I hate doing touristy things, but sometimes you just gotta suck it up and enjoy it. We took the New Yorker tour out of the downtown Manhattan Heliport (on Pier 6 above the Battery along the East River). For a 20 minute ride it's pricey (around $150 per person), but totally worth it. Granted you get a lot of the same view from most any flight leaving La Guardia, but it's completely different in a slow moving helicopter hovering just above the city. The New Yorker tour takes you around the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island and then past Ground Zero up the Hudson to a little further north than the USS Intrepid. Then you turn around and head back to lower Manhattan. We were lucky to have a totally clear day so all of Manhattan and its iconic landmarks were clearly visible. On one hand it would have been great to circle all of Manhattan, but on the other, retracing your route allows passengers on both sides of the helicopter to take turns having unobstructed views. For as much use as they get, the helicopters were clean, airy (smelled fresh... in NYC during August with hundreds of sweaty tourists flying before you, this is obviously a good thing), and in beautiful condition. One advantage I saw with this company over the other tour operators flying out of the Downtown Heliport was the seating configuration of the helicopters used. This company's aircraft seat 6 (including the pilot). Four passengers in the rear (two facing forward, two facing backward, but all four window seats) and then 1 passenger up front next to the pilot. I don't know for 100% fact, but it appeared the other company's helicopters sat 6 as well, but all in back so two people were stuck in center seats. The helicopter designs also vary by company and the HeliNY Tours appeared to have much larger windows. There's also no use calling "shot gun" or trying to be the first one out to the landing pad to score the seat of your choice. They will assign you a seat according to weight to help keep balance (I'm assuming). There were three of us and we were grouped with an Italian couple so don't expect a private tour. Each rider is also equipped with headphones and a microphone to soften the noise, but also so the pilot can speak to you. The pilot's do point out things of interest, but it's not overly done or annoying. Mostly he/she is speaking with ground control. You can hear their conversations so remember when you talk, everyone else will hear you too. Careful with the four letter words. I'd definitely recommend reservations. My building's concierge really had to pull some strings to get us on a tour the day we wanted. Before making your reservation, make sure to read all the fine print. Cancellations due to your plans or the weather are clearly outlined and for the most part there are no refunds. My only complaint was the wait. Even though we had reservations, we ended up having to wait for over an hour. One late tour earlier in the day will muck it up for everyone else that comes after. Also, you have to watch a safety video and listen to their spiel which takes a lot of time. Don't expect to be in and out in 25 minutes. It was a great time though and I'd definitely do it again. Highly recommended. read more

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Great experience for my girlfriends birthday! It was a Wednesday afternoon flight with clear skies. We were made comfortable and safe with the personnel and safety video. Very professional and clean facility and aircraft. We were up in the air a little earlier than scheduled which was fine with us. It's pricey for a 20 min ride but this is also New York City! It doesn't get better... Looking forward to an evening flight for the next time. Thank you! read more

As many other people have confirmed this is a great trip. And I do recommend it as well. The views were great and the pilot was very nice. We did however have to wait an hour and a half for the helicopter since the company requires you to be there 45 minutes in advance (with no evident reason why), and then the helicopter was 35 minutes late. It was cold in the terminal, plus there was no indication of signs of where the company is when getting off the ferry. (apparently the signs were taken down after Hurricane Sandy - but an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper with their name on it would have sufficed!). It was unfortunate that the helicopter was late because as we waited the sun had already set, ruining the exact purpose of choosing the time we had chosen. It's a lot of money to spend for a royal screw up. Disappointed. read more

I think every New Yorker should do this at least once. The views are INCREDIBLE!! It's really a different way to see Manhattan. I know every New Yorker can't be bothered to do the tourist thing but this is sooo worth it!! My best friend and I were looking to experience NY in a new way. So we found this and I reserved a flight. Granted it's not cheap but I found it more reasonable than the other helicopter tour companies. I paid $179 + fees = $181pp for the Ultimate Tour (15 - 20 minutes). My research showed that the same amount of time in the air would cost me $200+pp for other companies. The staff of Helicopter Flight Services is great as well. They're very professional and they make you feel safe and since I'm a big scaredy cat, this was very reassuring. Seriously, splurge and do it. You won't regret it. read more

Love it. Safe, professional and private Lift off in 30 for a fun weekend! Thank u all!!! read more

