Maverick Helicopters absolutely delivered, and Mark Kono made the experience exceptional. Mark is the kind of pilot who immediately puts you at ease. His flying was incredibly smooth, but what stood out even more was his situational awareness. He was attentive, calm, respectful, and genuinely thoughtful throughout the entire flight. Nothing ever felt abrupt or rushed, and that made all the difference. He also went out of his way to swing wide and give us a beautiful look at the coastline before heading over to the Hollywood sign, and he explained everything along the way with just the right amount of detail. Ivan deserves a mention as well for making the setup effortless from the beginning, and even the mechanic jumped in to grab some great photos for us before departure. From booking to landing, the entire experience felt polished, personal, and memorable. Mark, especially, was outstanding. Smooth pilot, sharp instincts, great demeanor, and exactly the kind of person you want at the controls. Highly recommended. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Sacred authentic human earth moment - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

My husband surprised me with a flight over to Catalina island and now we're spoiled. The boat ride back just didn't complete. Maverick was easy to checkin with, they loaded our bags and took photos for us. Six of us rode over and it was comfortable, safe, and great views. They had even called ahead for a taxi ride to come get us at the island station read more

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Great experience! Staff was great and very friendly. Pilot was very nice and talked about the company as if it were his own. This is definitely the way to get to Catalina, money well spent! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Value: 5/5 My husband surprised me with a trip around Catalina and I loved it! The weather wasn't looking like it was going to clear up for us so Maverick customer service called us and told us to stand by. We ended up making other plans and got a call from them to come on down. They waited for us which I was super appreciative of! The pilot (Dave) was incredibly informative on Catalina Island and made us feel safe. Would recommend to anyone going to Catalina island and if you aren't bringing dogs, take the helicopter from Long Beach to Catalina island! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Before take off - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Flew to Catalina with Maverick and was blown away by how amazing it was! So much faster than by boat and a way better view. Staff was super friendly/helpful, helicopter was cool/comfortable, and the experience was just incredible Can't wait to do it again! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Helicopter - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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As always, a great experience with Maverick Helicopters in Long Beach. Flying to Catalina Island with them is smooth and efficient, the process is quick as soon as you arrive, and you're in the air in no time. Most of the time it's a small group, usually just two to four people, which makes it feel more personal. The pilots are really nice and professional, and if you're lucky you can even spot dolphins along the way. Fast, easy, and always a good experience read more

What a smooth ride for a first timer on the chopper, thanks to our experienced pilot - Adam. The journey to Catalina Island was super easy and calm, and we even got to see dolphins. Complimentary overnight parking was available on site, which was a nice amenity. The only hiccup we had was departing at the same time as the cruise arrival (given the traffic follow the same direction until you reach Maverick)...we really thought we would miss our flight. It would have been helpful to know that there is a turn right in front of Maverick that we could use in an extreme situation such as this one. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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I normally do not leave negative reviews, but after spending around $400 on what was supposed to be a very special birthday experience, I honestly feel other customers deserve to understand what happened. We had a helicopter reservation from Catalina Island to Long Beach and, before arriving, we communicated in advance that we were running slightly behind, I clearly said three min max, I am on my way and they agreed. We arrived only two minutes after the scheduled time and the helicopter was still physically on the ground when we got there, with staff present and the flight clearly not gone yet. What made the experience so disappointing was not simply the policy itself, but the complete lack of professional judgment, leadership, flexibility, or genuine care for the customer experience. There was no real attempt to assess the situation, no effort to problem-solve, and no willingness to offer a reasonable accommodation despite the circumstances, the prior communication, and the fact that the service had already been fully paid. Instead, the only solution repeatedly pushed on us was to spend another approximately $400 to purchase a completely new flight. That is what made the situation feel unreasonable. Not because we expected special treatment, but because when customers communicate ahead of time, arrive only minutes late, and the helicopter is literally still there, most people would expect at least some level of discretion, communication, or customer care. Good service is not only about enforcing rules mechanically. It is also about judgment, professionalism, leadership, and the ability to handle situations reasonably. Unfortunately, this experience felt extremely rigid, transactional, and unaccommodating, especially considering the amount of money involved and the importance of the occasion. read more

We took the short tour around Catalina and had the absolute best time! Adam was an awesome pilot and very knowledgeable about the island, its history, and its culture. We saw some buffalo and he came across a blue whale. The experience was top notch start to finish. When I texted that our transpiration was delayed, they even volunteered to come get us. Only hint for anyone considering it - don't plan that you'll get a taxi. Plan to either walk the ~0.7 mi from the pier to the helipad, or rent a golf cart to get there. The golf cart totally saved us and we used it to explore the island more after! read more

