What a memorable, bucket list adventure! Booking was easy and the knowledgable and friendly staff helped me decide on a morning vs afternoon ride. Apparently, the morning rides are more predictable and get cancelled less frequently but since we were local and could easily reschedule we opted for the sunset ride. We met at Deer Valley airport and took a shuttle to the launch site. The entire experience from arrival to departure is about 4 hours with an hour or so of flight time, about an hour post flight with champagne, snacks and watching the sun set (this is done after the flight and not in the air) and the remaining time spent driving to/from launch landing site and inflating and deflating the balloon. Our pilot was Johnathan and he was super knowledgable and friendly and made the flight fun. We had 6 and 7 year old kiddos in our party with LOTS of questions and he was great with them. The company had good covid precautions and our group of 4 flew on one side of the basket and another party of 6 flew on the other side. While I was a bit nervous at first, once up in the air it was nothing short of exceptional. read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We did a private balloon ride this past Friday. Met at the airport by Josh who took us to the first spot. We ended up going to three spots before we found the perfect spot to launch the balloon. This was part of the adventure, with seeing how they check the wind speed, to speeding off to the other spots...all to make sure it was safe to launch and give us the best experience. Our pilot Mark E, and Josh made sure that we had an awesome flight! A definite do again with this company! read more

One of the best things I have done in awhile... We met up at Deer Valley Airport, they had some shuttle vans waiting, we drove up north (off I-17) and proceeded to help fill our balloon with hot air... then we drifted peacefully over the desert at sunset only to land and be greeted with Champagne and snacks. Nice guys, very professional. Felt safe at every moment :) Only downside is the price (about $200 ea) and that 14 people ride in one basket (in four separate compartments). ***They will pick you up at any area hotel too :) http://www.hotairexpeditions.com/ read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We had a really fun time. I've always wanted to ride a balloon and it was perfect weather to do so. The crew was acceptable. The pilot was very verbally abusive to a new team member of the flight crew which made it a little uncomfortable. And the driver of the van didn't seem to be very safe in his driving with 12 other people on the van with him. He was really speeding at one point. (Over 80 mph). Watching the process of the balloons inflating and the set up was intriguing. The flight crew worked extremely hard to set up our breakfast which was also very good. Would recommend to others to go and enjoy! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

An amazing experience! Great service if this is something you have on your bucket list then this is the perfect place to book with!

I loved my experience with Hot Air Expeditions. I went in November on a nice and crisp morning. Our pilot was full of jokes, but educated us through the whole process. One guy got super afraid of the heights, and the pilot let him add more fuel to our balloon in an effort to calm him down. Personally, I felt like I was floating - I wasn't scared in the least. It's a beautiful and magical experience, topped off with a glass of champagne at the end. read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The staff took great care of us from the time we took off to landing. It was nice because one person in our group was a little nervous before the flight and the crew was very helpful in taking their mind off of being nervous. Our group was lucky that we were able to fly that morning. The captain said the weather conditions weren't exactly ideal, but if we didn't mind a shorter ride we could still go. Thank you so much for that! It was a calm and beautiful experience. I felt the captain was in control of the balloon the whole time and there was nothing to be scared of. The views are amazing in Arizona and a hot air balloon ride is a cool way to experience the Sonoran Desert. From where we started, we flew over mountains and could see Lake Pleasant! We saw lots of Saguaro catci and could almost peer into some basins where desert wildlife roam. I don't know why waited so long to try a hot air balloon ride, but one thing's for sure, I definitely would go up with Hot Air Expeditions again! read more

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I booked a hot air balloon ride to celebrate my wife's birthday. Knowing in advance that my wife is afraid of heights, I read a lot of reviews on yelp and trip advisor and was encouraged by the number of reviews written by people who were afraid of heights. They seem to enjoy the experience after all. I'm happy to announce that my wife had a blast and even said she would do it again! She never felt afraid or motion sickness. Our experience was consistent with most others reviewed here. The trip was flawless from beginning to end. The staff were fun and friendly. Water was offered to the passengers on board the flight. The flight itself was very smooth and relaxing. Following a very graceful landing, we enjoyed breakfast and Champagne. And the surprise was a cake, which they brought out for my wife's birthday. I would highly recommend this company to anyone considering a hot air balloon ride. Ask for Captain Patrick - he was great! read more

