Amazing Experience! I took the tour of the beaches and of the Hollywood/Downtown area. For my first time in a helicopter I was pretty afraid but I had a great Pilot!! Very professional and knowledgeable! I'd recommend this for locals and visitors that want to get a view of LA in a whole new way. Can't wait for my next helicopter ride after this. A+ experience Have fun! read more

Eloy was an amazing rep. Courteous, friendly, respectful and super patient. Made our experience with IEX super pleasant. Represented the company well. Thanks brotha! read more

Wow, such an incredible experience! The staff was great, nice, helpful! I was scared because I don't like to fly but it was so smooth that on the return flight I had no fear! And we saw a group of 30ish dolphins swimming under us! We won't be taking the ferry to Catalina ever again! Iex is where it's at! read more

If you're on the fence on wether or not you should fly with IEX to Catalina, just do it. We will never take the ferry after this awesome adventure. They were so accommodating and friendly, and on the return leg we were the only passengers so essentially it was our own private helicopter! 10/10 would recommend to everyone. So much better than the ferry. read more

Maverick Helicopters - One of the helicopters we took to Catalina - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

This is the only way I ever want to travel to Catalina Island! Staff was great, we got to IEX early and were given passes to explore the Queen Mary while we waited. Easy to book, low stress boarding, quick flight, and amazing views! Highly recommend! read more

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The experience was amazing to say the least!!! We were headed to Avalon and were almost (4 minutes away) there and the woman who flew us got on the microphone and apologized and said we needed to return back to LB because the weather was getting worse and was not safe for flight. Other than the disappointment of having to take a damn boat ride it was awesome... Make sure you get in a helicopter that can fly high enough above the clouds so you do not run into this problem... read more

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We stayed here for hours waiting for this helicopter that would never come! Totally wasted our day. We where supposed to leave at 940 am we waited there till 3pm and finally gave up and took the boat.. just a total waste of time. We thought we would save time and make out trip to the island special for our kids all it did was disappoint them. Don't bother just take the boat then you know you'll make it there read more

Woweee, what a neatotastic surprise this was! So a few years ago I was dysfunctionally dating this chap and for our one year anniversary (how we got that far I'll never know), he took the reigns on planning it (isn't that nice) and wouldn't tell me where we were going (typical). All I knew was to pack an overnight bag and get excited, oh and not drink too much at the Frolic Room the night before since we had to wake up early. (The first two I could do, that last one, meh, not so much) So on the morning of our pending adventure, he wakes my cranky, hungover butt up at an un-Godly time of the morning (7:30am) and we hop (ha, more like dragged me like a caveman) in the car and start heading towards the freeway. Of course, I am asking a gazillion questions, cuz i am annoying like that and he isn't giving any info up (fucker!) So we then merge from the 101 to the 110 to San Pedro and I'm like, "It's Catalina, isn't it! Dude are we going to Catalina!? Seriously, you have to tell me! You know I get sea sick, I'm gonna freak out if you put me on a boat, seriously, why are you ignoring me, helloooooo, dude, helllllllloooooo, whatever." We then are in San Pedro and I am pissed as hell because it was just like him to make me get on a boat and then laugh at me puking off the side while he drank coffee and ate a breakfast sandwich (seriously, he was a winner). We then pull up to this building and I read the sign that says, "Island Express HELICOPTER Service" and all is forgiven, well for at least 15 minutes or so, since we were dysfunctionally dating after all. So we walk in and I am stoked. I'd never been in a helicopter before and while the idea of flying was terrifying to me back then, I still was super duper excited to experience this...until of course they asked the question you should never ask a woman in front of 20 people, "How much do you weigh?" Ugh, really? So I whisper this oh so very confidential information and clearly the guy knew I was trying to kid myself so he made me get on the scale. Ugh again, really? This was way too much at 8:45am, but whatever, I got on the scale, held my breath and he said, "Cool, she's cleared" Thanks dude, appreciate that. We then got into the flying bug in the sky and were up in the air in no time. It was frigging awesome! Seriously, if you've never been up in one you HAVE TO try this once in your life, it's so cool and you feel like you can do anything! Before we knew it we were there and I was in my right mind to slip the dude some cash and just tell him to cruise us around the island for a few hours, but alas, we had plans to get to. The rest of the weekend was, of course, a disaster, but man, oh man, that helicopter ride was phenomenal and I would recommend their services to anyone. Just be prepared to be honest about your weight and I would definitely suggest cutting yourself off at around 1:20am at the Frolic Room before embarking on a helicoptic journey :) hehe read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

