, and we did go, like I said, the crews were great.

-Blucher

 

[aerobat21]

Thanks Guys

 

[snozberry]

I commuted out of there for about 4 years. Ended up driving after too many mishaps. Most of the time it was ok but it ended up being easier to drive after awhile.

 

[ATRCA]

My folks live in Redstone CO, about 25 min from ASE and EGE. I have gone to both lots of times. I have always used Mesa, found their crews to be SUPPER accomodating and the flights I have been on have always operated pretty close to on time. Mesa has been very good to me to ASE/EGE and they should for you as well I would guess.

BTW, I rode Skywest once on the 700 to ASE and the CA did not want me on the flight deck because ASE was "a challenging place to fly" and he was worried about sterile issues. I did eventualy get a seat in the back and the crew was very cool. I have never had any issues with the Mesa boys and girls.

Good luck.