Hot Air Balloon Passenger Guide

A confirmation email or message once your flight is scheduled

A flight status update sent via email prior to your flight. For morning flights, we will send an update email by 9:00PM. For evening flights, the email will be sent prior to noon on the day of the flight. Please call or email if you need to discuss prior to receiving your update.

Flexible rescheduling if weather conditions are unfavorable

Flights range from the surface up to 3,000 feet

Fear of heights? A gentle sensation of floating and stability relaxes the potential fear of heights

The temperature aloft is similar to that on the ground

Your pilot and crew will take pictures of your flight

A professional and safe flight operation, providing proactive instructions as needed

Expect a fantastic experience everyone should have at least once in their lives!

Dress for the weather and be prepared to walk in grassy fields as the balloon generally launches and lands in grassy areas

Stable footwear such as sneakers or similar is recommended – sandals and open-toed shoes are not permitted

In cold weather, wear multiple layers of clothing or a windbreaker.

Hats or ball caps are encouraged (but not mandatory) to help shield you from the sunlight and radiant heat from the burners

Reasonably sized cameras are welcome

Sunglasses

The confirmation email sent after scheduling outlines the specific meeting information. If any change in the meeting time or location is necessary, the pilot will be in touch with that information approximately one day prior to your flight. Please check your voicemail and/or email prior to the flight meeting time.

The launch sites vary with wind direction. Therefore it is important to arrive at the meeting location on time so you do not have to try to track down the balloon at a launch site before the launch.

Children age 6 -10 and weighing under 100 lbs receive a discount for shared hot air balloon flights. Children 6 years of age and younger are discouraged from flying because of their attention span and that they are often afraid of the burner noise

Operator arrives 1-2 hours prior to start of tether to set-up

Tether operator will arrive with a ground crew and commercial pilot to operate the balloon

Set-up usually requires 30-45 minutes once on-site

The ideal set-up is a recently mowed grassy field

Take-down usually requires 30-45 minutes from deflation of balloon

All tethers are performed at the discretion of the pilot in command and could be delayed/cancelled on-site due to weather/site conditions

Hot Air Balloons cannot safely carry passengers in winds over 8 mph. Tethered balloon rides are ideal with calm winds not exceeding 6 mph

If winds exceed the maximum for passenger carry, or gusty wind conditions exist, hot air balloons may be able to inflate without passengers for display purposes

Should the event be postponed due to weather or other circumstances prior to balloon team travel, tether may be rescheduled without additional costs (Pilot to consult with client prior to mobilization)

If balloon team mobilizes to the tether site but is unable to tether due to weather or other reasons out of the operator’s control, purchaser is responsible for 50% of the cost of tether, plus travel expenses

Please allow as much advanced notice as possible if you need to cancel your flight. A cancellation fee may be charged for cancellations with less than 72 hours notice or failure to show the day of the flight.