Incredible Aerial Adventure Over New York
At first its a bit unnerving to be sitting on the edge of a chopper thousands of feet in the air. But you slowly get more comfortable as the flight goes on.
Eventually I trusted the harness enough to lean out and feel the power of the wind as adrenaline coursed through my veins, shooting photos of the helicopters tail rotter.
When the helicopter banks sideways in a turn, youre looking straight down at the tops of New York Citys massive skyscrapers, the only thing keeping you from plummeting to your death is those straps!
If you find yourself in New York, and want to have the experience of a lifetime, make sure to book an epic open-door ariel photography helicopter flight with FlyNYON. You wont regret it.
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.
Is A Helicopter Ride Worth It
If so, a helicopter tour is absolutely well worth the money. With a helicopter tour, especially those we provide here at Heliventures, you’re going to experience something you’ve probably never experienced in the past before. This is a unique activity, and something most people never get to accomplish on their own.Sep 30, 2020
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How Long Does The Flight Last
As mentioned above, you can choose the time vs cost package to suit your NYC travel budget.
We can tell you from experience that our flight with a suggested timeframe of 17-20 minutes could have lasted 5 minutes or an hour and we wouldnt have known.
You will find that time in the air vanishes and before you know it youre walking out of the heliport back into Lower Manhattan.
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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What Attractions Can I See On A Helicopter Ride In New York
You’ll see a wide range of NYC’s top attractions from your helicopter, including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. This is the perfect opportunity to snap a picture and get all the city’s sights in one.
Other attractions you can admire from above with a helicopter ride include:
- Central Park
How To Choose A Company You Trust
We strongly recommend you check out the websites of each helicopter tour company in NYC.
- Read the reviews, with emphasis on the most recent customer reviews.
- Read FAQs pages to understand exactly what is involved with your flight.
- Make sure they are adhering to correct health and safety measures due to the covid pandemic.
- Ensure they can offer support for any accessibility or mobility concerns.
- Check social media channels for any companies you like.
- Look at any forums about NYC helicopter tours, such as on Reddit, TripAdvisor or Quora.
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Liberty Harbor Helicopter Tour
All passengers of the Liberty Harbor Helicopter tour are welcomed like celebrities and strapped into your helicopter seat.
After a safety briefing, your pilot lifts off to show you stunning views of New Yorks breathtaking skyline.
Your helicopter flies by Lower ManhattansManhattans Battery Park and Wall Street, announcing to the World that you have arrived.
You then stare right into the eyes of the Statue of Liberty before you turn back to go up the Hudson River. On the way, you take in aerial views of Ellis Island.
A string of New York attractions follow one by one on your right-hand side.
After crossing the USS Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, you will spot the lush greenery of New YorksYorks famed Central Park.
After going halfway up Central Park, the pilot will turn back, and this time you can see all the attractions on your left-hand side.
Once your helicopter tour NYC is over, the pilot brings you back to Pier 6.
The duration of this heli tour is 12 to 15 minutes.
The cost of this New York City helicopter tour is $209 per person.
This price doesnt include the $40 per person heliport fee mandated by the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, which you will have to pay before takeoff.
The tour is available Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6.30 pm.
Landmarks you will see
The Grand Island Helicopter tour is designed for people who like it big and beautiful.
It is best for tourists who would rather own the helicopter. Well, almost.
Landmarks you will see
How Safe Are Helicopter Rides
So just how safe are helicopters and the helicopter tours? Helicopters can be especially safe forms of transportation if you do your research. As is the case with any other form of transportation, it all comes down to how well the vehicle is maintained and the skill of the pilot. A helicopter is of no exception.
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How Much Is A Helicopter Ride In Nyc
New York City helicopter rides need to be purchased online as to get the best price, well ordering way in advanced will make sure you don’t miss out.
