Chances are you’ve come to this post while researching the best NYC helicopter tours. While there are tons to choose from, not all of them are created equally. If you’ve ever dreamed about doing an open door experience in New York City with your feet hanging out and taking selfies, then you have to go to FlyNYON for the ultimate NYC helicopter tour.
This blog post is a FlyNYON NYC helicopter tour review. I will be detailing my experience and how you too can also have the same amazing flight I did! Now you may be thinking, “Are you crazy? Weren’t you nervous? What if you’re afraid of heights?”
To be completely honest, I am terrified of heights but I’m even more scared of letting such an amazing experience pass me by. What’s more adrenaline inducing than being in a helicopter 2000 feet above the city? FlyNYON offers the incredible experience of the Manhattan helicopter tour of New York with incredible unobstructed views since the doors are off.
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Are New York helicopter tours worth it?
The answer is 1000x YES. I recommend this experience to tourists and locals alike. It gives you a different perspective on the city from a bird’s eye view. And it’ll help you marvel at all the architecture that makes the New York City skyline so unique.
How much is a helicopter ride over New York?
A helicopter ride over New York City can range from $180 for doors on and $238 for doors off. If you book through my link here, you can get it for $229. IMHO FlyNYON is the best NYC helicopter tour!
What should I wear for a helicopter tour in NYC?
On a helicopter ride, it’s best to wear warmer clothes. I recommend wearing jeans, a comfortable shirt (I’m wearing a onesie), close toed shoes and a light jacket. When you’re up in the air, it inevitably gets colder and you want to enjoy the experience as much as possible.
FlyNYON Flies Out of New Jersey
FlyNYON operates out of Kearny Heliport in New Jersey. Allow yourself ample time to get here as it does take awhile. I was staying in Washington Heights and it took me an hour and a half by public transport. They mostly operate NYC helicopter tour open door.
How To Prepare For Your FlyNYON NYC Helicopter Tour
- Arrive one hour and a half before your scheduled flight time – I made this mistake and had to wait for the next available flight. You will also be charged $75 for showing up late.
- Each passenger must have a photo ID prior to take off.
- Fill out the waiver in the email prior to your flight.
What to Expect Before FlyNYON NYC Helicopter Tour
Before the tour you will be hanging out in the hangar. Inside the building you’ll find a locker to store your valuables, a place to get your harness on, and an overall comfy lounge. There’s also a helicopter in there so you can pose with it. Since you’ll be busy on your FlyNYON helicopter NYC tour, this is when I suggest you take all your photos.
You also have the option of upgrading your flight. 10/10 highly recommend doing the 30 minute tour instead of the 16-19 minute one. You lose about 5 minutes flying over from New Jersey. Overall the 30 minute NYC helicopter tour price is a bit steep at $435, but it is soooooo worth it!
Before you go on the tour, you’ll watch a safety video and get to know your harness. Before we flew out, our pilot gave us our seating assignment. The assignment was a computer based seating chart on our weight so it would be evenly distributed throughout the helicopter. I got to sit in the back left hand corner.
Our pilot was also kind enough to strap us in. This made me feel safe because someone experienced was double checking us. Before the flight took off, we put on our headsets to hear directions and suggestions from our pilot.
About the FlyNYON Experience
FlyNYON is the most amazing helicopter tour over NYC because of all the incredible places I saw from up above. In order to get really cool photos, the pilot slowed down the helicopter so we could “float” above all the landmarks. One of the first places we flew over was Central Park. From the air, it’s legit mind blowing there’s a beautiful park in the middle of Manhattan. Just think how cool it would be to say, “I went on an NYC helicopter tour feet hanging!”
We next flew over lower Manhattan and the Husdon River. It’s fascinating how the most famous skyscrapers are down towards the bottom and with the best views of the water. Seriously every helicopter tour of NYC just needs to dedicate so much time to flying around this area because it’s so cool!
This New York City helicopter tour takes you over the Brooklyn Bridge too. Now that was flipping cool because this is the busiest bridge I’ve ever been on whether on foot or flying over it.
How To Take Pictures On A Helicopter Tour of NYC
You’re allowed to bring two devices. I brought my iPhone 14 Pro, my Sony A7iii DSLR camera, and my Sigma 24-70mm F 2.8 lens. I recommend having a sturdy camera strap if you do bring a DSLR. FlyNYON will give you a cellphone strap. You should remove your camera cover and let them tighten the screw on your camera so it doesn’t fall out of your hands during the flight.
I think I would definitely come back to do the NYC helicopter tour at night and at sunset. This was a one of a kind experience I cannot wait to do all over again! FlyNYON really helped me appreciate New York City and like it more than I did the first time I came. Remember to book through my link here to get a discount! 🙂 I hope this FlyNYON NYC helicopter tour review helped you choose your next flight.
Gina Bear was gifted this experience by FlyNYON in exchange for coverage on her social media and blog. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own.
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