The views as you drive along the coast from LA to Santa Barbara are beautiful, but can't compare to the spectacular sights from the air! Luckily, there was no heavy fog to ground us yesterday....because my son & his bride treated me to a helicopter ride to their wedding venue in Santa Barbara area. I drove 10 minutes from my house to Zamperini Field in Torrance, where pilot Gary picked me up & then took me up, up and away. Gary and I talked via headsets as he explained all the sights to me along the way. The flight took almost an hour & I loved every minute. Gary said I was the happiest passenger he'd transported in a month. We landed right on the property where the wedding was held. Wow, what a way to travel! The return flight, after dark, was amazing, with all the lights of LA below us. We flew over what appeared to be a police pursuit along PCH. We flew over LAX. With a good tail wind moving us along at 170 mph, the return flight took less time (sadly, because I could have stayed up there forever). It's so cool to hear your pilot communicating with the ground along your route. Gary's been flying for 20 years & I think he has the best job in the world. Thanks, Gary, for being so wonderful & for providing me with an experience I won't forget! read more

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My hubby was trying to surprise me for my birthday. When I say trying, its because guys once you're married, your wife knows everything! There's nothing you can get away with! Haha, I'm only kidding, there are a few things....but not many! So, I knew we were going away for the weekend, but when I found out where we were going, I started to freak out a little! I get major sea sickness! Anyways, this was an amazing surprise! My hubby did good! Girls, you know how in Pretty Woman, Richard Gere whisks Julia Roberts to the opera in his private plane and you sigh, cause you wish it was you instead? Well, I felt like Julia Roberts and had to Yelp about it right away! The ride wasn't cheap, but its definitely the way to go! read more

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tl;dr You can go now! Oh wait, no you can't someone who came after you is going to go instead. Checked in at 11:30 for a 1:20 flight. Flights hadn't started yet but we grabbed lunch next door which was abruptly ended when they came in saying they were ready to go and we were first. We got our life jacket and was told I could sit in the front seat. Shortly after a Karen came in and suddenly our spots were gone, our life jackets were taken, and we were told we would have to take a later flight. A business should not let someone else who checked in AFTER other customers to take YOUR place and depart BEFORE you get to. read more

It was a very memorable experience, took my 5 year old for the ride to Catalina island from Long Beach. He loved it!!! Also, I found out that they have helihikes to the other side of the island. That is a must!!! read more

This is such an awesome experience and totally worth it! Worth every penny, all the staff was really nice and polite. They have a coffee station and a vending machine in the lobby, you can snack while you wait for since you have to check in 30 min before your flight departs. It is $125 each way per person (child or adult), $250/pp round trip. The view of course is just fabulous!! We enjoyed every min of it! read more

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A helicopter ride from San Pedro to Avalon was a blast! The ride was so short (and so smooth on the day we went) that we were only sad it didn't take longer. We rode with a pilot and a party of three girls, and we were in Catalina so fast, you nearly could've blinked and missed it. It was a great start to our adventurous day (which included breakfast in Avalon, followed by the safari bus across the island to Two Harbors, followed by a kayak ride to our boat-in campsite (which was halfway back along the coast towards Avalon!) We took about the longest trip possible between two points, but it was a lot of fun, and a day I'll never forget. Be warned about luggage limits. If your flight is full, they'll be very strict on enforcing the luggage limit! Also be warned that you'll land a good mile or so from town...but they have cabs (or will call one for you) at the heliport, and I don't recall it being more than a $5-10 ride into Avalon. If you like going to Catalina, I would highly recommend splurging on a helicopter at some point. Our (non-private) flight was roughly $100 per person (approx. 2 years ago.) read more