If you're going to do this, don't try and skimp and save at every corner, go all-the-fuck in. Get the top package, treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and savor every moment of it. There are very few cities on the planet that are worth this, but NYC is one of them. I am writing this two years on from when I took the trip and I still think fondly back on it today. We got the full package that took you up the Hudson and around Yankee stadium, then back down to loop the statue of liberty and then over the verrazano and coney island. Was it pricey? Yep. But it was worth every single fucking penny. Anyone who rates this as anything less than five stars must live a life of drugs, rock 'n' roll, and Playboy bunnies. read more

HeliNY Helicopter tours is located at the Paulus Hook Pier in the Exchange Place area of Jersey City. They may have more than one location. I had a 1pm appointment and was asked to arrive fifteen minutes earlier. I checked in and waited. By the time I was on the helicopter, it was about 1:20pm. There were two other pairs of people waiting for the Hudson River tour. I came alone. When the helicopter arrived, myself and the other couples (four women total) headed over to the chopper. I was excited, yet nervous. I'm afraid of heights, but its not as bad as when I was younger. Anyways, one of the staff members, for HeliNY,helped each one of us into the chopper. I was last. I thought I was going to be in the back with the other girls but I was told to sit in the front. Sweet! One of the perks of traveling/having fun alone. We were buckled in then braced for take off. I had great views of the Statue of Liberty, Hudson River, Ellis Island, NYC, Jersey City and Hoboken. Overall, the tour was great. My heart fell into my stomach a couple of times when the pilot would make turns but it wasn't so bad. The weather was great, the skies were clear, and I had a great time. I take one star off because they started late, the tour felt short and while the pilot was talking to us through our headsets, I could barely hear him. I would love to take another tour at night. read more

This is the Greyhound Bus of helicopter tour companies. If you've taken a lot of helicopter flights in other places you know that what you get is much more than can be provided in Manhattan. You can't fault them as they're operating within the unique constraints of NYC. We bought the longer flight and since there was a game at Yankee Stadium they couldn't fly us over it and instead SAID they'd fly us over Harlem instead. But they actually went the other direction and flew south to Staten Island. Yuck! It's as ugly from the air as from the ground. In summary do the flight because it's nice to see downtown to midtown but don't expect a VIP service. read more

HeliNY - Lower Manhattan - Aerial Tours Near Me - New York, New York

I surprised my boyfriend with the 18-20 min tour for his birthday! What a fantastic experience! We both adore NY and have lived in or just outside the city for our whole lives. It was fantastic to see it from a brand new perspective. Plus, how fun are those headsets! Needless to say the photo opportunities were endless. Unfortunately, the copter itself wasn't air conditioned (I'm not sure I've ever typed such a snooty sounding sentence. gross) and despite taking dramamine ahead of time, I got sick. This was no fault of the pilot's. I'm confident the ride was as smooth as it could be... just apparently not smooth enough for me. The pilot and the crew on the ground were all super nice, but the 18 minute ride option was long enough. If you've got the bucks and a strong stomach, I highly recommend HeliNy. The $35 souvenir photo on the other hand... eh. read more

I took this tour last Summer which was great, I love it getting to see the view from the top of Manhattan, and if you think you seem it all taken the flight coming in to JFK or LGA or EWR, you're wrong, the helicopter tour will takes you to places you never seen before through out Manhattan from downtown, midtown and uptown, they're few helicopter flight services here in Manhattan, some are located on the West side of the Heliport and this here is located in Downtown by the Seaport, I will recommend this company, and the reason why is because of the design of their helicopter, the side of their helicopter windows designed from top to the bottom as you can google it online and see the photos, and others helicopter companies their helicopters are only have a small window's, so if you're booking this company, you are getting a better deal, and better views, I think they runs around $150 to $200 per person, depending on the package you book, they can be from 10 to 12 minutes to 19 to 21 minutes, and they're also longer time too, and of course with higher price. The only down side about this tour is, after 9/11, they do not allow the Helicopter to fly over Manhattan, only the side of Manhattan like on top of the Hudson River and the East River, I would love to fly over the Empire State Building, that will be awesome, and...no thanks to the people that got nothing to do and sitting there all day thinking about how to bomb people, always......that 1 person screwed up for everybody For travelers, I will highly recommend this tour, you seen it on tv, and you seen it on picture, now see it live with your own eyes, you're going to love it. For New Yorker, just do it :-) read more