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Had the best experience with this hot air balloon ride my friend gifted me for Xmas! Captain Bill, Jim, Lisa and the rest of the crew were beyond terrific as well. Great ride followed by a gourmet breakfast and champagne toast with the crew & fellow passengers. They are thoroughly prepared, efficient and made our ride an experience we will remember forever. Felt very safe and was impressed with their COVID precautions as well. Highly recommend this company!!! read more

Thank you, Preston, for an early AM pick up at our hotel. It was a beautiful way to end a conference to go with our group to an amazing morning of the sun rising. Thank you, Captain Kyle, and Jesse for taking care of our group. All the best - Carrie read more

What a wonderful experience we had. My husband and I were blessed enough to be able to do this through our jobs - and we would 100% recommend it. We did the sunrise balloon ride. We were well informed about the entire process before we even loaded into the van to go to the launch location. The information that the pilot provides while up in the balloon is wonderful as well. We had a bit of a rough landing - to no fault of anyone but the wind and nature itself! The fact that the champagne breakfast basically magically appears was incredible. We enjoyed our time immensely - its definitely a must-do thing, whether you live here or are just visiting. Side note: I am absolutely terrified of heights - don't let it scare you away. Once you are up in the balloon, you can't really tell. Its hard to look straight down from the balloon basket - you only look out over the desert. Thank you so much for a wonderful time. read more

Thank You for organizing such a positive experience flying over Arizona desert, having fabulous breakfast at such a weird place and good memories! Team was very professional. Pilot, I forgot his name, was very knowledgeable. Shared good stories about area while flying in a sky. Champagne toast after successful ride was great! Got a certificate which was nice too. Strongly recommend this company for your future search! Cheers! read more

We have been hot air ballooning in California before, but Hot Air Expeditions did a superb job in Scottsdale. Ted picked us up from the Boulders. He was very kind and considerate. We picked up more passengers at Deer Valley Airport before heading to the take off site. Captain Al was our pilot, and he was excellent and took his job of helping us enjoy but keeping us safe as his first priority. He helped pre load folks who were less able to hop in when it was time to take off. Captain Al kept in constant communication with his fellow balloonists, and gave a very good narrative of the sights as well as the instrument gauges for safety. This balloon held 10 of us comfortably. He was very patient which was a challenge with one particularly loud individual. We wanted to jettison him from the balloon since he constantly bragged, bantered and made inane comments. I felt he was so full of hot air, he would have gently floated back to terra firma;) The landing was gentle and not the "controlled crash landing" we had in a previous flight. A very nice touch was the champagne breakfast they set up for us afterwards with a tasty quiche from Vincent's. The balloonist's prayer was the toast ~ a befitting end of a very nice tour. read more

This outfit is a class act. All of the staff we encountered were fun, friendly, and enthusiastic. They clearly enjoy their jobs and that always makes for a better experience. I'll be honest - I was pretty nervous about this adventure because I have an issue with heights. In fact, I intentionally didn't let myself think about this the entire week prior because I was convinced I would freak myself out. And strangely, it was okay. The only dicey part for me was right before we took off and the balloon started to lift slightly from the ground. The reality of the situation is a little startling but once we were up and away, I was oddly unaffected. (And I will note that I even tried to freak myself out. I purposely looked down at the ground and tried to guess the injury level if one were to jump. Still okay.) The ride is gentle and perhaps even relaxing. Remember seeing miniature landscapes under glass at a museum? It's a lot like that. At the conclusion of the ride, we were treated to appetizers and champagne. From beginning to end, it took about 3 and a half hours. I don't know that I would be compelled to do another ride in Arizona because as a local, the novelty of cacti and coyotes has worn off but if I had guests that wanted to do it, I would definitely book with this company. read more