It will cost you on average just $230 when taking a helicopter ride in NYC. From prices will be $159, again on average but expect to pay as little has $96.00. Base prices only, so there is an extra fee when departing Downtown Manhattan at $40. Cancel to avoid penalties, but outside 48 hours it won’t cost you anything.
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In order to provide you the most accurate prices mentioned within this piece I’ve done so using seven top NYC helicopter operators who fly to and from all major landmarks.
Complete New York Helicopter tours will include all sights at a similar price but no helicopter ride seeing all attractions can be completed within a short timeframe.
So for that reason be sure you consider price first, plus the flight duration.
Prices have been calculated from the top New York helicopter tour operators using there online booking pages – so are likely to change frequently – so check back.
Its important you remember that helicopter rides departing downtown Manhattan, via Pier 6, will incur a cover charge, per person.
I’ve only based prices on a per person bases so you get an idea how much it will cost, so double or triple the price if you’re more than a party of one.
Expect a full refund if canceling in good time, though it is possible no refunds are given so your flight must go ahead.
How Many People Can Go On A Nyc Helicopter Tour
Standard helicopters can usually fit up to six passengers. Normally, this includes one sat in the front, three behind the pilot facing backwards and two opposite to them.
Some helicopters will only take a minimum of four passengers at a time this is to help distribute the weight evenly. If you’ve booked a helicopter tour for two, it may be worth checking with the provider that you’re able to fly solo. They may pair you with another couple or group if this isn’t the case.
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What Is The Best Helicopter Tour In New York City
Top New York City Helicopter Tours. 1 36 results | All New York City Tours. Sort by: Featured. No Photo. No Photo. Likely to Sell Out. 2 Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight. 3 New York Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour. 4 New York Helicopter Tour: City Lights Skyline Experience. 5 Taste of NYC Helicopter Tour. More items
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Extend Your Trip A Bit Longer To Get Into Manhattan
The best option to enjoy a more complete tour in which you will fly over the Hudson up to the height of Times Square and the famous Madison Square Garden.
Duration:
If you don’t mind spending a little more, this is the best value for money itinerary, as you will be able to enjoy the sights of New York at your leisure. In 20 minutes, you will have time to make the round trip around Manhattan via Madison Square Garden. You will reach the height of Times Square, which will give you a better view of Central Park, the Chrysler Building and other areas of Midtown.
Please note that for safety reasons, the helicopter cannot fly between Manhattan buildings, so the tour follows the Hudson River. Still, the views are breathtaking.
Why I like this tour: The 20-minute ride will give you more time to savor the experience and allow you to get closer to the most important sights of Midtown.
Recommended if… you want to enjoy the experience and don’t mind spending a little more.
This is the longest helicopter tour in existence. The tour will take you over almost all of New York City. You will depart from the Downtown heliport and reach the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You will then fly over the entire Manhattan skyline, reaching the north of the island and also spotting Queens and the Bronx.
Recommended if… you want to get the most out of your flight and comb all areas of the city.
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Inclusions In This Price
Besidesthe helicopter tour, for the price mentioned you also get free inflightnarration.
If the passengers request more than two languages on the same flight, the audio commentary defaults to English.
Alltaxes, fuel surcharges and service fees are part of the tour cost.
Dependingon the tour you opt for, there may be additional inclusions.
For instance, if you book the helicopter tour with Statue of Liberty cruise, tickets to the 1-hour Statue of Liberty Express cruise is also included.
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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Helicopter Ride For Photographers
On our last trip to New York, we explicitly searched for a sightseeing flight for photographers and came across a great offer: a helicopter ride over New York without doors!
It sounds crazy, but its absolutely amazing for taking photos. After all, taking pictures through glass is not so ideal. So why not just take away the windows?
You can find our detailed experience of the flight further below. We can definitely recommend it.
The sightseeing flights are offered by Wings Air and start at a small airport in Westchester, around 50 kilometers north of Manhattan. The flight is a full 60 minutes, within which youll need around 10 minutes each way to fly from Westchester to Manhattan.
