Trip Planning
Boarding pass codes explained
Passengers may notice "SSSS" and a jumbled six-character code, such as "KFR48B," on their boarding pass, but to the untrained…
Aviation and travel, explained
Flying, airports and the American Southwest — independent reporting
Arizona & the SouthwestMesa Gateway vs Sky Harbor
Phoenix travelers don’t have to pick between equal, interchangeable airports. Sky Harbor is the main hub with broad access while Mesa Gateway is a smaller, more limited…
Flying Explained
Turbulence levels, explained
When a pilot warns of "moderate turbulence," they are using a formal turbulence reporting scale set by the Federal Aviation…
24guides written for this site
430archive pages kept from 1999–2006
5sections, from cockpit rules to canyon road trips
142board papers of the old airport authority
Rules & Rights
Flight cancelled: refund rights
Passengers can get a cash refund, not a voucher, under U.S. Department of Transportation rules for canceled or significantly…
Arizona & the Southwest
Grand Canyon from Phoenix
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon, roughly 230 miles from downtown Phoenix, attracts millions of visitors each year — including a…
Trip Planning
Carry-on size limits, measured
Carry-on size limits for U.S. airlines are determined by individual carriers, measured from the outer extremities of the bag, and…
Rules & Rights
Tarmac delay rules in the US
For passengers waiting on the tarmac, the key limit is three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights…
Flying Explained
All stories →Flying Explained
Turbulence levels, explained
When a pilot warns of "moderate turbulence," they are using a formal turbulence reporting scale set by the Federal Aviation…
Flying Explained
Airport codes: IATA vs FAA
When booking a flight to Mesa Gateway Airport, seek out IATA code AZA. But for U.S. pilots filing a flight plan, FAA identifier…
Flying Explained
Why crew rest delays flights
When your flight is delayed due to "crew rest," it's not just an excuse–it means the aircraft has reached its legal limits on…
Rules & Rights
All stories →Trip Planning
All stories →Trip Planning
Boarding pass codes explained
Passengers may notice "SSSS" and a jumbled six-character code, such as "KFR48B," on their…
Trip Planning
Carry-on size limits, measured
Carry-on size limits for U.S. airlines are determined by individual carriers, measured from…
Trip Planning
Checked bag fees, explained
Checked baggage fees have long mystified American travelers, who believe that the base fare…
Airports & Neighbours
All stories →
Airports & Neighbours
What general aviation airports do
The airport near many communities may not serve passenger airlines, but it plays a vital role in the national aviation system…
Airports & Neighbours
Part 150 noise studies explained
A Part 150 study is not a new noise limit or an order to the airport to shift flight patterns to line up with your sleep…
Arizona & the Southwest
All stories →Arizona & the SouthwestMesa Gateway vs Sky Harbor
Phoenix travelers don’t have to pick between equal, interchangeable airports. Sky Harbor is the main hub with broad access while Mesa Gateway is a smaller, more limited…
Arizona & the Southwest
Grand Canyon from Phoenix
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon, roughly 230 miles from downtown Phoenix, attracts millions of visitors each year — including a…
Arizona & the Southwest
Best time to fly into Phoenix
Phoenix is affordable and accessible in the summer, but weather risks peak. Come winter, fares rise to meet high demand.
The Gateway Archive
All stories →
142 documents
Board papers
241 documents
Press releases
20 documents
Community & noise files
27 documents