I went on a balloon ride with Hot Air Expeditions for my birthday and it was an absolutely amazing experience. I really appreciate the staff for being so friendly and helpful. I flew to AZ from Chicago for the experience and it was well worth it. Walter was my pilot and he was great. He had a lot of knowledge of the area and explained the history of what we were flying over and seeing, as well as provided recommendations for other things to do when we landed. The crew provided breakfast and a birthday cake for us which was really sweet. I have nothing bad to say about this I recommend Hot Air Expeditions over the competitors. read more

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The company was very professional. My niece and nephew and an amazing time seeing the views of Phoenix from a balloon I do recommend for a fun and relaxing adventure. read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Great time with family - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Met our expectations and then some! Absolutely gorgeous morning views and our 4am pick-up wasn't nearly as bad as i had mentally prepared myself to experience! The driver was timely and he was engaging as we were driving out to the launch site. Tommy was the pilot, he was great! And the brunch after the trip was a nice touch after seeing the sunrise. They answered any questions we had with grace and enthusiasm. One person from our basket group was afraid of heights. They handled him well too. Afterwards I asked him what he thought and he said it wasn't nearly as bad as he has made it to be. Tips: don't load basket first. You'll get really close to the heat! Wear a cap if you can to protect your head fro the heat. Wear sunglasses too! It's super bright as the sun comes over the mountains! Also, get to know your neighbors as you are up there! Why not? Overall a fantastic experience, and fun crew. Def a bucket list item I can check off!! I'd love to do it again with our four teenagers next time! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - a well-run outfit. It's hard to say more about the wonderful experience than what has been said in other reviews. Everyone should do this at least once, and be of an age to appreciate the ride. My wife and I took a sunrise trip, as part of her Birthday celebration. We made some quick friends with our fellow travelers for the duration of the journey. I'm glad that I decided to travel in the big basket. Captain Tommy is great, obviously very skilled, knowledgeable and affable, probably unbeatable. The chase and ground crews are very efficient but let's not forget the staff that coordinates the flights. Such as booking, verifying the passengers for the manifest, hotel pickups and insuring everything that is needed for the great Champagne Breakfast. Each one of these operations needs to be done well, to insure that we all have a wonderful experience. My wife and I will never forget our first trip, and how wonderful it is to have chosen such a high quality professional company. You can't unlive the expedition so I'm glad this was a great one for my wife...and me. read more

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Amazing experience - highly recommend to any visitors in the area who want to fly up, up, and away! The flight crew is simply fabulous, kind and skilled at what they do. read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Very professionally run! Our pilot, Al was funny, informative & an awesome pilot! Take off and landing were both smooth and easy. I may have had a death grip on the handle for a while but never once doubted his ability! We ascended and descended often with lots of sights to see along the way. We saw a coyote and several jackrabbits. Plus an unexpected heard of cows in the middle of the desert! After we landed they not only had the customary glass of champagne but mimosas and breakfast as well!!?!! Great time and highly recommend!! read more

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Fantastic captain (Craig) and plenty of champagne. Also, I'm here to leave a review so there's that. read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Such a professional company and pilot! My group of 4 had an amazing time and would recommend this to everyone completely safe-don't hesitate read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I have always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride. Hot Air Balloon Expeditions was an excellent choice to fulfill this bucket list wish! From the first phone call to Anthony the crew chief and Craig, our pilot, they were friendly treated all the guests well. The ride is so smooth, I didn't know it would seem like we weren't even moving. And Captain Craig made a very smooth, easy landing. Great experience from start to finish! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Oh I thought I posted this but it saved as a draft...whoops. Ok, I did the first evening flight for the season back on October!! Everything was great from booking seamless, I got called the day before to ensure everything was set and I was able to schedule shuttle pick up! Shuttle was right on time, the ground crew and everyone was so knowledgeable and made the experience amazing! Just ensure you wear comfortable shoes and clothing and be prepared for how hot it gets in the basket! It's a minor inconvenience for you to enjoy your ride. Then we landed and had our champagne and Hour 'durvs which was amazing!!! I did this solo but everyone was very friendly..... If you're afraid of heights you have nothing to worry about, the flight is seamless and you're like a particle in the wind!!! read more

