Always found it interesting how Contour has random routes scattered about the US! Their livery is one of the best in the US imo and definitely one of the coolest airlines to fly here.
I Flew Contour September 2022...Very nice!! Plenty of leg room..I was hesitant because of the reviews but found my experience to be nothing short of excellent!
I've flown on Contour on two occasions, both out of Oakland...first time was on their EAS route to Crescent City. The 2nd time was from Oakland to Santa Barbara. Prior to the pendemic, Contour did fly several non-EAS routes like OAK-SBA, SBA-LAS, SBP-LAS, Page-LAS...even SMF-SBA and SMF-PSP...and some on the Eastern Seaboard. I hope they return to some of the non-EAS routes.
You're right about the non-EAS routes, I was basing that comment on their current route map (since they can't drop an EAS route). JSX is very much trying that game as well with similar planes. I wish them well, any more competition is good, especially with underserved cities!
Your check-in experience is comical and much like my Delta experience when dealing with their supposed tier-1 partners, like Korean Air and China Eastern... Oh the stories I have from those experiences could fill a book. But man, those scenic views are just amazing!
Flew them from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas in 2019. I’m from Australia and was really happy with their service as I really wasn’t looking forward to flying one of the big airlines and having to pay for every extra add on (bags, seats etc) I’d happily fly them again
Good to know, I only looked at google maps this time. Years ago I drove from Phoenix to Sedona to Flagstaff to Page, but that was over the course of a week.
Dude, you are the third person to ever film this flight. TripleAAAviation was the first person to film this flight and I was the 2nd person. I've always thought this route was interesting. When I flew with them in July 2020, I never had issues with a boarding pass and it was smooth sailing. I need to retake my landing video into Page. I got a filthy window and the sun glare screwed up my video, making my old S9 focus only on the dirt and nothing else. Contour Airlines is more casual and less formal. Both flights, they did not use a PA system to announce boarding and was very informal. The flights I were on had only 5-7 people as well. Many people don't fly up to Page because of how isolated it is. I plan to fly up there again in the future if I can get a good deal round trip less than $100 again.
I'd be interested in doing so, I just have to...want to go where they fly! I could take Air Choice One to Decatur IL, but that's not high on my list. Still, I'll keep them and others like Cape Air in mind!
Air Choice One doesn’t exist and hasn’t flown to Decatur since 2018. I flew for ACO back then before moving on a regional and then a Legacy. I wouldn’t say EAS is without competition. During the life of the contract that’s mostly true, but if you aren’t fulfilling your obligation the DOT can come into replace you. Plus every 2-4 years when the EAS contract renew, you most certainly have competition. For example, when I was hired at ACO we had 11 destinations. 6 months after I left, they were down to 2. Most of which were bought by Cape and Boutique. Soon after, Southern Airways Express bought ACO. That being said, that’s the best I’ve ever been at hand flying low IFR approaches. Great way to cut teeth as a new professional pilot.
That robotic voice, was there a chime before the announcement? Was there a "ding dong" or a "beeeep" before it came on? I had no idea Page Airport even had a PA system. The voice sounds exactly like the voice at Sky Harbor Airport in North Terminal 4 when boarding announcements for American Airlines Flights are made.
I really dig your travel review site. And your final presented product is personal , quirky( in a good way ) and very smart. You should contact someone from Department of Transportation maybe even Mayor Pete himself and let him know the trouble with reservations and IT. We tax payer's pay EAS airlines like Contour a lot of $$$ to uphold their end of the flying. Imagine having to depend on this sketchy service and how frustrating it would be to deal with on a regular bases!! Thank You again on a great review!!
Ha thanks, glad you liked it! Yeah I'm trying to be...unique, understanding that that will never be everyone's cup of tea and I'm totally ok with that. We do indeed pay the EAS airlines, but with limited competition it's not as easy as just finding another competitor. Plus I hear similar things about AirChoice One, Cape Air, and others (though I have no firsthand experience).
Nice trip report! I like their livery, it looks like a good airline, though some seats of the aircraft were quite worn out. The check-in was a disaster :) It's not good to see the gate agent wore his mask below his nose
Nice review, but to call you on your own BS, assuming that's you or your partner..or the guy you're stalking.. at minute 7:10, you're also protecting your "bottom lip". practice what you preach..