I booked a full day packaged through Island Express and was thrilled and blown away by every step of the experience. If you want to treat yourself and a loved one to something special, this is definitely it. While pricey, the package I bought included a flight both to and from the island to LA, and an all-inclusive taxi cab to and from the helipad and two separate tours of the island. The flight to the island itself was phenomenal; not only were the views breathtaking, but the ride smooth and luxurious (Unlike other helicopters I've been in). The staff were also extremely affable and treated us like royalty the whole way. Like other Yelpers, we also saw dolphins, as well as the Coast Guard doing some training exercises. Overall, an amazing, unforgettable, and above all, exhilarating experience that surely everyone hast to try at least once in their lifetime! read more

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We went on the Heli-picnic and what a fun experience it was! Ivan helped with the booking and was so patient and helpful with my requests. The flight was on time both ways and the pilot was very friendly. The picnic was set up and waiting for us. We enjoyed a delicious spread with beautiful scenery. Very fun time. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Getting ready to board - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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I'm grateful that this service grants both military a discount. Yes it is pricey but very memorable. My man sure scored massive points on this weekend surprise. I would suggest the staff that you give a better orientation in regards to the headphones. I was not clear on whether the conversation we had in the chopper were strictly between my man and myself or were all other 6 passengers in on our conversation too? read more

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First time for my wife and I in a helicopter and it was a fantastic experience! The staff was super friendly, Jasmine the receptionist on the phone was very helpful and pleasant. There were two other people on the right so it was very comfortable and they were nice also. Pilot was professional and we had a smooth take off/ride/landing. Cool to see the island coming in from that perspective. It's more expensive than the ferry, but it's a lot quicker and this is the only helicopter place that lands within walking distance of Avalon. Other companies land at the airport and you have to catch a ride to town. Depending on your plans, this could work for you, but definitely if you're going to Avalon, this is the way to go. If you've never been on a helicopter like my wife and I hadn't then I would highly recommend doing it at least once, totally worth it. One con I will say though is the booking process isn't super straightforward. The website works ok, I called for the reservation, and it wasn't difficult to do, but we couldn't get the exact time we needed to leave in the morning and I didn't want to book the arrival and return flights separately so by the time we got word back about the departure time, our return flight time we wanted was booked. We ended up ferrying back, which was ok too, but the booking/reservation process could be better. Wouldn't want to take a star away because the service was excellent and like I said it wasn't hard to book, just gotta make sure you know exactly what times you want up front or you could miss out. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Just landed, safe, sound and ready for fun! - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Ive flown with Island Express Helicopters twice. Its the absolute best way to get to catalina. Both times flawless and it felt safe, over the water the entire time, chopper goes up, straight then down. Nothing in the way but the beautiful ocean below. 15minutes and you arrive. Transport will be waiting if you request it. read more

I surprised my wife last week with a quick romantic getaway to Catalina Island, staying at the Hotel Metropole. Well, what kicked off the surprise was the helicopter ride to Catalina Island. She was a bit scared because she doesn't like to fly, but she was very impressed and had a great time. This was our first helicopter ride, and I LOVED IT!!! Thanks to the great staff and pilots for making our trip a memorable one! I have already told my whole family about how inexpensive and fun flying with you all are! read more

My first helicopter ride! So thrilling, the views were stunning, and I felt so safe! My friend even got to ride in the cockpit!

