FAQ

Reservations are not required but highly recommended. If you arrive at the heliport without a reservation you may have to wait for an available flight or schedule a flight later in the day. Due to limited availability we would recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance. During peak times (Christmas, New Years and Easter) we would recommend booking further in advance due to high demand.

We would recommend booking earlier in your trip in case we need to reschedule your flight due to weather conditions.

Children 2 years old and up are full price as due to FAA regulations they need to sit in their own seat. Children under 2 years of age must sit in an adults lap at no charge. When booking please let us know you will have a lap child in the “Any Special Requests?” field on the booking form.

Any time of day is good to fly depending on the weather. We usually recommend booking around your schedule because the weather is unpredictable. Keep in mind that during the winter months the sun sets earlier and can affect the tour.

Our flights are almost always fully booked. The only way to guarantee a private tour is to reserve all 6 seats in the helicopter. There is no additional discount for this option.

Taking a helicopter is an amazing experience offering breathtaking views of New York City. However, if you are concerned about your fears of flying, heights or enclosed spaces this may not be the best option for you.

Click here to read the Cancellation Policy.

If there is light rain that doesn’t affect visibility, then we may still be able to fly. In the case of bad rain or fog we may need to cancel flights. We will do our best to notify you as soon as we know your flight will be canceled; the weather in New York can change quickly so this may be last minute. We will always try to reschedule your flight. If you are unable to reschedule your flight, please contact us on (212)355-0801 to discuss your options. Click here to view the Weather Cancellation Policy.

If you need to cancel your flight, we require you to email or call our office in advance at (212) 355-0801.

Blackout Dates Refund Policy – To ensure fairness to all customers, we have implemented a no-refund policy during blackout periods, as these dates are in high demand and cancellations may affect others’ ability to book. In addition, in advance of high demand periods, HFS makes advance arrangements with internal staffing and multiple suppliers and partners, thus we are unable to accommodate refunds during blackout periods.

• Blackout Periods:
  • April 14th – May 31st
  • June 15th – September 15th
  • November 20th – January 5th, 2026

If you need to cancel or reschedule during these periods, we will issue a flight credit, which must be used within 12 months of the purchase date. Changes must be made more than 72 hours before your scheduled flight for no additional charges to apply.

Please visit our Cancellation Policy for more information.

You can reschedule your flight at no charge if you contact us more than 72 hours in advance of your flight time. If you contact us within 72 hours, you will be subjected to the following restrictions:

• 72–24 hours before flight: Non-refundable but may be rescheduled within 12 months of the original purchase date for a $50 per person fee.
• Less than 24 hours before flight: Non-refundable but may be rescheduled within 12 months of the original purchase date for a $100 per person fee.

Please visit our Cancellation Policy for more information.

Yes!

We’ve partnered with Allianz Travel Insurance to provide Allianz Ticket Protection which can reimburse 100% of your ticket purchase if you can’t make the event due to a covered illness, injury, traffic accident, unexpected travel issue, and more. Every year, millions of people choose us to protect their event tickets, travel plans, registration fees, and more. Alliance is a trusted leader in specialty insurance and our award-winning assistance team is always available to help.

We are a 5-minute walk from the South Ferry subway station; this is the last stop on the 1 train Downtown. If you are using Google Maps enter “HeliNY – Downtown Manhattan Heliport” as the address. If you are using a GPS device sometimes our address isn’t recognized, please use 18 E River Bikeway, New York, NY 10004. When ordering an Uber please enter “Helicopter Flight Services”.

From Times Square it takes about 30 minutes to reach the Heliport by subway or taxi. Keep in mind that any travel after 4pm will take longer due to commuter traffic.

There is no parking at the heliport but there is a parking garage at the intersection of South Street & Whitehall Street, South St & Old Slip Rd or at the South Street Seaport (Pier 17).

If you’re running late for your helicopter ride, please contact us as soon as possible. We’ll do our best to accommodate delays or arrange alternatives based on our schedule and availability. However, please note that refunds cannot be issued for late arrivals we’re unable to accommodate.

To ensure a smooth experience, we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure (Flights scheduled after 3:30pm, we advise arriving at least 45 minutes before your scheduled departure). This allows ample time for check-in, safety briefings, and pre-flight preparations. Please note our hours of operations are the following:

• Downtown Manhattan Heliport
  • Monday – Friday: 10am – 5pm
  • Saturday: 10am – 4:30pm
• Linden Airport
  • Friday – Monday: 6pm – 9pm
  • Sunday: 4pm – 9pm

You can fly if you are pregnant; we recommend checking with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

You will need to transfer from the wheelchair onto the helicopter and be able to sit in one of the seats with your legs bent.

• For passengers under 150 lbs., our staff can assist you into the helicopter and will bring your wheelchair to and from the Heliport while you are flying.
• For passengers over 150 lbs., you must be able to transfer on your own or have someone with you who can assist you up into the helicopter.

Please let us know your mobility issues in the “I or someone in my group uses a wheelchair” field on the booking form, or contact us via email with any concerns.

To ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers, the final seating in the helicopter is determined by the weights of all passengers in the flight. You can request a seat, but we are unable to guarantee your seat in advance.

The weight limit is 275lbs./124kg. per passenger, passengers who weigh more than this or close to this are recommended to contact us on (212)355-0801 for further assistance. We cannot offer a tour if a seat belt extender is required.

Our helicopter tours require a minimum of four passengers to be confirmed. If this minimum is not met, we will offer to reschedule your tour to a time or date when the requirement is fulfilled. Alternatively, you may choose to upgrade to a private tour by purchasing all six seats on the helicopter.

Our pilots will do their best to point out the major sites and answer your questions, but their main focus is to keep you safe in the air.

Due to safety precautions, you may not take your own pictures while walking to and from the Heliport to the helicopter. Once inside the helicopter you can take your own pictures. Our staff will take a picture of you in front of the helicopter that can be purchased as a print or digital copy after your tour.

Only cameras, cell phones and sunglasses may be taken on the helicopter. All bags, hats and scarves may be left in a locker available to you at no charge. For more information on what cannot be brought on board your flight you can contact us at (212)355-0801.

The City of New York has strict regulations on the Helicopter Tourism Industry that does not allow us to fly over any part of New York City. All of our tours fly above the Hudson River and New York Harbor.

Due to airspace restrictions around the Statue of Liberty the closest we can fly to Liberty Island is half a mile.

Our Bell 407 helicopters seat 6 passengers with 1 pilot. There is 1 seat up front next to the pilot and a cabin with 2 seats facing backward and 3 seats facing forward. Seating is determined by the weights of all passengers on the flight so we cannot guarantee you a seat in advance. Our aircraft have floor-to-ceiling glass windows for excellent views from any seat.

Our helicopters are always flown with the doors on. We have floor-to-ceiling glass windows for excellent views from any seat! Our climate-controlled cabins allow you to see New York City from above in comfort and style!

Altitude is determined by air traffic control and is between 1,500 ft and 2,000 ft.

Gift cards are valid for the exact amount specified on the card at the time of purchase.

HeliNY gift cards can be redeemed for any of our NYC helicopter tours departing from:

• Downtown Manhattan Heliport
• Linden, New Jersey Heliport