Great experience traveling around the island. Adam is an excellent pilot and a great tour guide. Highly recommend! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

We Made Reservations With Maverick Helicopters To Leave For Catalina Island On Nov 4th At 10:00 AM- Returning Nov 6th At 2:00 PM. Our Payment Was Accepted And We Planned Our Trip Accordingly. The Flight Up Was Great. On Nov 5th, We Received A Call From Maverick's Las Vegas Office Stating Our Return Flight Was No Longer Available As It Was Not Full. 3 Options Were Given To Us At That Time (1) We Could Buy 2 Extra Seats And Keep Our 2PM Flight (2) We Could Leave At 9:30 AM (3) We Could Cancel Our Flight And Arrange To Take The Ferry. The Fact That We Had Made Plans Based On Our Accepted & Paid For Reservations Was Irrelevant. Poor Customer Service. Take It Or Leave It And It Was Clear They Could Not Have Cared Less ! Beyond Disappointed. read more

Staff was awesome and super courteous. Such a convenient way to get to Catalina. I definitely recommend! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Great flight to & from Catalina. We enjoy the flights & it's only 15 minutes. Saw a pod of dolphins last trip. The pilot flew around them several times read more

Maverick Helicopters - Flying to Catalina Island - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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We booked a flight to Catalina Island and had hotel reservations on the island. The people here are friendly. Parking is tight and limited. Directions from google are off base... Awesome flight out... clear day. Great flight... short and sweet. Pilot was informative and helpful. Recommend helicopter flight vs the boat ride. read more

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First time on a helicopter! Super cool! Also the whole process was so easy! I showed up a little early, checked in, then sat out and watched people board the cruise ship until it was time for take off. It was just me and one other guy, heading in to Catalina for a race. They loaded our stuff, took pictures for us and off we went. It was a super quick flight, 15 minutes. On the Sunday when it was time to leave, they had cancelled the ferry service because of wind and waves, and I was especially stoked to be able to get on a helicopter and get off the island anyway! The flight was smooth, and again the whole experience was super cool, and super easy! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Super cool experience , booked a morning ride just me and wife with pilot. Blue skies and beautiful views in the air . We saw bisons read more

Maverick Helicopters - Bison's - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Great short ride for my sons 8th birthday. We took the flight at night which made it more enjoyable since we could see all the Xmas lights

My husband booked 2 seats for us to go to Catalina as a late Christmas present. Due to slow business, we were told we had to pay for two additional seats as a "consolidation" charge. We ended up just canceling all together. read more

要去看Catalina 這個小島,除了坐船坐飛機也是一個不錯的選擇，，高中的時候我第一次來這個小島，也是坐直升機的，因為航程其實不遠，只升級應該10來分就到了，就是聲音很大聲，耳朵很痛，當然他們有發給我們蓋耳朵的，只是不習慣，這一家很公司的服務很好，我在網路上訂票了以後，就有一個人打電話跟我確定所有的行程，也告知該早點到，要注意什麼事項，如果要做直升機去小島玩，這家真的是個不錯的選擇 read more

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Took our 1st ever helicopter ride from Long Beach to Catalina and can't imagine ever taking the boat again! Specific directions on website instruct you on how to get there. Parking was a little tight, but IEX instructed us where to park our oversized truck. On the day of our flight out of Long Beach, I received a call saying we would be delayed due to weather. IEX was great with communicating any changes and kept us up to date. As our new departure time neared, we waited at a nearby restaurant at one of the hotels, which had amazing food and a great view of the harbor. Once we arrived at IEX, they took our baggage and weighed it, then weighed each person. There were snacks and water available in the waiting room along with many seats and a tv. We were handed a waistband safety life vest and then headed to the helicopter. The ride was so smooth, amazing view of the ocean, mainland and Catalina. Total flight time was 12 minutes! When you land, IEX has a taxi ready to take you from heli pad to your hotel. Return flight was the same, smooth and quick! We rode 2 different helicopters, both very nice, clean and comfortable. We can't wait to book again! read more

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What a great way to get to Catalina in 15 minutes! It was a nice safe flight. The pilot was wonderful. Everything you need to know and prepare for the flight is available online. There's also a quick video they provide for instructional purposes. When getting there double check your maps location to ensure the directions don't take you in a circle or onto the wrong side of the facility. iPhone maps took me to the exact Location however Google maps did not. Google maps places us on the other side of the faculty where road blocks did not allow for entry. There is a parking structure right across IEX you can drop off your stuff at the front and park your car across the way in the parking structure. I recommend taking a flight if you want a different experience that is quite affordable. read more