Hot Air Expeditions gave my boyfriend and I the most awesome experience ever!! For as long as I can remember I have always dreamt of going in a hot air balloon, the whole thing was just so fascinating to me. I was gifted this ride for my birthday and honestly it couldn't have been better. We had the best crew ever!! Jonothan, Jessica, Jaden and Joseph took the best care of our group. Jonothan is rad as hell and the perfect captain... Besides giving us the safest ride and landing, he made the whole experience more fun with his stories and great energy... Along with the rest of his crew. We enjoyed breakfast and got sang happy birthday. It was a great way to start our morning, definitely crossing this off my bucket list! I'd go a thousand more times just because of them! The views were spectacular and the weather was great. So grateful to Hot Air Expeditions for making this happen! If you're thinking of going up in the air... do it with them! read more

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I made a reservation for a sunrise flight for two in May 2017. We were told to meet at 5am, and were put into a van with eight other people (all couples) that would take us to the launch site. Two couples showed up late, around 5:15. There is no restroom at the meeting place and none at the launch site, but our driver kindly made a quick stop at a gas station. Unfortunately, it was too windy and our pilot decided to cancel. The driver took us back (no brunch for us) and everyone left, the time was around 6:30. Sunday morning was fully booked, so we weren't able to do any hot air ballooning this time. However, every employee we talked to was professional and kind, from the driver, the pilot, to the receptionists over the phone. Although you may have to leave a voicemail, I always received timely responses. If I were in Phoenix again, I'd try again at this company. read more

An amazing experience ! Thank you to Josh and to our Pilot Gary. Both were fun, friendly, and informative. I ask a lot of questions and Gary was terrific. We were comfortable and felt extremely safe the entire ride. I recommend asking for Gary to be your pilot , I can't imagine anyone else could do a better job at providing such excellent service while piloting a balloon with such ease! Thank you for the best Birthday experience I've had so far! read more

Thank you Kyle, Eric and everyone at Hot Air Expeditions you all made our morning ride the best experience ever. I did a private ride for a marriage proposal and I could not have been happier with how it went. Arizona is such a pretty state and from the air it will take your breath away. read more

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The company cancelled our ride 12 minutes before we were supposed to be there "due to weather"! TWELVE MINUTES! The weather was perfect, no rain in sight, a beautiful full moon to the west. What a disappointment- they lack communication, and when we called 2 minutes after we received the email, there was no answer. Unbelievable! read more

Highly recommended!!...Hot Air Expeditions company, Captain AL and Kyle made everything perfect for me and my son's (Miguel) first hot air balloon ride. We booked the sunset flight and we were fortunate enough to have the perfect weather and the perfect sunset. We ended up the perfect day with a champagne toast, big smiles in our faces and a great experience that we will forever treasure from this amazing company... read more

