john398

Not sure this the right forum but if I am flying DAL-LBB-LAS WIll I be able to see the grand canyon if its not too cloudy? if so is there a prefered side of plane to be on

alggag

The flight tracks from the last few days show that you should get a good view from the right side of the aircraft as long as weather doesn't force a different than usual routing.

john398

Thanks Alggag won't be flying til October but I will remember that, I know no promises things can change or could be foggy

MrMan

My experience going to Vegas - right side GC, left side Hoove Dam

lougord99

Don't forget that Southwest allows the use of GPS receivers in the plane. If you didn't know, GPS signals will not travel through the aluminum, so if you bring one, be sure the antenna is looking out the window. Program in the Grand Canyon before boarding and you are good to go.

Bushwacker

You can check flightaware before your flight for its route. I was on left side of flight from Vegas and we flew just south of GC.

InkUnderNails

They announced this on my last flight to Vegas on a beautiful day and got a great view.

Then we got the announcement: "Cameras must be off, we are under 10K feet." Tell us about the great view and stop us from taking pictures.

traveller001

Have the GPS powered on for awhile prior to departure so it has the latest almanac of satellites loaded prior. Without a recent almanac on power on in flight it has little to no chance of fixing your position travelling at close to 500kts.

johnslloyd

True. Valid if flight is coming from the South or SE, such as PHX, TUS, ABQ or Texas airports or others in that direction. Along with Hoover Dam, a good view of the new arch bridge over the Colorado out the left side.

Bigez747

On a side note, I was once flying TWA from STL to LAX. The pilot announced that since we had strong tail winds and extra time, he asked for and got permission from air traffic to descend to 150 over the grand canyon. He actually circled twice so both sides could see. Was pretty cool

john398

Speaking of GPS and airplanes I know Kayak app for androids has built in GPS app and I believd stored maps, of course I belive phones have to be turned off under 10k feet even in airplane mode

Also thanks everyone I was able to get a map of normal route map as well

steved5480

Looks like the normal route that Southwest files for LBB-LAS is V62 TXO J72 PGS TYSSN3. Joining the arrival into LAS at or west of Peach Springs (PGS) will take you well south of the Grand Canyon. While flight plans are always subject to change and you can always get a deviation, the normal route of this flight from LBB will have you well south of the canyon.

For the best canyon views, you really need something that’s filed over RSK and then PGS; these all generally skirt the south rim. Flights from STL, MCI, MDW, MEM, BNA etc. are generally filed this way and afford some great views.

As others have pointed out, best view/possibility of a view of the canyon is from the right side of the aircraft. A really good view (although fairly quickly out of sight) will be Hoover Dam and the new bypass bridge off the left side of the aircraft as you descend for the approach well west of the Grand Canyon.

SDCA

That announcement about camera being off under 10K feet is a bit odd considering how far the Grand Canyon is from Vegas and above 10K feet also.

SDCA

Try doing that today and probably never going to happen.

troutmd

My home is LBB and I have taken the LAS NS flight several times.. will be on it next Sunday. My experience is the same as others have mentioned, GC is on the right, Hoover on the left.

Its not the best view, its more of a distant 'overall' view, but you can certainly see the canyon. I have multiple pictures of it from that same flight...