My helicopter pilot boyfriend noticed all the helicopters from our ferry ride and upon touching land, immediately set out to find the pads. Walking towards the helicopters we meet a guy who was selling the rides. The turn around was quick! They stuck a flotation device around us and off to the helicopter we went. We did a 15 min ride around Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. He was super excited and had a great time. Price was high for my tastes, but worth the splurge once in a lifetime. read more

First, the flight was great. That would get a 5. Pilot was from Nepal and we flew a very modern Eurocopter. Quick but fun and very good info from the pilot. Staff on the ground is aloof. That would get a 2. Bryan selling the iPhoto's is cocky and confrontational. (Ask him why - he says "cause I'm from Jersey!") Very unprofessional for the price of the tour. read more

Worth every penny you spend on it. Its expensive bcause its a helicopter, not a subway... So stop moaning (like I did when I paid the money) and enjoy the gorgeous ride... read more

The service was professional, safe, and legitimate. However I thought it didn't last very long and wasn't a great value. I know fuel prices/maintenance costs a lot, but I'm not convinced that it needed to be as expensive as it was. Also, I'm pretty sure people pay different amounts for the same ticket to ride, so hopefully you will be able to not pay an unnecessarily higher price. Just do some research online, and compare it with what the street sales force is selling tickets for. read more

Decided to try my chances at a helicopter ride(being kind of afraid of choppers...) I got to say, the helicopter is extremely nice, with very large windows and a solid feel(unlike others that I have ridden in the past) The pilot was seasoned and gave me confidence... The process can take long, we did not have reservations and as such, it took about 1 15 minutes for the 15 minute ride. The only reason it's not a 5 is really the price. It's 170 per person plus extras (photo's) etc... It was well worth it, especially since it's been approx. 20 years since I last rode...hope to do it again 20 years from now! read more

Was a great experience! Made the trip even more special! Everyone was friendly and easy to work with.

Amazing! My boyfriend and I took the Ultimate tour today.despite being a little cloudy the views were well worth the price! The staff were all very nice and helpful, making sure we were all comfortable, safe and informed about what was happening! The pilot pointed out all the main sites to us on the way. Windows are huge and really clean so only a few of our photos have reflections in them. Overall well worth the splurge, so glad we did and will be back next time for sure! read more

The flight is great, you can get the best view of NYC. But I'm disappointed with the attitude of the staff except the pilot. They behaved like I was owing them 500 bucks. read more

HeliNY - Great view of Manhattan. - Aerial Tours Near Me - New York, New York

Absolutely amazing experience wonderful staff clean helicopters clean waiting area I would definitely come back but it's more of a one-time experience read more

We cannot say enough great things about this experience. The staff at the location was amazing (we were upgraded to a 30 minute tour even though we had booked a 20 minute tour). It is an incredible way to see New York City. Stan Madray and Sameer Nurani read more

Great Tour. Coming in with my grandma comes with difficulties, but the flight crew was more than accommodating! The pilot was professional and funny. The helicopter was clean, sleek and luxurious. Would highly recommend! read more

If you are looking to see NY from above, I highly recommend Helicopter Flight Services at Pier 6. Safe, reliable and affordable. What a great ride! Thank you! read more

I did this during my NY vacation trip with my 2 kids. I can tell you this beats any skyscraper view. 100% worth every penny. The views are spectacular. The staff were all very knowledgeable and welcoming. My kids enjoyed the flight. I would highly recommend HeliNY for this tour since they had the best price in town! read more

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This helicopter tour was a disappointment. Although the ground staff were friendly and organized, our pilot was terrible. During the 30 minute ride, he didn't greet us or make us feel welcome. Instead, he seemed distant and bored, as if he couldn't wait for the ride to end. The few times he pointed out a landmark, it was so fast and barely audible that we couldn't understand him. I bought this tour for my boyfriend's birthday and, at this price, was hoping it would be special. Although the views were lovely, the experience was a big let down for both of us. read more

The bf surprised me with a helicopter ride for my birthday last year and I absolutely loved it. My birthday is at the end of August and it was such a great time to go. The weather was great and the skies were clear. When we got to Heliport there was a problem with the reservation but the staff was very accommodating. Before you get in a helicopter, they play you a safety video and give you a little life vest thing for safety precautions. When the helicopter took off I felt kinda sick, so I would definitely recommend not eating something before as I'm sure that would have made me feel worse. We took plenty of cool pictures once we were up there. My bfs camera had way better shots than the ones I took with my phone, so I would also recommend bringing a camera and not relying on your phone. It honestly doesn't matter what side you sit on because the helicopter goes around the city in a circle. We were on the left side so first we saw the NJ side and then when we turned around we saw the NY side. Everything was so beautiful and you really appreciate the city while feeling like an ant at the same time. It's not something that's just for tourists. It was beautiful and fun! read more

