Ticket Purchase Options
There are two ways to get tickets: on-site or online. Booking online is more convenient and reliable. Note that if you book a specific time slot, like 10 AM, it’s best to arrive 30-45 minutes early. If you miss your scheduled time, the company’s policy states there’s no guarantee of a seat on the next flight, and tickets are non-refundable.
There are three tour options with different routes and prices:
• Classic Tour (12-15 minutes): $209 per person
• Deluxe Tour (18-20 minutes): $289 per person
• VIP Tour (25-30 minutes): $349 per person
Pre-Flight Preparations
Arrive 45 minutes before your scheduled flight. After a quick security check, you’ll enter the waiting area and present your printed ticket. Staff will help store your bags (only phones and cameras are allowed onboard) and provide you with a safety vest to wear around your waist. During the 10-15 minute wait before boarding, a staff member may ask if you want a flight video, which costs $69. I decided not to get it but later regretted not having a video memory of this unique experience.
Boarding Process
Before boarding, follow the staff’s instructions to reach the helicopter, moving through a strictly controlled path due to the high winds and constant helicopter traffic. You won’t be allowed to take photos until you’re on board. At the helicopter, the staff will snap a photo of each person, but outside pictures are not permitted.
Takeoff Experience
Seats are assigned by staff, with the luckiest passenger in the co-pilot seat for optimal views. I was seated in the back row. After boarding, everyone must fasten their seatbelt and wear noise-canceling headphones, which allow you to talk to each other. The noise inside the helicopter is very loud, so headphones are essential. After some introductions, the pilot will ask for your preferred tour language.
The Flight
Once airborne, we flew over the water, which was slightly nerve-wracking. The helicopter played audio commentary on nearby buildings and landmarks, rotating through requested languages (ours included English, Russian, and Mandarin). Meanwhile, all passengers could chat through the headphone mic system. My tour lasted 18-20 minutes, covering the waters around Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and north up to Central Park. I recorded every second, savoring each moment. The aerial view of New York’s skyscrapers was breathtaking, and the unique vantage point made it feel surreal.
Landing
The 18 minutes passed in a flash, and we were back on the ground before I knew it. After disembarking, we followed staff back indoors, where they showed us the photo taken outside the helicopter, available for $20. This helicopter tour is absolutely worth it, offering an extraordinary perspective of New York and a memorable experience like no other.