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Expensive, but so worth it! My husband and I took a sunrise flight to celebrate my 20th anniversary of my 21st birthday. Other than having to be at the airport by 6:30 am, it was great! Mike was our pilot (yes, they do have to get a pilot's license or "balloon driver license" as I called it). Prior to lifting off, he comically gave us the rundown on what to expect, especially at landing. An "A" landing is touching down like an elevator stop (not likely to happen today), a "B" landing is the basket skipping a few steps and a little bumpy (what we would most likely experience), and a "C" landing is not so pretty. Our basket only held 8 passengers in 2 compartments. I was thankful since I was not looking to share the ride with 14 people! As we were lifting, it was cool to see all the other balloons above and below you. We drifted and rose to an elevation of over one mile. Does that make me a member of the mile-high club? We spotted an abundance of rabbits and a coyote below although another balloon supposedly spotted a bobcat. Our landing was the real entertainment. Didn't get that "B" landing thanks to the wind picking up. Instead, our basket landed on it's side so that our compartment was against the ground (we were essentially lying on our backs now) and the second compartment was above us, taking out a path of trees and vegetation along the way. It was better than any 6 Flags ride, and we all laughed through the whole thing, while we prayed the partition between compartments didn't collapse. I was never really frightened, maybe because I never heard our pilot yell "oh shit," or anything like that (although I did see a diamond drop out of his pants). He did tell us later that the baskets don't usually land in any position other than upright. We were greeted at landing with mimosas and a fabulous little breakfast catered by Vincent's. We were also presented with flight certificates. My husband had let them know in advance of the occasion, and they had a breakfast cake for me as well. My only wee little complaint was that they should give you the souvenir champagne flute instead of charging 5 bucks for it considering the price of the flight. As Michael C noted, they were very nice and professional. And I, too, felt very safe, considering...In all seriousness, the trees we hit were used to help us stop, and it was a controlled landing, I think:) read more

This was definitely a bucket list experience I will remember for the rest of my life. I recommend Hot Air Expeditions to everyone, I absolutely loved it. This was a nice way to start a New Year. Cheers to 2018 read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot-air Expeditions balloon ride was a bucket list experience. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Know before you go, company is not always customer friendly. Weather forced a cancelation, vendor canceled at take off site, done last minute minimizes other arrangements. However, I called with a re-book only to be called back hours later to be told that since I was using groupon I would not be able to fly on new selected date. To fly on the new selected date without using groupon would cost an extra $400 +, once again, this was last minute and did not allow room for me to plan otherwise. This was more than a bucket list experience for me. It maybe my very final opportunity to share this moment with my family due to some life changing events in our life's. We live in Texas and of course we could do it there but we wanted to experience it in Phoenix, it's one of our reasons for coming here. They offered other times of which we would not be available since we do not live here. Please understand that this company does not accommodate their customers if something does not go as planned. read more

This was a delightful experience for my ten-year-old son, seventy-five-year old father and myself. The staff and owner were incredibly pleasant to work with, always prompt and dependable in communication about our flight date and the the ride itself was incredible! The pilots and everyone in the crew were more than pleasant and I cannot recommend this company enough. After a flight that was just long enough to take in the Arizona morning sky, we landed to an amazing breakfast and champagne toast. It was far better than any ol' hotel breakfast buffet! We were treated this morning to a wonderful experience. to which I encourage you to take if you are considering. A couple of key points to think about. It can be somewhat difficult to get in and out of the basket if you are not limber. I assumed (incorrectly) that there would be a door into the basket and shouldn't have. The people are really helpful in getting you in and out, if you need it. It can also be cold, so be prepared. Not so much when you get under the balloon burner, but half of the experience is getting to watch the operation get off the ground and it can be chilly early in the morning air while doing so. read more

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While I am delayed in writing the review, I have to say the experience will last a lifetime. My family and I did this on a groupon promotion last year...we actually went for the ride in late December. It was myself, my son (10), my aunt (50 something) and my grandmother (83) while my mother followed us in the car (not a chance she was going to try this one!). We had a fabulous time, the employees were careful with both my son and my grandmother. While we were all having the time of our life, others in the basket were a little nervous; however, the captain was very talkative and he explained everything and kept those people at ease. The ride was long and the height varied. At the end, we were served a 'picnic' breakfast with mimosas. The breakfast wasn't anything to write home about, but it was a nice touch. You had to pay extra for the mimosas glass, which I did. The only thing I didn't like, no facilities...luckily I am a camper and didn't mind going in the wild. (I might advise you not to drink a full pot of coffee prior to the ride, but that is totally up to you). Even if you are a little nervous, I would highly recommend you try this out. read more

