When Helicopter Ride Gets Canceled
Thereare two conditions in which a planned helicopter trip may not happen.
The tour may get canceled because of bad weather or because the minimum number of travelers required wasnt met.
In both instances, the heli tour operator will offer a different date or a full refund.
- All passengers must carry a valid photo ID
- All passengers must be willing to walk through a metal detector
- All bags will go through security
- Even cameras and video cameras will go through a security check
- No handbags or backpacks are allowed on the helicopter
- Only a camera, cell phone, and sunglasses can be brought aboard.
- Complimentary lockers are available to hold belongings while flying
- Due to federal law, the helicopters cant fly directly over New York City
Health And Safety Policy
All social distancing and capacity restrictions will be adhered to in accordance with current guidelines. Participants may have their temperature taken upon arrival and may be asked to sanitize their hands.
Individuals who have had COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive within the past 28 days are not eligible to participate.
All participants are required to abide by local and state mask mandates and must bring their own mask to wear during the experience. Individuals without face masks may not be eligible to participate.
New York Helicopter Tour At Night
This ride is one of the most beautiful NYC chopper tours because it helps you see the New York skyline when it is all lit up at night.
The late evening takeoffs make it just the right NewYork helicopter tour for two if you are a romantic couple, look no furtherthan this.
The departure times for this 30-minute rides canbe anytime from 7 pm to 10 pm.
This tour takes off from the Linden Airport,which is 37 Kms from Manhattan. Pick up services are offered for thepassengers.
Cost of the tour: $244
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New York Helicopter Tour: Costs Experiences & Best Offers
A helicopter ride over New York is an absolute highlight of any trip. Well tell you about our experiences in a helicopter over New York and introduce you to the different providers and options.
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Your trust is really important to us: This post contains so-called affiliate links. Every time you buy or book something using these links, we receive a small commission. Theres no hidden surcharge or any other downside. That way, you can support us with our work. Thank you so much, Jenny & Basti
Hi! We are Jenny & Basti.
Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.
Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. We turned our shared passion into our profession and have been at home everywhere in the world ever since. On 22places we share everything about our travels: with a lot of attention for details, inspirational, authentic, and above all: always honest. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.
To someday fly over New York in a helicopter that was a dream of ours for a long time.
And since we like to turn our dreams into a reality, we simply booked a flight on our last trip to New York.
Before our flight, we took a thorough look at the different providers and found that the offers were all pretty confusing.
Are New York Helicopter Tours Worth The Cost
If we look at the money spent per minute, helicopter tours are one of the costliest tourist activities in New York.
For instance, the introductory helicopter tour lasts for about 12-15 minutes and costs around $200 per person.
As the duration of the helicopter ride over New York increases, the cost goes up.
A 25 to 30 minutes helicopter ride over New York will put you back by about $350
Due to these prohibitive costs, a helicopter tour in New York is not for the commoner.
However, if you can afford it, it is an adrenalin rush you should indulge in at least once in your life.
Tourists who have flown over New York confirm that the rush of accelerating over the New York landmarks is fascinating.
Besides, the panoramic view of the New York skyline makes for great photo opportunities.
Helicopter tours of NYC are not the best way to explore the massive city. If thats your objective, we suggest Hop On Hop Off New York bus tour or one of the popular New York discount cards such as NYC Explorer Pass, New York Pass, or CityPass, which get you free entry into many attractions.
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Helicopter Rides In New York
Here is our selection of the best helicopter tours in NewYork.
Once you have all the information, click on the Book ThisTour link to go ahead and make the purchase.
For helicopter tours that have high demand, the booking confirmation happens as soon as you make a purchase.
For other helicopter tours, you will get the confirmation within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.
Day Three Early Afternoon: Dumbo Waterfront And Brooklyn Bridge Park
If you thought the view of Manhattan Bridge was great, why not also check out the quieter, less-frequently photographed composition of Brooklyn Bridge?
Youll find this shot down on the waterfront in front of Time Out Market.
You should also use this time to wander down the 85-acre waterfront area.
Loved by tourists and locals alike, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great place to get fresh air, play sports, enjoy skyline views, admire flora and fauna, and eat allllll the ice cream!
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Day Two Early Afternoon: The High Line
Visiting The Vessel puts you in the perfect position to visit the High Line.
The High Line is a free public park/walkway built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan.