The major advantage of this tour is that the provider is allowed to fly directly over Manhattan. Only over and around Trump Tower is there a small restricted zone where no helicopters are allowed to fly.
The journey to the airport is unfortunately the big disadvantage of this offer. With public transportation, it takes a good two hours. So Wings Air offers a transfer service from the hotel and back, which we also used. It costs 200 dollars and the trip lasts around an hour.
You get the cheapest price when you book directly on the website of Wings Air. The flight there costs 870 dollars and theres space for up to three passengers in the helicopter. You always hire the entire helicopter, no matter if you come by yourself, in a pair or in a group of three people. The price is always the same.
Heliny Tours / Helicopter Flight Service Helicopter Tours
This outfit is a little bit more expensive than the other options, but they state that they use newer and more expensive helicopters. They are well-reviewed, but as we stated before, all the companies have relatively good reviews.
With the Smart Destinations Build-Your-Own tourist attraction pass, you could save 15-20%.Reviewers describe their staff as attentive and helpful, providing passengers with all of the information necessary to enjoy their trip.
Other comments suggest that Helicopter Flight Services is highly organized and that their pilots are very experienced. Most of the negative reviews complain of overcrowded trips, which may be avoided if you book your tour in advance.
Despite the higher costs, hundreds of guests have said that this helicopter ride is well worth the money. Some reviewers suggested that you make sure to bring a camera with you in order to get your moneys worth in fantastic photographs of New York City!
There are 4 popular public tours offered:
The Ultimate Tour – $284 + .
This tour includes all the sites covered in the New Yorker Tour, in addition to views of Yankee Stadium, Central Park, Columbia University, and George Washington Bridge.
The Deluxe Tour – $374 + .
This tour includes all the sites covered in the Ultimate Tour, in addition to Coney Island, Brooklyn and New Jersey, Grants Tomb, the Northern edge of Manhattan, and Verrazano Bridge.
Need to Know
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How To Find More Information
If you read this guide to flying over NYC in a helicopter and think you want to try it for yourself, be sure to do your own research. Pick the right company for your needs and pick a tour you can afford.
Ideally, you will be able to choose a flight path that takes in the best and most iconic NYC landmarks.
To read more about HeliNY, what they offer, FAQs and most importantly current prices, .
Read More About New York City
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Why Are There Helicopters Over Me
Violent crimes in progress, pursuits, property crimes, traffic stops, and perimeters are the most common reasons why you might hear a helicopter flying overhead. … Search and rescue operations are another common reason why you might see and hear a helicopter flying over residential areas.Dec 30, 2021
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Need Help Planning Your Visit To New York City
NYC is a vacation planning beast and it can be overwhelming trying to get every aspect right. Trust us, we know!
After living in New York City and exploring non-stop for 3 months, we created a comprehensive NYC travel guidebook & itineraries that will answer every question you have about where to stay, what to do, where to eat and how to get around the city.
We hope this travel guide helps you decide if HeliNY is the right tour company for you to take a helicopter ride over Manhattan NYC!
Have you been to New York City? Would you take a ride in a helicopter?
Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your visit.
Happy Flying,
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How Much Is A Helicopter From Nyc To The Hamptons
Blade, the chopper and mobility company, announced a special âHamptons Commuter Passâ last week, offering daily helicopter flights between the Hamptons and New York City. For a one-time membership fee of $965, customers can get flights for $295 each way. Typically, the flights cost $795.Aug 20, 2020
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Helicopter Ride At Night
Almost all helicopter flights over New York take place during the day. The city is especially charming at night though too.
We found a helicopter tour where you can also fly at night. Departure times can be booked here up to 7:30 pm.
The flight costs 250 dollars per person and the flights duration is around 25 minutes. It starts from Linden Airport in New Jersey.
Advantages of a helicopter ride at night:
- Unique panorama at night.
- You fly directly over Manhattan.
Disadvantages of a helicopter ride at night:
- Long journey to New Jersey.