Have had nothing but great experiences with IEX and their crew. We have flown to catalina and have done their DTLA tours which we highly recommend! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Customer service over the phone is amazing. Front desk people very helpful. The flight was nice , a bit overloaded with people. The pilot professional but looks bored out of his head (unpleasant) No delays, on time ... and again front desk people friendly and amazing read more

Just do it! Tour to catalina island from long beach was so fun! Close to the historic queen mary ship you can explore before takeoff. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Took my mom on her very first helicopter ride to Catalina. It was really great fun. We got there super early so we could get good seats, however it didn't work out. The unfortunate thing is everyone knew it was her first time riding the helicopter and a some people ran ahead of us in line and she ended up having to sit facing backwards so she really couldn't see the island as we approached. It was a nice smooth and steady fly I've been in smaller helicopters that I personally like better but it was good for her. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

I had a great coastal helicopter tour with IEX! Everyone was super professional and they were even able to get us on an earlier flight. I will definitely book with them again. read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Got these guys to fly my wife and 3 friends to Catalina for a birthday trip , they were great to deal with and very friendly I would recommend to anyone read more

Fly with them every August when we go over to the island to spend a week at Hamilton Cove. The check in staff is amazing, the pilots are friendly and make the trip so much fun for our grandkids, if you've never flown with island express before you have to do it. See you next August Island express! read more

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Totally unprofessional and unacceptable service. Paid for a private flight due to having a time sensitive schedule, arrived 30 minutes before my flight time as requested, only to be told my flight would depart 20 minutes late. If you want to fly private, go elsewhere. read more

Wow is all I can say! Very professional staff!!A big shout out to Ben Villalobos for making it happen and am very happy! We were blessed with being able to do the 30 minute tour of LA/ Hollywood. It was awesome! I had never been on a helicopter before and wow I would absolutely do it again. We flew over all the freeways I have driven on, saw the saint Tomas Vincent bridge, saw the Kings Harbor , flew along the coast, we also saw the observatory, the Hollywood sign, also was hoping to see a bunny at the "Playboy Mansion . We flew Flew right over it man that place I huge. Got a birds eye view of everything so awesom!!!! All I can say is they are very professional , friendly , and again a big shout out to Ben for making it possible. I'm recommending to all my customers , and co workers. Thank you for a safe and flawless flight! read more

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** This review is for the San Pedro flights** SO I booked the flight, and the woman I spoke with was very nice. The day of the flight, I quickly realized I had an incorrect address and had to haul ass towards where the heli-pad was. I called (07/30/11) around 8 am and spoke with an unhelpful person. She was such a pain and wouldn't help me find the place. It was navy week and all the streets were blocked, and we made it with five minutes to spare! The guy at the counter who helped us was super sweet. He is the only reason this isn't a one star review. We went out to board the helicopter and this woman who lives on the island was rushed in front of us. I bought this flight for my best friend's birthday gift. Neither of us had ever been on a chopper before and they didn't even give us the option of her riding in the front seat. Mrs Ferguson (whoever she is) got the star treatment and we were crammed in the back. It wouldn't have been so bad, except that the woman was wearing a huge hat and we couldn't see in front at all. :( SO lame. There was another couple on board crammed in the back with us and they got the window side with the island. We got to stare at water for 10 minutes. Very anticlimactic. There are much nicer ways I can think of spending $210 ONE WAY. Would not recommend. We took the ferry back instead and had an absolute blast on it. It was WAY cheaper and WAY more fun. read more

I'm not reviewing the flight, I'm reviewing the horrible person who books your flight. She was mean, unhelpful and boasted about not having any competitors. Not the type of company I will ever give money to read more

Pros: - Flying over the sea is a great experience - The pilot was very nice and welcoming Cons: - They tend to pack people to make the flight profitable (2 in front, 4 in backseats), the backseat is tiny, it was very uncomfortable to be squeezed between 2 random passengers - Only 12 minutes, a bit overpriced for such a short flight. One full hour over the grand Canyon was just $100 more. read more