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Have a plan B. Unfortunately due to weather (it was completely socked in all day) we were unable to fly out. We ended up quickly booking tickets for the ferry, but this time of year the ferry's are infrequent during the week day. So we had to hang out for a few hours and missed a day in catalina. Also, there is a 25lbs limit for luggage that I found out after booking but was prepared before the flight. read more

Ivan, Peter and Marty made my day!!! The flight to and from Catalina was smooth, so much fun and they were all so friendly. I will recommend IEX anytime !!! It's so quick to Catalina. They offer water, coffee before your flight-they go over all the safety materials-they were very professional, helpful and thorough with their trip details. Can't wait to fly with them again!! read more

My husband planned a party with 12 of his friends over on Catalina Island and had IEX fly everyone over and then back a few days later. He booked this with Ivan and couldn't have asked for better customer service. He made this excursion very easy and he was so helpful and accommodating to all our needs and changes! I wish every company had an Ivan. Staff is great and ride was super fun and quick. Highly recommend this company!!!! read more

We've taken two trips to Catalina with their helicopters and both were very pleasant experiences. Smooth travel, good service. Thank you Pedro. :) read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Booked a one way trip to Catalina and a half island tour for later on the same day with IEX Helicopters. After checking in you and your luggage are weighed and a safety video is played for you. Upon arriving to Catalina island the staff there was amazing, they asked if we needed a taxi into town and within 5 minutes there was one waiting for us . I suggest to take a taxi if you are carrying luggage and don't have proper fitting shoes. The actual town of Avalon is about a 20 minute walk from the heliport. Later on the same day we did the half island tour and Lorenzo was our pilot. He did a good job telling us historical facts about Catalina. I only booked a one way trip but there was a severe storm that canceled all the ferries pack to Long Beach, so I called IEX to book a return flight. Unfortunately the weather kept us from flying until the next morning. The guys from IEX knew how much I wanted to sit in the cockpit so they gave me the chance of a life time!! The only bad thing I could say is I wish the half island tour was a little longer. IEX is first class and professional all the way!! This is the way to go if you need to get ti the island . IEX - 15 mins to Catalina vs. an hour with Catalina express . read more

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Great ride. They said they would order a taxi for me. They did not and I had to wait 15 mins. I would rather have had them say no they don't order taxi's. read more

Best experience!!! We did the Catalina hotel package, it was our first helicopter ride, like a bucket list thing. Everyone was awesome, welcoming and super helpful. Would totally do it again! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Backseat of helicopter - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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We had such an amazing experience using IEX helicopters to get to and from Catalina! I don't think we'll ever be taking the ferry again! I highly recommend them, especially if it's a special occasion. Everyone was very helpful and it all went so smoothly! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Splurged and bought a one way flight to Catalina, and it was fantastic (despite a 2 hours fog delay - but this is normal for this area of the country). Ride was smooth and views were fantastic. We got to sit in the front seat so got to briefly chat with the pilot; he was super nice and friendly / helpful. My only COMPLAINT: The safety video CLEARLY said they would take pictures of you upon landing in Catalina next to the helicopter. I mean, you are paying hundreds of $$ so i feel like this is a reasonable tradeoff that they take a few pictures of you next to their helicopter. They did NOT do this. I am not sure if it was bc of COVID or if they were in a hurry b/c of the morning fog delay. Either way, my travel companion and i were a bit pissed about this, so we quickly attempted to take our own selfies before the helicopter lifted back off the ground to go back to Long Beach. Had they taken pictures of us, i would give them 5 stars. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Friend quickly took my pic bf it flew off - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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I booked a round trip helicopter from Long Beach to Catalina Island for myself & my 14 year old son & had the best experience ever! Not only was booking everything easy, the staff was super friendly, location was easy to find & a lot of available parking! Our pilot Chris was amazing!! I recommend this company to everyone- we had the best time & felt safe the entire time! Can't wait to travel with this company again & again! read more

BEWARE! Incredibly frustrating....booked a surprise anniversary stay in Avalon (Catalina) for my husband and I with round trip transfers instead of the ferry. We packed our suitcases like usual only to be told AFTER we had left home and begun our week long vacation that we would have to purchase a whole other seat if we wanted to fly our luggage with us. No where in the booking did it say anything about it needing to be 25 lb max and of a certain dimension to fly. We had the choice of paying another $359 for another seat to fly our suitcases or cancelling. I was told the suitcase policy terms are in the "frequently asked questions" section (not posted when purchasing transfers). Absolutely ridiculous and now stuck trying to find ferry transfers! How incredibly disappointing for our trip~ read more