What a ride! My wife and I booked a trip with Hot Air Expeditions through our hotel during our stay a couple of weeks back. It was the first time either of us had taken a hot air balloon ride, and we're thrilled we did it. We'd certainly recommend Hot Air Expeditions for anyone looking for a fun, relaxing ride in the sky with amazing views. The whole experience, from start to finish, was outstanding. We were greeted at the Deer Valley airport and piled into a spacious van. We stopped at a restroom (!) before the short 15 minute drive to the take off point. We were briefed with all of the info we needed, both by our van driver and our Capt., so we all felt comfortable once we were up in the air. Once we loaded into the basket, the crew offered to take pictures of us which was a really nice gesture. Up in the sky, the Capt offered us water and good conversation. The views were spectacular, and the Capt knew exactly how to navigate the wind and make for a smooth ride. After about 70 minutes or so in the sky, the landing was perfect. Little did we know, the party was just getting started! Upon landing, we were presented with breakfast displayed on a picnic table. The breakfast consisted of a croissant, quiche, cheese, and fruit. Most importantly, there was champaign and OJ. We toasted to our accomplishment! The crew even presented a cake to a couple of people who were celebrating their birthdays! Finally, we were each given a personalized certificate to take home marking our accomplishment. The balloon ride itself was awesome, but it's the little things along the way that made the experience memorable. We highly recommend Hot Air Expeditions for the full experience! read more

Went on the Saturday before valentines day. Had a lot of balloons in the air with perfect weather. Bored to death. Our pilot didn't travel the balloon outside a short block radius while all th other ballons got a ton of altitude and distance. I would never suggest a hot air balloon ride to anyone in phx. Save it for Sedona or some other location that is much more scenic. I would suggest staying on the ground and watching them in the sky. read more

Ok.. So here's what happened: We're only here for 4 days. Originally, my balloon ride was scheduled for Thursday morning, but potential thunderstorms cancelled it, so Jessie at FLOAT was gracious enough to find me another company!!! John and his crew member (sorry, didn't get his name) did an OUTSTANDING job!!! Totally engaged in the whole experience.. Great direction, and explanations of the areas, and plants.. Champagne toadt after the ride..breakfast in the desert.. I'D USE THEM AGAIN!!!!! read more

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While the overall experience was fairly decent, there were parts that were strange. We originally were planned to go on a Saturday morning, having to meet at Deer Valley Airport at 5:15 am, but that trip was cancelled due to wind. Therefore we rescheduled, that rescheduling was not a problem, just an inconvenience. We ended up going the following Saturday. Again we had to wake up bright and early to meet at 5:15 and then headed in a 15 passenger van to the launch location. Once at the launch location we waited for the balloon to fill up and boom, lift off, and we were up and away! There were 12 of us in the basket, including the pilot, which was pretty cramped, there was not enough room for everyone to look out, so my boyfriend and I had to take turns. WEAR A HAT AND SLEEVED SHIRT, the flame is extremely hot and can cause discomfort if you are not prepared for it. They provided hats for those of us who were not aware. We were in flight for about 45 minutes, not a second of it was boring. Upon landing we were supposed to be greeted with a catered breakfast, but this was unable to happen because our pilot chose to land on the wrong side of a wash and the van could not get to us. Therefore we spend about 30 minutes wandering in the desert watching the van drive parallel to us, unable to get to us. Finally the van got stuck in a wash, we walked over to them and they rapidly setup our breakfast, which was delicious!! Then they popped open two bottles of champagne, which was much needed. Overall it was enjoyable, just a few hiccups along the way! :) read more

This was my first hot air balloon ride and it exceeded my expectations. The ground crew and pilot were extremely friendly and always made sure that everyone was content. The pilot narrated the trip and was happy to answer any questions anyone had. The champagne breakfast was really nice...they were generous with the amount of champagne they served and the food tasted great. They park the van near the table in such a way that everyone is able to sit in the shade. I took my mom for her 60th birthday and they also served a complimentary birthday cake and hung a "Happy Birthday" sign on the balloon. It is worth the money and waking up at 4am to be at the airport by 5:15. It's a great way to celebrate a special day :) read more