4.5 stars My husband and I bought the hop zip hop package for Saturday, July 30, 2016. Our departure time was 10:15 a.m. and per the instructions, we arrived more than a half hour before that. The parking is confusing as the lot surrounding the building is small and was full when we arrived. I jumped out to ask where to park and they directed us to another lot a little away from the building. Then when we went there, all the signs said reserved but with what appeared to be individuals' names. Anyways, we ended up parking there and found out later it was okay. Some signs or instructions via e-mail regarding parking would have been appreciated. We didn't depart on time. Interestingly, a family of four that was scheduled to depart around 10:45 ended up leaving before we did. The crew here were sort of "eh" in terms of service. Overall, we didn't mind because our zip line tour started at noon (I scheduled it to ensure there was some cushion). The flight over there was so easy. A very quick 15 minutes and SO much better than the Catalina Express (I've taken that the last three times I went to Catalina and not very pleasant when you get seasick). The crew on Catalina's Island Express were A+++ and amazing. My husband and I ended up getting to the helipad for our return a little early. We asked if we could hop on something earlier and waited at the restaurant/bar. I wish I got the name of the gentleman that helped us there. He was so friendly, so cool, so accommodating -- what a great guy. The only downer, and that's not even IEX's bad, was a douchebag that went ape at the restaurant because he was approached about his dog. While the douche had his reasons, he could have been cool about it but he went straight to flinging insults and threats. Gross. Aside from that, great experience overall. read more

Just so you know: if you have a reservation or are planning on taking the flight out to Catalina, call ahead to check the weather and make sure they are not on hold. This happened to us going to and coming from Catalina Island. This was a big part of our trip and we were looking forward to it. It is not the company's fault but non the less it sucked. The Upsetting part is no one from the company advised us of this probable issue ahead of time....You could potentially wait all day and end up taking a late ferry anyway wasting the better part of a day waiting for clear air to fly. They were nice and refunded our money no problem. Much to our dismay we ended up on the ferry both ways.... Just be prepared for disappointment if the weather is not clear and you have to take the boat instead. read more

We missed our check in time due to an accident on the 405 (holiday weekend). We called to explain and they were very nice on the phone and said they had availability on later helicopters - but then called back to say we'd have to purchase new tickets if we still wanted to travel (they did offer a 20 percent discount but that's still purchasing 5 tickets twice). Needless to say, my twin 5 year olds were crushed when we opted to take the ferry instead and I was very disappointed as well. read more

Great flight!! Loved this place it was such a fun experience. Everyone should try it. It's an expensive few minuets but a ton if fun! Great pilot and staff. read more

I can't believe I never left a review for them! I vaguely remember leaving a review of another helicopter company but it must have been for a different trip with someone else. But anyhow, better late than never, I had planned a surprise mini weekend getaway for the Mr and I a while back and I decided that Catalina was going to be quickest and easiest. I didn't want to take a boat because I don't know how long I could withstand the rocking for an hour(?). Luckily you can get to Catalina via a helicopter! My husband loved it! The staff was friendly, lots of available parking to leave your car by their office for the weekend, and the ride was less than 15 minutes! The total including tax was $500 for two people som would consider that a bit steep. But when you look at it you would spend way over that amount for two anyway if you were to fly to Vegas or San Fran for the weekend. Cheers and happy flying! read more

Maverick Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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This was a great experience! A little pricey but well worth it. 250 each person. It was my BF birthday weekend. And I had to make it a memorable one. (Which we did ;) ) We had never been on a Helicopter before & the experience was quite amazing. I'm still high off the weekend, like my BF said. The view of the ocean is amazing! I can't even find words to explain it. Maybe cause it was our first time ever on a helicopter. But I was so excited. The first pilot who flew us there, made the experience that much more fun! I can't wait to travel more with my BF and experience more Heli rides! read more

So much fun! Great way to get to Avalon, quick and easy without the hassle of being on a boat. Plus it's a great way to see whales, dolphins, and all other sea life! Takes about 15 minutes to get there one you're in the air, then you cab over to the city. But it takes more then 15 minutes, you need to arrive 30 minutes in advance. Our pilots were nice, but didn't do anything extra for us. But we still had a great time. It's a great escape and was a wonderful Christmas present! read more