Frequently Asked Questions

Most people think a hot air balloon flight is going to feel like taking off in an aeroplane, but it really is an experience like no other. Both the take-off and the flight itself are calm and serene. As you're travelling with the wind direction, there's no turbulence - you literally drift and take in all those sights. However, the biggest surprise for most people isn't the view, it's just how incredibly quiet and peaceful a balloon ride is, some passengers have described it like "floating through a painting". It's definitely more "wow" than "whoa."

Even those with an aversion to heights would be unlikely to call this experience "scary." Reassuring and calm pilots guide your balloon flight experience, and you are in incredibly safe hands. From the moment you arrive, your pilot and crew are with you every step of the way. They've completed thousands of commercial flights, but each pilot appreciates this is likely your first, so they and the crew take time to talk you through your experience as soon as you arrive.

There's no engine roaring, no sudden acceleration, no turbulence. Every Virgin hot air balloon experience is all about gentle lift, tranquil drift, and exciting landings, with just the odd blast of the burners breaking the silence.

From the moment you meet your welcoming pilot and crew, you'll know you're in great hands. Each official Virgin Balloon Flights pilot is an expert in their field, and trust us, they're just as excited as you about getting airborne! You'll probably arrive wondering if everyone else feels as nervous as you - trust us, they do.

Before anyone leaves the ground, your pilot will talk you through everything you need to know. It's relaxed, informative, and gives you the chance to ask any questions before the adventure begins. A few willing pairs of hands are asked for to assist the crew with inflation. This is a fantastic part of your day and a unique photo opportunity, so keep those phones charged! Once cold inflation is done, the pilot will fire the burners to fill the balloon with hot air, ask everyone to climb aboard into their allocated space in the basket, and before you know it, all the anticipation is over - it's finally time for lift off.

After around an hour of drifting wherever the wind has chosen to take you, we'll be looking to make our landing. That's one of the magical things about ballooning: the wind decides the journey, your pilot simply chooses the safest place to launch and land. After completing the landing, your pilot will ask everyone to get out of the basket and again ask for willing participation to help deflate the balloon. After this, you'll enjoy a glass of fizz or orange juice and receive your in-flight certificate endorsed by Sir Richard Branson. You might even be fortunate enough to have had in-flight photos taken, which can be purchased when back at your original launch site! Your experience might start quietly, amongst people you've never met, but by the end you'll all be sharing stories of your flight and maybe even swapping details to exchange photos.

We understand that when you're planning your ballooning adventure, you need to know a few specifics! We'd expect your full experience to last around 3-4 hours from start to finish. This includes meeting the pilot, your safety briefing, balloon inflation, balloon deflation, fizz or a soft drink on landing, plus getting back to the original launch site - and, of course, the most important part: around one hour in the air.

The distance travelled depends on the conditions on the day, and the pilot will do their utmost to use those conditions to give you the best possible experience, whether that's a slow drift over a mile or two, or a slightly speedier affair over 10 to 12 miles. Your height achieved will also depend on conditions on the day, usually between 1,500ft and 3,000ft. Higher isn't always better - let your pilot handle the specifics, you just have to go along for the ride and take in every moment.

Ballooning isn't about the destination, it's all about the journey. It's about seeing somewhere from a perspective very few people ever will. Because balloons aren't steered in the traditional sense, they travel with the wind, so every flight is a little different. All of our launch sites - with over 100 to choose from across the UK - have been carefully picked to give you the best possible vantage points. No two flights ever follow the same path, which means no two passengers ever see exactly the same view.

For many flying experiences, it's all about getting from A to B, or the speed in which it's done. Ballooning isn't. This experience is about the journey - that's why it's so special. Whilst many flying experiences are centred around pace and thrills, ours is about taking a breath and seeing the world from a unique perspective. It's calmer, but calmer is by no means boring. Tranquil isn't dull. This is still an outdoor adventure activity - it's still exciting, it's still fun, it's just unmistakably Virgin. Read more about why choose Virgin Balloon Flights for your next hot air balloon adventure.

We recommend it! Sharing this experience with loved ones or friends is one of our top tips. How else are you going to get that shot of you climbing into the basket or waving to the ground at take off? Our only advice to spectators: please don't try to follow the balloon by road. We have a highly experienced ground crew doing this, so you don't have to.

That's a great question, and one we can't answer! Ballooning is entirely wind-driven, and our big red Virgin balloons can't be steered in the traditional sense, so our pilots guide the aircraft along with the wind and catch different pools of air to slightly adjust course. Once your pilot has found the perfect place to land, they'll set the balloon down and the ground crew will be right behind. No two balloon flights ever finish in exactly the same place.

One of the biggest surprises about ballooning is just how sociable it becomes. Each of our baskets can comfortably accommodate 12 to 16 passengers, depending on which launch site you fly from. Each basket is split into four compartments, and passengers are split between them. Our pilot will always ensure you're situated alongside your flying companion - whether you're flying solo, part of a duo, or a larger party, a basket full of strangers at take-off often becomes a basket full of friends by the time you land.

You'll either be joining us bright and early or later in the day, which is when conditions are more favourable. As the sun heats the ground during the day, warm rising air creates bumpy conditions unsuited to ballooning, which is why flights are either early morning or early evening. Meeting times vary depending on daylight hours, so early and late in the year it could be as early as 7:30am or as late as 3:30pm. In the main summer months, it could be as early as 5:30am or as late as 7pm. It's all about the pilot finding the perfect weather window for your balloon flight experience.

This is why you're looking at Virgin - a brand you know and can trust. Ballooning is an incredibly safe experience that has been offered commercially for decades. The UK boasts one of the best safety records in the world, from regular "MOT" checks and meticulously maintained balloons through to highly trained, world-class pilots. Even down to those pesky weather cancellations - it's all to keep you safe. Pilots don't take chances: if there's ever any doubt, we simply don't fly. It's as simple as that. Read our buyer's guide for more on what to expect before you book.