In planning for a birthday surprise and first time trip to Catalina for all involved, I opted to book us on a helicopter to get there and back to add to the fun of it all. From booking on the phone, to worrying if it would all line up without issues, flight delays etc, as I had other surprises scheduled based on landing time to Catalina etc...it all could not have gone better. Very nice pilot on the way over in the larger helicopter. That one is like a flying SUV! Then, days later on the way back, the sports car type helicopter was a totally different type ride and experience and just fantastic as well. Plus, we got to see a good bit of of the California coast, dolphins, the ports with all the cargo ships and more before landing. I'd clarify when booking if you can bypass all the cruise ship traffic lanes/lines that were packed with traffic for a bit and just stay on the paved road to the right of all those lanes until the last minute when it looks like you can cut in to a left opening and then quickly to the right to get to the helipad. That would make it super easy to get to the take off point. I didn't realize this may be possible until after getting stuck in all the traffic going to the cruise ships before arriving to the helicopter area. The easy flights helped make the surprise birthday trip a mega hit all the way around! read more

The staff was extremely friendly and informative!! One of the best experiences of my life! Highly recommend them! Thank you read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Cost per person for a one-way flight to Avalon: $105 Parking for a day in the Queen Mary lot: $15 Taking a helicopter to make a special day a little more special: Priceless Flights need to be booked over the phone. Check-in 30 minutes prior to departure is required. During this time, you and your bags get weighed, you're shown a 10-minute safety video, and you can help yourself to coffee and water. Then it's off to Catalina on a smooth 15-minute ride. If you ask nicely, the people helping you board may even take your picture in front of the chopper. No frills, but a lot of fun. read more

What an amazing experience ! I could not have asked for a more perfect birthday experience with my love we have the same birthday and you actually get to fly for free on your birthday ! We missed it by 1 day since we flew out the day before but we were given a discount thanks ! We took the helicopter ride from Long Beach area to Catalina Island and stayed there for the night. The pilot and staff we very friendly and the views were just amazing and incredible. It's about a 15-20 minute ride. The island is really cool and just a quaint little town with a lot of character. I really enjoyed the 1 night stay over on the island and hope to come back. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Breathtaking view - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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They clearly care about their customer's experience. Someone reached out from IEX and explained what happened. For taking the time to reach out and caring, review is updated to 5 stars. read more

Booked a hotel-heli combo through the Hotel Metropole, and I HIGHLY recommend using IEX Helicopters. Absolutely worth the price just in terms of time saved, hassle-free, and less people to travel with! It was my husband's & my first time going to Catalina AND on a helo in general. On our outbound flight we saw a pod of grey whales, and returning I got to ride shotgun and chat with our pilot Marty. Staff is incredibly friendly and super accommodating. We had to change the time of our return flight and the IEX staff was very swift & communicative. We'll be flying to Catalina from now on! read more

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Such a smooth, low stress way to get to Catalina Island! We visited Catalina Island for the first time this week and decided to take the helicopter over and take the boat back. The experience with IEX helicopters and the staff could not have been more perfect! So much so, we called 30 minutes after landing to see if we could get a flight back and cancelled our boat! When I called, the gentleman knew who we were and actually added a flight as all the flights were booked. Wow. The flight is very smooth and the pilots are very professional. The 14 minute flight offers amazing views and the approach into Catalina from the air is amazing. A perfect experience! Thank you! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Not sure that Geezy L.'s experience was totally representative of their level of caution... I fly them more than 2x per month (for a few years now) including a flight booked back from the island to long beach on 1/24 just 3 days before your comment... It was crystal clear air on one side and fog encroaching on the next. Though every flight was booked, they gave the money back to everyone and recommended the next available ferry to every passenger because they wouldnt risk another flight for 4+ hours after they spotted fog. I didnt fly that day. I had to take a boat that took me to the same place. {first world struggles} I have never tried to argue with them about their judgement, because I am not a pilot, but I never feel they are more than kind when they tell me a flight is canceled due to weather... now if i could get them to hold up all the other passengers because i hit the snooze button they would get 10 stars from me and 0 from all others. lol. ** read no more ** Also, for kids reading... the word is RECKLESS.. spell it that way. it is way to hard to apply the term wreakless to this scenario that would make sense. it means something like non-spiteful, or not looking for revenge... if you live in downton abbey i dont think thats where he was going. read more