Starting right near the base of The Vessel, the walkway combines 1.45-miles of nature, art and design into one of the best walks you will find in New York.
How Does The Reservation Work
When you book, you purchase a voucher that is valid for the duration of your stay in New York and has an indicative date and time. Once you are in New York, you will need to reconfirm with the operator by calling their US number .
Once you purchase your voucher, you will be given instructions on how to set the date and time of your tour with the operator. If you have any problems contacting the operator, Hellotickets can do it for you and confirm with you the details of your experience.
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How Does The Weather Affect My Ride
In cases of extreme fog, low clouds, poor visibility, lightning, extremely gusty winds, heavy rain, or snowstorms, flights may be canceled. In these instances, you can reschedule your flight for another time or receive a full refund. Keep in mind, the temperature outside has no effect on flight conditions.
Best Helicopter Tour Companies
There are numerous helicopter tour companies in New York.
Names of these helicopter tour companies sound similar and confuse the average tourist visiting New York, which is precisely the intention.
Some of the helicopter tour companies which specialize in NYC and also other cities in the USA are
- CitySights NY
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How Much Does A Helicopter Tour In Nyc Cost
A helicopter tour in NYC usually costs between $150 and $300. However, with our helicopter ride specials, you can save up to 70% on your reservation. Choose from short 15-20-minute flights to see a landmark up close, or book onto a 30-minute aerial experience to soak up the whole city from above.
Browse our current deals to find great savings on helicopter tours, including night flights and couples’ discounts. Want to take the wheel yourself? We have offers on private helicopter lessons, too.
New York Manhattan Helicopter Tour
This ride is a 20-minute flight over the Manhattan skies.
You fly past Wall Street, Ground Zero, and catch a glimpse of Empire State Building, Chrysler Buildings, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc. for a memorable tour of the city.
You will also go over the Central Park, WWII aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid, etc.
Thishelicopter tour departs every 30 minutes from 10 am to 6 pm.
Cost of the tour: $289
*If you want another option for a 20-minute flight over NYC, check out the Complete New York Helicopter ride.
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Woodbury Common Shopping Trip By Helicopter
Shop in style with this helicopter transfer from Downtown Manhattan to Woodbury Common.
This is one of the best shopping districts in the area, and you will be able to get there quickly with this flight over Manhattan. On the way there, a short tour of the main attractions is included.
Extra room is included for you to store your shopping. The flight to Woodbury Common is 30 minutes, and your return flight is 20 minutes.
How Are The Seats Distributed On The Flight
Seats are assigned according to the weight of the passengers, which should be evenly distributed in the helicopter. They will not be definitive until the moment of the flight, as each person’s belongings must be taken into account. For this reason, you cannot choose your seat on the flight, although you can state your preference to the operator.
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The Best Place To Base Yourself For Seeing New York In 4 Days
This probably wont surprise you but the best place to base yourself during a short trip to New York, especially if it is your first visit, is Manhattan.
While this will be more expensive, there are fun New York activities for every budget, so you can skimp in other places if need be.
Id advise staying as close to a subway station as possible as you will rely on the subway a lot during your trip.
Anywhere near Times Square is a great bet because its super central to loads of attractions.
We stayed in an Airbnb just a 10-minute walk from Times Square.
This was the best of both worlds because we were really central but also stayed on a really quiet street which made for a great nights sleep.
Plus, the Airbnb boasted the most incredible rooftop with views across Manhattan.
And the best part is that we had the whole thing to ourselves! What a dream.
Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
A tourist discount pass option could also end up as a great deal. Tourist discount passes generally work by bundling together different tours, attractions, and activities into one discounted price.
The savings can be up to 55% off of full retail prices.
The New York Pass, for example, offers 15% on either the Liberty Big Apple Tour or the New York, New York Tour from Liberty Helicopters.
These services are $249-$299 respectively, so you can expect to pay $211-$254 with this discount.
Read our post on whether or not a New York Pass is worth buying.
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New York Helicopter Tours Prices Flight Timings Restrictions
Image: Lisa-Blue / Getty
- Barkha Tiwari in USA
There are three ways to see New York by road, water, and air.
Out of this, the best way to explore New York is by going up on a helicopter tour and feeling the adrenalin rush.
From high up, you can see all the major New York City landmarks, not to mention coming face to face with the Statue of Liberty.
In this article, we share everything you must know before you book your New York helicopter tour.
