Visit Branson ... the live music capital of the world

For a lot of folks, Branson is a mid-American entertainment Mecca, the self-proclaimed “Live Music Show Capital of the World.”

It’s far easier to get to Branson these days now that it has its own airport. Instead of flying into relatively remote Tulsa, Kansas City, Fayetteville or Springfield and driving the rest of the way, you can now fly direct. Some 8 million people visit Branson every year, and an increasing slice of them are flying – headed for a few days of fellowship, golf and, of course, music.

Soon, there will be more opportunities to do precisely that. Frontier Airlines begins seasonal nonstop service from a pair of southwestern cities to BKG in September. Sept. 17 through Dec. 10 Frontier will offer once-weekly Phoenix flights to Branson. Sept. 16 through Dec. 14 the airline will loft thrice-weekly Austin flights to Branson.

Frontier will fly a 138-seat airbus A319 on Phoenix flights to Branson, and a 50-seat Embraer145 regional jet on Austin flights to Branson. To get you to pay attention to the new flights there are intro fares on both routes: $105 each way from Phoenix, and $89 from Austin. You’ve got to make a 14-day advance purchase, and neither taxes nor fees are included.

Austin flights to Branson depart Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 1:25 p.m. and arrive at the hilltop airport at 3:00 p.m. Return Branson flights to Austin taxi away from the gate at 10:50 a.m. and arrive AUS at 12:25 p.m.

Phoenix flights to Branson depart Saturdays at 7:40 a.m. and arrive at 12:20 p.m. Return Branson flights to Phoenix leave at 1:05 p.m. and get to the gate at Sky Harbor International Airport at 2:00 p.m.

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: Cliff)