We booked a 15 minutes tour via Groupon, for 129$ each, and we paid a 20$ helicopter fee each, at arrival. One picture was offered with the groupon deal. Pros: The tour was nice, we saw the statue of liberty, brooklyn, central park, empire state building. The staff was nice and professionnal. It was our first helicopter tour, we felt safe and enjoyed our flight. Windows are very large and the helico was confortable. They were a lot of possibilities to book your tour, so flexible. Cons: the helicopter unfortunately can't go over the city, so you'll only see Manhattan from its side, not from above. They choose your spot for you in the helicopter, without telling you why, so I was sitting in the middle. A bit disappointing.... Also, at the end, they offered us to buy the pictures, but didn't gave us our groupon included one...! The printed picture is 20$, the digital version is 30$. It is not cheap, it should have been offered, as mentionned in the deal!!! read more

This was an absolutely flawless experience. I went with my dad and we got the 20 minute tour that went over Yankee Stadium (only available on non-game days.) All the tours fly kinda around the Statue of Liberty (but pretty close to it) and near the Freedom Tower. My tour did actually go over buildings but I believe that is only available for the 20 minute or 30 minute tour. (20 minute was about 200 per person I think after fees but worth it) You have about a one in seven chance of sitting next to the pilot up front, luckily I was chosen to sit up there. It is all chosen by weight, my dad is only 3 pounds different than me and they picked me to sit up front, so don't lie about your weight! (I guess they want to evenly distribute the weight of the passengers) Our pilot was very informative and joked around and made the whole thing fun. I plan on going on another tour again later in the fall or winter so that I can see the city at night (last flight time I believe is 5pm) Generally you want to pick a clear day for a better view. On a side note, I originally chose this company because of the giant windows, and they weren't kidding. It is like these choppers were built specifically for giant windows that have a great view. I don't think any of the other helicopter places had nearly as big windows. I know this may seem expensive, but it is worth it, you don't get this experience too often, and I highly recommend the 20 minute tour which is about 200 per person, the 12 minute ride seems too short and you see a lot less. I think the 12 minute ride is $140 per person, but I believe you do not fly over residential areas like you do in the 20 minute tour. read more

Perfect!!! The bf surprised me and it was awesome. Everything on their end was smooth and organized. The pilot/crew were all nice. Great information on the tour with the best views of NYC. Such a great experience with HeliNY! Def worth it!! read more

Had a great experience with this helicopter touring agency. I had a 3:30 flight and was told to arrive at 3:00 for the flight safety and instructions course. I wound up getting stuck in a ton of traffic on the way and arrived late for my flight. They accommodated me and my girlfriend for a 4:00 flight. The view was great and the pilot was very good. I am deathly afraid of heights but was extremely excited and happy being up in the sky. I would definitely do it again. read more

Reserving the flight was a flawless process. The staff was great, the ride itself was awesome, and our pilot was a delight to ride with. It is very expensive, but their prices seem comparable to all the other companies. For me, it was worth it to book the deluxe ride. If you're going to spend $200 for 15 minutes, you may as well spend $300 for a full 30 minutes instead. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I say this is a time to splurge on the deluxe package if at all possible. read more

I bought tickets with Adrenaline365 for a 20 minute tour of NYC, and it was perfect. I arrived when they asked, I immediately skipped a long line and was instantly put into a life saver and stood in a gated line to watch a video. We then soon was greeted by our tour manager, and walked to the beautiful helicopter with gorgeous windows. Took our picture, got in. The inside is amazingly large and it was the smoothest ride I have ever had in the air. Our director was funny, we all had little chats on the headsets. It was awesome. So Happy. so much fun, for anyone!!! ITS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE! read more

Excellent, professional and friendly service. We booked this trip as part of our surprise trip to NYC for our daughter's 16th birthday. As we only had two days in the city and a very long list of things we wanted to see and experience, this offered us a great solution. When it comes to aircraft, aviation and safety, you get what you pay for - this is not a place to penny-pinch. The pilot was professional and knowledgable, a very good and informative tour guide and a very smooth ride as well. All things said, I would certainly do it again and recommend Helicopter Flight Services to family and friends. If you have never experienced a helicopter ride before, it's one of the things that should be added to everyones "bucket list." read more

