Choosing a helicopter flying gift can be a confusing experience. Even though you will almost certainly know someone who would love to fly in a helicopter, it can be difficult to work out which flying gift is most suitable from all of the different offers out there.
The many special offers available online from a whole range of third party companies can be confusing and you will inevitably worry whether the gift you’re buying will be as good as you hope or whether the gift comes with a bunch of terms and conditions hidden away in the small print. You may also have lots of other questions, some of which are hard to find answers to.
For example, we are often asked why do some helicopter gift flights seen elsewhere seem really cheap, while others appear quite expensive?
To help you decide, we’ve put together this check list to help you choose the perfect helicopter flying gift for that person who you know will just love to fly in the skies over Yorkshire. Use our check list below to help you work out the best helicopter flying gift that they are sure to remember for years to come.
1. Are they a passenger or are they a secret wanna-be pilot?
Many people are happy simply to experience the freedom of flying by helicopter on a pleasure flight. Others may hold a secret – or not so secret – ambition to actually fly and become a helicopter pilot. For those who wish to investigate more about what it’s actually like to take the controls alongside an instructor, a trial helicopter lesson flight is a great idea. And for those who prefer to be chauffeured in the air, a pleasure flight for one or for a group of people makes lots of sense.
2. Are you buying for a single person, or would you like a helicopter gift for the family?
Our Robinson R44 helicopters can take three passengers on each flight. It may well be that your budget only covers a single person, or are you thinking of a flight for everyone? Our helicopter flights for up to three people are a great way to share the beautiful views of a helicopter flight over Yorkshire. Our ‘adventure’ flights are for single seats on shared flights and take place from specific locations on set dates.
3. Where do they live and how far to travel?
In case you hadn’t noticed, we are based in Yorkshire! And it’s a pretty big place, the largest county in England in fact. So if you’re buying a flying gift for someone outside of the county, don’t forget they may have a journey to undertake to reach us. Our base at Walton Wood airfield, just off the A1, is a great place for helicopter flying, with no air traffic restrictions we simply climb aboard and fly. We’re also easy to reach from all areas of Yorkshire and we often operate from other locations through the area too..
4. Are you booking direct or through a gift certificate agency?
If you are going crazy on Google looking through page after page of helicopter gifts, it can be really hard to work out who is actually conducting the final helicopter flight. Booking with Yorkshire Helicopters means that you are dealing directly with the team you will be flying with, with the exception of the adventure flights which we sell on behalf of ‘Adventure 001’. Any changes or queries in relation to your booking that you may need to make are very easy to do, a quick email or phone call is all it takes with no hidden fees. Plus you have the satisfaction of supporting a local business here in Yorkshire.
5. Why do some helicopter gift flights I see at some places online seem really cheap, while others appear quite expensive?
Comparing flights can be a complicated business and prices can vary. For example, some flights are for single passengers on a shared flight and can only be redeemed on specific dates, these are great flights if you are on a tighter budget. Most of our flights, with the exception of our ‘adventure’ rides are for up to 3 people in one of our R44 helicopters and can be booked in to suit you subject to availability. Make sure you have looked at the flight details carefully to check how many people can fly and for how long the flight lasts.
6. How long will the voucher be valid for?
All Yorkshire Helicopters gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the point of sale. This means that whoever the lucky recipient is, they have a full year to choose the best time to fly.
7. What restrictions may there be on the voucher?
This is where reading the full details of any offer you see is important. If you are comparing prices and vouchers, it pays to check the validity period, whether there are any restrictions such as weekdays only or any other things that can make it hard to actually get to undertake your flight. We don’t place any restrictions on weekdays or weekends for using the voucher you buy from us.
8. What if I need to change the name of the recipient?
Some helicopter pleasure flight companies charge extra for this. If the unforeseen happens and you need to change the details, we make it particularly easy. When you purchase a gift voucher from Yorkshire Helicopters, you don’t have to specify a name at the point of buying. We know that plans change, so you can add those details later or simply tell us who is flying when you actually book your flight.
9. I’m worried about safety, how can I be sure it’s OK?
Aviation actually has a very good safety record and while it may seem that helicopters fly as if by magic, in fact they fly using aerodynamic principles just like fixed wing aircraft. And just like any other reputable and certified operator, our helicopters are maintained to strict standards that we must comply with at all times. It’s normal to feel nervous if you’re flying in a helicopter for the first time, however we find that once you arrive at our airfield and learn a little more about helicopters, your nerves will turn into excitement at the prospect of flying with such a wonderful view.
10. Can I use the flight on a special occasion?
This is something we love doing. If have a special reason to go flying this always adds to the fun and excitement. For those extra special times, you can upgrade your flight with a luxury hamper provided by our friends at the Little Yorkshire Hamper Company.
We hope this helps you find that perfect gift. To help you along a little further, here’s a link to the top three most popular gifts that we sell all year round.
And if you have a particular idea for a flight that isn’t covered here, please feel free to drop us a line using the contact form.
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