Can anyone fly in a hot air balloon?
In order to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone who flies, passengers must be satisfied they are physically able to take part in the experience.
This means that they can climb in and out over the sides of the basket (which is about 42 inches or 1.1m high), stand unassisted for an hour and be able to bend your knees to take the seated landing position.
Passengers must also be able to fully understand and follow all instructions given by the pilot and react quickly to them in the unlikely event of an emergency.
Under Civil Aviation Law, the balloon pilot has a duty of care for all passengers and, ultimately, it is the pilot's decision if someone is able to safely participate on the day.
Age Restrictions
Children must be aged seven or over and at least 4ft 6in (1.4m) tall, with children under the age of 16 accompanied by a responsible adult.
Weight Restrictions
We know that our passengers come in all shapes and sizes but due to weight and space restrictions of hot air balloons and baskets, anyone who is 20 stone or more will be required to pay a supplement.
This is also the case for anyone who is over 18 stone and under 6ft tall. You can call our customer service team on 01952 212750 to discuss this before booking and they will be happy to explain our policy in more detail.
Can I fly if I'm pregnant?
Unfortunately, for safety reasons we are unable to fly women who are pregnant.
However, if you become pregnant when you already have a voucher, we will extend the validity of your vouchers by 12 months from your projected due date.
All you need to do is contact us and provide us a copy of your MAT B1 form, which you will receive from your midwife.
Can I fly if I have a disability or medical condition?
We make every effort to ensure people with disabilities or medical conditions have the opportunity to participate in balloon flights with us wherever it is possible and safe to do so.
However, you must not fly if you are suffering from any significant disability, medical condition, or if you have recently undergone major surgery.
As everyone’s particular situation is different and some disabilities present greater challenges than others in the unique context of ballooning, we require you to tell us about any disability, medical or physical condition before purchasing a flight voucher or booking a flight. This is so we can best advise you, consider any necessary arrangements to accommodate you if we can safely do so, and to ensure we fully attend to our duty of care for all passengers’ safety.
Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we are unable to fly anyone who requires a wheelchair.
Our customer service team can provide information about disabled facilities at specific launch sites on request.
Ultimately, if you have any concerns regarding whether you are fit to fly, we do advise you to contact your GP. We may request a certificate of fitness to fly from a doctor or specialist to allow you to book.