I couldn’t imagine a more surreal and romantic way to experience the greatest city in America than by flying over it in a helicopter.

There were a ton of firsts for me during my recent trip to New York City.

For starters, it was my FIRST time in the Big Apple. It also happened to be my first time in a helicopter.

Despite my frequent departures on commercial aircraft, nothing compares to the thrill of a Helicopter ride.

It’s smaller, flies lower, and has floor to ceiling windows.

For the first time, I truly felt like I was flying.

With so many helicopter tours in NYC available, you would think it would be difficult to decide on one, however, that was not the case.

Before beginning the search, I had a few musts on my Helicopter Tour list:

1. Must have large windows to ensure maximum views

2. The longer the flight the better

3. Can’t cost an arm and a leg

As soon as we (my boyfriend and I) came across HeliNY, we knew it was the one!

Here’s my experience flying over NYC on a helicopter tour with HeliNY.

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What to Expect on a Helicopter Ride

Turbulence: If you are prone to motion sickness, take a Dramamine beforehand. 

Unless you are booking an open-door helicopter ride then you will only be able to take photos through the helicopter windows.

Honestly, they are so big you won’t have a problem. Keep your camera at a wide depth of field to capture clear details. Yes, you will need your own camera.

Noise Levels: Don’t expect to be chatting with other passengers so easily. It’s rather loud during the flight. You will have to wear a headset for when the pilot talks.

You can all talk and hear each other on the headset, but as I mentioned, this is a tour and the pilot will be doing most of the talking.

Don’t expect to get a window seat on a large tour. The tour I was on had three to a row, which meant someone was out of window seat luck.

That’s something to keep in mind when choosing the right tour. More on that to come in a bit.

What to Wear on Your Flight

Fitted Clothing: If you’re wearing a ton of layers you might get uncomfortable after being restrained in your seat belt.

Warmish Attire: I wore a long sleeve flannel over my tee and was completely fine. You want to be warm and comfortable.

There’s one exception to this rule. If you are flying in the winter months, you will get colder than usual during the flight. Some gloves and jacket will be needed.

Dark clothing: Since you will be shooting through a glass window, you’re prone to REFLECTIONS! If you’re wearing bright, colorful clothes it will stand out in your photos.

Picking the Best Heliny Tour

The booking process was easy-peasy.

They have a wonderful website that makes finding information about the flight available with comparison tools and prices.

They even go as far as introducing you to their fleet.

You can read about all their different helicopters and what they each offer from safety features to maintenance.

They had plenty of flight times available throughout the day with the ability to change booking times if needed.

HeliNY offers 4 different tours – each one giving you a different experience.

The New Yorker Tour:

Lower end around $215 with a 15-minute flight duration

If you want to basically go up and come down this tour is for you.

Although I feel 15 minutes is a waste of money.

My con with this package is the short flight time.

The Ultimate Tour:

Moderate end around $260 per person with a 20-minute flight duration.

In my opinion, this is a little better. You get 20 minutes of flight time for not that much more.

If you’re coming all this way, might as well get your monies worth.

The Deluxe Tour:

High end around $350 with a 30-minute flight duration.

I’ll admit we splurged on this first time experience. Totally worth it.

We saw everything and never felt like it ended too soon. Perfect amount of flight time.

VIP Air & Sea Tour:

$250 New Yorker Tour + 1-hour harbor cruise

This is a great deal if you are looking to experience NYC from both the air and water.

I was shopping for an air experience which is why I passed on this.

Word of advice:

From what I can tell, they are always running specials and discounted rates.

Keep an eye out for deals before booking, or give them a call. Don’t prematurely book without asking for deals first.

Groupon has been known to offer discounts for them too.

Pre-flight

Before boarding, they had us throw any excess items in a secured locker.

From there we lined up and went over the safety procedures.

At this moment, I had butterflies in my stomach.

My boyfriend and I laughed at the fact we have been on so many airplanes but suddenly found ourselves a little nervous for a helicopter tour.

Once we walked outside, we were instructed to follow the specific walkway. Honestly, you wouldn’t want to stray from it anyways.

The propellers are so big, so intimidating.

The final step before boarding was getting our picture taken from one of the workers, which brings me to my only con.

They will not let you take your own picture outside the helicopter. I find it to be a little ridiculous.

After all, we are spending hundreds of dollars to be here, and you won’t let us snap a photo.

Instead, they charge a hefty $25 for a photo. C’mon.

However, all was forgotten the moment I boarded.

The Flight Experience

Now for the juicy details. The actual flight experience!

I was a little nervous when we were taking off.

Not only could I feel every movement as we lifted off, but I could also see right below my feet.

Then again that’s what we were hoping for. 

Once in the air, the pilot got everyone acquainted with each other and began the tour.

Flying over each borough (Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island) that makeup NYC, the pilot shared fun facts and history for each.

He did so in a comical fashion making it that much better.

I couldn’t think of a better way to learn about New York City while capturing some amazing photos! Overall the flight was smooth sailing, but remember. . . . If you are prone to motion sickness, take a Dramamine beforehand. 

If you are planning to visit NYC, book your helicopter tour with HeliNY.

Psst. . . Looking for more THRILLING adventures? Check out these posts:

• Iceland 7-Day Road Trip: Journey Through the Land of Fire & Ice

• The Absolute Best Islands in Thailand for Backpackers to Visit

• One Week in Chiang Mai, Thailand: Daily Itinerary & Cost Breakdown

Have you ever been in a Helicopter? Share your experience in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission (at no cost to you) when you purchase through these links, which helps me keep my lights on and order pizza from Dominos! I am extremely grateful. Thank you.

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