The entire experience was amazing! Floyd was our pilot with 30 years of experience and made us all feel so comfortable. He was very conversational and made the tour really special. The best company, we highly recommend! The Sullivan Family read more

Dear Smart Tourist: A MUST-SEE TOUR EXPERIENCE EVERYONE MUST DO!: Helicopter Flight Services, Inc ( HeliNY ). I'm a New Yorker and I found this to have unique and extraordinary views of NYC at a great value. This HeliNY helicopter tour is a perfect 25-30 minutes - an easy tour add-on for anyone on holiday - travels all NYC beginning at the southern tip: Hudson River, Battery Park, Financial District, East River, Oculus, 9/11 Museum & Memorial, and One World Trade Center. Seeing NYC in this way takes on a new meaning, and this coming from someone who has been coming to NY since childhood. Continuing, one sees Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge and Governors Island, Ellis Island, Verrazano Bridge, and Statue of Liberty. I saw magnificent aerial views going as far as the eye could see. Additionally along the tour I saw: The High Line park, Chelsea Piers, Central Park, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Intrepid Sea & Space Museum, Brooklyn, and New Jersey!! The tour took me all the way up to northern Manhattan; George Washington Bridge, Yankee Stadium, The Cloisters, Columbia University! It all felt like a private viewing, just me and all of NYC! HeliNY was super easy to get to and to find. From Grand Central Station, I simply took subway 4/5 to Bowling Green (from 42nd Street my friend, Timothy, has taken subway 2/3 to Wall Street, which gets you to HeliNY, too). (It's next to the Statin Island Ferry at Pier 6.) I was impressed with the amazing staff at HeliNY. They made the adventure fun, interesting, and pleasant. Safety is so important to me, so when the articulate crew gave us direction and a short video played, this answered all my questions. I felt confident and excited to begin! The HeliNY helicopters are impressive machines with enormous, unobstructed windows and 180 degree views! Inside, the cabin, was roomy & comfortable - The professional crew buckled me up, put on the Bose headphones to lessen any unwanted noises and to listen to the live tour guide. We were now ready to take flight. The lift-off was slow, gentle, comfortable, and super smooth. The internal air temperature was comfortable, too! HeliNY is absolutely the best method to see the glory of NYC: history, present, future through architecture, massive scope and the breathtaking beauty! I will be recommending the HeliNY helicopter tour to all my friends and family because of everything stated above and its excellent value. HeliNY provided an awesome tour experience and created memories to last a lifetime. Tickets go fast, so, save time! My suggestion: Buy tickets on the website (www.heliNY.com). -SR read more

I took their flight out of Linden, NJ. The folks at the desk were simply awesome, so was the person on the phone for reservations! The ~30min ride was breathtaking. Everything went very smoothly. I'm coming back with my parents! read more

We were "greeted" by a guy with a lousy attitude and my heart sank but he turned out to work for the company sharing the location and was not a Flight Services rep. Phew. Our guys were wonderful. So friendly, polite and hard working. We shared the chopper with 2 other couples. Our pilot was friendly and pointed out landmarks. Flight time was 30 mins and we didn't feel too rushed. I'd definitely recommend this company for its friendliness. We're locals... read more

Did the 20 minute tour and got to see all the places I didn't get to while on foot in the city. This is definitely must do for someone who likes to check that box. The crews were efficient and friendly. read more

The rides aren't worth the money; on a cloudy day, the helicopter went so low we couldn't see the tops of the buildings. It was supposed to be 15 minutes, it was closer to 12 minutes - the pictures didn't come out very well. I saw the city much better on a bus tour. read more

Imagine living right off of the Hudson river, across from New York City, 1 mile south of the George Washington Bridge. Sounds nice, right? Ever since these tour helicopters have been flying up the Hudson river it has been madness. I have been in contact with this company many times. The reason for my calling them is because their pilots fly the aircraft at one third of the altitude that is set by the FAA. If you do not call them every day and tell them to tell their pilots to get the aircraft up to where they are supposed to be, your whole day is ruined by helicopter noise. Next time that you go on your helicopter tour, think of all the people that are being driven nuts just because they live near the Hudson river. read more

I came here with an asthmatic friend. We were about to board when he had a full on attack. The pilot, the photographer, the tarmac guys all rushed to his aid. They were so sincere and wonderful. Many many thanks to Bryan and Jose. We will be coming back, and bringing our friends. We can't wait to go again. read more