How do I schedule a balloon ride?
Click the appropriate button on our home page or the "Hot Air Balloon Rides" page and it will take you to our live booking system. All flights are scheduled through this secure system and the current availability of flights is shown in this live booking system. Select the type of flight that you want, the number of passengers that you have, complete the reservation information, and pay your deposit. If you are interested in a specific date, please schedule early as we often sell out.
I signed up for the waiting list, when will I know if I am on the flight?
Our waiting list feature is a great tool, however, the wait list is used to provide availability if the party that is schedule for that specific flight cancels. Cancellations by our passengers is rare and not many people make it off of the waiting list. If you are signed up on the wait list for a flight and it becomes available, you will receive a notification via email that the flight is now available for you to book.
How many people can go on the ride?
We have several aircraft to accommodate the size of your group. Our largest balloon can carry 6 passengers and we can use multiple balloons to carry a total of 10 or more. Group flights may have up to 6 passengers scheduled together and private flights are 2-6 passengers plus the pilot.
Who can go on a balloon ride?
Although we do not have a specific age restriction for our passengers there are a number of things that you should consider. For young children, will they be entertained in the confines of the gondola for over an hour? Also, all passengers should be able to see over the edge of the basket or be at least 42" tall. Are all passengers able to climb into and out of the basket, stand for up to 1-1/2 hours? Would all passengers be able to handle a bumpy landing similar to hopping off of a kitchen chair?
What's the difference between a Shared Group Ride and a Private Flight?
The flight experience itself is the same, however, individuals or small groups can fly for less cost in a Group Ride. In a Group Ride we match you up with up to a maximum of 6 passengers for the flight. Private flights are scheduled for just the members in your party and the only other person on the flight is your pilot.
Can my friends and family come to watch?
Of course, you are welcome to have others join in the adventure and watch the entire endeavor.
How long is a balloon ride?
At Altitude Endeavors we will insure your flight is at least 40 minutes long, however, the average flight is one hour and the flight could be as long as 1-1/2 hours. The total time that you should plan for is approximately 3 hours.
What time of the day are balloon rides available?
Hot air balloon rides are only conducted in the early morning and approximately 2 hours before sunset. These are the times during the day in which the winds are the most consistent and lightest.
How cold is it up there?
The standard change in temperature is only 4°F for every 1000 feet high, however, it usually feels warmer in the balloon because there is no relative air movement. You should dress normal for your flight based on the forecasted temperature during the flight time.
What should we wear for our flight?
We highly recommend long pants regardless of the temperature and you should wear sturdy shoes. Please do not wear open toe shoes or high heels for your flight.
How safe is balloon flying?
Even though flying in a balloon is considered a high adventure sport, we believe that it is extremely safe. You are much more likely to be seriously injured in a car accident than flying in a hot air balloon. As a matter of fact, statistically, balloon flight is one of the safest forms of transportation and Altitude Endeavors has a perfect safety record!
What is the training or certification process to be a balloon pilot?
A hot air balloon is an aircraft and regulated in much the same way as an airplane. All of our pilots have achieved both a Private pilot license and then later a Commercial pilot certification that allows them to fly paid passenger flights or commercial advertising flights. The commercial certification process usually takes most pilots multiple years to complete. This is a very important item, if you are comparing hot air balloon rides, make sure that your pilot is commercially certified or you are putting yourself in a precarious position. The FAA has very strict rules regarding who can charge for aviation activities.
How experienced are your pilots?
At Altitude Endeavors we have flown thousands of passengers and our chief pilot has over 25 years of flight experience with a perfect safety record.
What is the safety record of Altitude Endeavors?
We are proud to say that we have never had an aviation accident or incident since beginning our operations in 1997. We are proud of our perfect safety record and believe that it is one of the things that sets us apart. There are other companies in the area that cannot make this same statement.
What is it like to crew for a Hot Air Balloon Team?
Many individuals get their first experience with balloons by purchasing a flight (I did) or crewing for balloon. Crewing for a balloon team can be a lot of fun and most stay involved in the sport for many many years. If you would like to get involved with our teams, give us a call or send us an email - we would love to hear from you.
What time should we arrive for our flight?
The time that your flight is scheduled for is the time that you should arrive. There is no need to be early as we do not start preparation and our crew may not be there before the scheduled flight time. If you are concerned about being on time and plan to arrive early, please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your scheduled flight time.
Can we bring a camera on our flight?
We definitely encourage your to document your flight (and share with your friends), however, if you choose to bring a large camera please be sure to have a camera case to stow it prior to landing.
Where do we meet for our flight?
Battle Creek area flights originate from our address at 1255 Hunter Rdg, Battle Creek, MI 49017 unless we provide additional specific instructions when we notify you regarding the status of your flight.
How do we get back to the launch site?
Balloons can only fly with the wind and there is no other way to steer a hot air balloon. The Altitude Endeavors Chase Team will follow the balloon during the flight and bring you back to the launch location. The only transportation you need to take care of is getting to the meeting location.
What kind of weather is needed for the flight?
There are many weather factors that affect balloon flight and it is difficult to provide a simple answer. In general the winds must be forecasted less than 10mph on the surface for the duration of the flight window and there cannot be any precipitation.
When will we find out if our scheduled flight is a GO?
General trends can be observed a day or two before your flight, however, the final decision is not made until close to the flight window. Aviation forecasts are released every six hours and we only rely on one or two forecasts prior to your flight. Evening flights will be notified around 2pm and morning flights will be notified around 9pm the evening before the flight.
What happens if our flight is cancelled?
You will be sent a notification explaining that the weather is bad during your scheduled flight window. Please reschedule your flight as soon as possible for the best selection of dates and to insure that additional automated system emails are not sent.
What is the refund policy?
Flights may be rescheduled up to 7 days prior to your flight time. Cancellations for any reason are subject to the $50 non-refundable reservation fee per passenger. Cancellations made less than 7 days prior to your scheduled flight time are charged the balance due. Safety is our first priority, if your flight must be rescheduled due to the weather it will be rescheduled without any additional cost, your reservation deposit carries over to the new date.