Where Do The Helicopter Flights Depart From In New York
Helicopter tours depart from the heliport located in Downtown Manhattan, at the southernmost point of Manhattan. You’ll recognize the place by the constant noise of helicopters taking off and landing, and the ones you’ll see flying around, plus the location it’s pretty well indicated with signs.
- Address: 6 E River Bikeway, New York, NY 10004
- Nearest subway: Whitehall St
- Located on the East River, south of the Brooklyn Bridge.
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Day One Afternoon: Central Park
After going up Top of the Rock, we decided to head to Central Park for a lazy afternoon basking in the sun.
We somehow massively lucked out with twenty-degree weather in March so we wanted to make the most of the sun.
The best place to spend sunny days is, of course, Central Park, one of the best parks in New York.
From listening to live music and picnicking in the park to rowing around the lake and seeing the sights by bike, there are so many great ways to appreciate the beauty that is Central Park.
Depending on time, you might also have time to explore one of the attractions either in or around Central Park.
These are included, but not limited to, Central Park Zoo, the American Museum of Natural History, and The Met.
The evening is to do with as you wish! You may be shattered from jet lag and a long days exploring so may decide to relax in your hotel. Thats totally understandable!
However, despite our tiredness, we headed to Seans Bar and Kitchen for drinks with my family who live in the local area.
We had a fun night drinking and eating food out of a kitchen sink, as you do.
List Of New York Helicopter Companies
There are several helicopter tour companies with names so similar, it can easily get confusing. All of the companies have similar review profiles, which are generally good.
The experience of flying over the Big Apple is so fun, most people are happy with their experiences.
However, we provide links to each companies reviews, so that you can take a closer look for yourself. Also, we list the companies in order of lowest to highest price.
NOTE: No helicopter flights are permitted on Sundays.
There is one common thread you will see when it comes to complaints about helicopter tours: overcrowding and weight distribution problems.
Due to the way that this aircraft functions, it can sometimes be important to make sure that there is not too much weight on one side.
Because of this, you will most likely be asked to provide information about your weight before boarding, and you may also be asked to sit in a location you are not comfortable with. The more crowded a helicopter tour is, the more likely you will be asked to sit in the middle.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to enjoy the views from the middle seat of a helicopter, so most people in this position report having a negative experience.
In order to avoid these issues, make sure to call ahead and ask the tour company about which times would be best for obtaining a window seat.
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How Many People In One Helicopter
Generally,tourist helicopters are either four-seaters or six seaters.
Depending on the tour you opted for, and the number of passengers booked on the helicopter ride you may get a four or a six-seater.
Therefore, sometimes a minimum of two and sometimes four passengers are required for the heli tour to be confirmed.
New York Helicopter Tours May Get Banned
The city of New York doesnt like helicopter tours.
For decades, the citys citizens have been citing air and noise pollution by the thousands of helicopter tours and asking them to stop.
Till 2016 there used to be almost 200 helicopter takeoffs every day.
Federal law prohibits these tour flights from flying directly over New York City, Governors Island, and Staten Island.
In April 2018, a new bill was discussed, which aimed to ban helicopter tours of Manhattan forever.
You may want to go on a tour before it gets banned.
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Where Do Helicopter Flights In New York Leave From
New York City has four main providers of helicopter rides. You can recognize them by their different colors: The red ones are New York Helicopter & Liberty Helicopter and the black helicopters are owned by Zip Aviation. Each of them has the same departure location however fly slightly different routes over the city.
Big Apple Helicopter Tour
This tour is the cheapest and the most popular helicoptertour to explore Manhattan and the rest of New York.
During this 15-minute trip, you will see Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and the sprawling Central Park and rest of the New York skyline.
As you fly over the Hudson River, you will also come faceto face with Statue of Liberty.
Therefore, this tour is also sometimes referred to as theNew York Statue of Liberty helicopter tour.
Cost of the tour: $217
*If you are looking for a helicopter flight with a little more focus on Manhattan views, check out the 15-minute long Manhattan Sky tour.
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Best New York City Helicopter Tours
New York City is one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world. The bright lights, world-famous monuments, and vibrant shopping and food districts make this the perfect destination for sampling the American dream.
If you are looking to splash a little cash on the ultimate experience in New York, there are a variety of great helicopter tours in and around the city. These allow you to experience magnificent views of the skyline and get you up close to the vast monuments.
These are the 15 best helicopter tours you can take in New York.