Flights to Durango from East Coast (Denver, Grand Junction: rental car, rental, prices)

[LandSpec2]

I will be traveling to the Durango area monthly for the next couple of years, arriving from Charlotte, NC.
Researching the flights it appears that it is cheaper to fly into Albuquerque and take the rental from there.
To the tune of $175 cheaper than flying to La Plata per ticket (two of us) this adds up.

Does anyone have any suggestions based on personal experience?

Thanks.

[parfleche]

Durango airport is way overpriced and poorly run.My Daughter flew down from Denver for the holidays into Cortez for 200 round trip on greatlakes airline.Dgo wanted close to 600. Many people also use Farmington both are 60 miles from Dgo.

[SkyDog77]

As said above, Durango airport is always expensive. I used to fly in and out of there for work from Denver and it was always $500+. Didn't seem to matter how far out I booked. They mug you there because they can get away with it. The drive from ABQ isn't too bad. Definitely check Farmington as well. That drive is a piece of cake, but I found that Farmington often wasn't any cheaper.

[Colorado Rambler]

Airlines are always changing their rates. I'd be more concerned about the stress of the extra time added to the journey by driving up from ABQ - especially in the winter. That road up to Durango can get pretty nasty in the snow. Plus, you get the dubious joy of driving across the Navajo rez. Now, I very much respect and admire the Navajo, but unfortunately there are some who have alcohol problems and drinking and driving doesn't seem to faze them - not until they end up with their truck smashed into your rental car, anyhow. I've always just gotten a flight out of Denver direct to Durango or even Cortez, myself.

[Let's Go Here]

Flying through the Durango airport is always a challenge. Prices are extremely high and flights are constantly cancelled. Unfortunately, there aren't any other decent-sized airports within a couple of hours - prices at the Farmington airport are pretty steep too and it is even more limited than the Durango airport.

I would agree with Colorado Rambler - may as well do what you can to book your flights directly to Durango and take your chances. The drive between Albuquerque and Durango will get old in a hurry, and it won't be easy during the winter months.

[LandSpec2]

Good info. Thanks to all.

[JCirka]

Look into the Grand Junction and Montrose Colorado airports. They are closer, but depending on the time year, road travel could be scary over the mountains. But it is a BEAUTIFUL drive during the summer!

[Colorado Rambler]

^^^

Huh? Closer to what? Grand Junction to Durango on 550 is a very scenic drive, but it can be a real white knuckle trip come winter. And even in the summer, if you are driving from GJ to Durango on a regular basis, you are going to come to loathe the slow poke, lookey loo tourists that infest 550. And flying from Denver to Montrose then driving over all those mountain passes to get to Durango? No thanks. If you're going to Durango, go to Durango. Your life will be much easier. Trust me on this.

[jchasse]

I travel 50-75k miles per year out of Durango, and my wife flies about as much as I do. I admit I don't bother to compare prices vs ABQ, 'cause there's no way I'm driving 4 hours to and from the airport. But i've never noticed DRO being significantly more expensive than other airports.

I'm doing a regular / recurring trip to San Francisco next week, and the ticket was $345 round trip.