Grand Island helicopter tour in New York

With its iconic skyline, world-famous landmarks, and bustling streets, New York City has captivated the hearts and imaginations of people from around the globe. 

Hop onto an extraordinary and unforgettable aerial adventure with the New York Helicopter Grand Island Tour to witness the “concrete jungle,” with its towering skyscrapers and world-famous landmarks.

As you take off from a helipad, NYC’s skyline unfurls beneath you, revealing its most popular attractions.

This article will explain everything you need to know before booking the Grand Island helicopter tour.

What to expect from the Grand Island helicopter tour

Grand Island Tour
Image: Bennymarty from Getty Images

The Grand Island heli tour flies you over the majestic Statue of Liberty, the historic Ellis Island, the awe-inspiring Empire State Building, the sprawling Central Park, and much more.

Witness the city’s most desirable sights in a single breathtaking sweep.

As you glide through the sky, you’ll be treated to stunning vistas of New York City’s architectural marvels, offering a unique opportunity to appreciate their scale and beauty. 

The aerial perspective allows you to see the intricate patterns formed by the city’s streets, bridges, and parks, revealing a symphony of urban planning and design.

Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, Chrysler Building, and many more tourist attractions are all within your reach in a span of a few minutes.

Capture stunning photographs of the panoramic view to cherish for a lifetime.

Get aboard the helicopter to take you on a journey you will never forget.

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Cost of the heli tour

The NYC Grand Island helicopter ride tickets cost US$363 per person for people above 2 years of age.

There is no ticket required for infants and they must sit on the caregiver’s lap throughout the flight.

The ticket gives access to approximately 30 minutes in the air and includes all local taxes. 

Departure point

The aircraft for this tour takes off from Downtown Manhattan Heliport.

Address: 6 East River Piers, New York, NY 10004, USA. Get Directions.

The heliport is near public transportation.

To reach the meeting point, use the MTA Subway and take the R train to the Whitehall stop.

Walk north past the Staten Island Ferry to the gray two-story building on the right with the large clock on it.

There are multiple take-offs daily, so book early to get your preferred time slot.

The tour ends back at the meeting point.

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Timings of the tour

The Grand Island helicopter tour in New York’s first batch takes off at 9 am on all days of the week except Sunday.

There is a tour every thirty minutes till 6 pm when the last batch of tourists takes off for their aerial view of New York City.

Most tour operators prefer their participants reach the meeting point 45 minutes before the aircraft’s departure.

Exclusions of the air tour

A heliport fee of $40 is not included in your ticket. However, you are expected to pay it before taking off.

Your ticket price also excludes gratuities.

Additionally, the Grand Island New York Helicopter tour tickets is not inclusive of hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Restrictions strictly followed

Weight limits apply for a safe and comfortable New York Helicopter Tour: Grand Island.

No passenger must weigh over 300 lbs./136 kg.

Passengers exceeding 250 lbs./113 kg. need to purchase an additional seat.

A minimum of four and a maximum of six passengers are required on this tour, failing which, it will be canceled.

The tour provides multilingual live commentary. However, audio language selection is not guaranteed and is based on availability. 

If narration in over two languages is requested on the same flight, the audio commentary may default to English.

Infants and children are allowed onboard, but infants must sit on the caregiver’s lap throughout the flight.

The flight also requires a $40 heliport fee for children under 2.

The flight is not recommended for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

No object other than a camera, phone, or glasses/sunglasses is allowed aboard the aircraft.

A valid photo ID is required.

No pets are allowed onboard except service animals.

Flight times are approximate based on winds, weights, and conditions.

Seating arrangements may often be in the hands of the tour organizers for a safe and stable flight.

Reviews of Grand Island Helicopter Ride

The Grand Island Helicopter tour over New York is a popular choice for business purposes and among couples, families, friends, solo travelers, and adventure-seekers.

Here’s what they have to say about the tour:

Unforgettable experience

Short wait time, perfect organization, very friendly staff, and excellent safety instructions. They help you however much they can. A trip I would never forget. The whole team was courteous, helpful, and very professional. Thank you to the team.

Michael B, Trip Advisor

Loved it

We actually went on this with my older daughter as part of her birthday. The pilot made the trip very enjoyable and even took some pictures afterward. He’s a terrific pilot with a great sense of humor. Would recommend this company.

Alistairbrooker1, Trip Advisor

Lovely, exciting, and breathtaking. All the people working with Zip Aviation were very nice and professional. We had a great time with Andrew, the Irish pilot. He was fun and really knew what he was doing. It felt really safe flying around, and I would love to do this again.

Climber54921900986, Trip Advisor

Accessibility to the tour

This tour is completely accessible to guests with disabilities.

The aircraft, transportation, and surfaces are completely wheelchair accessible, preventing any inconvenience for the guests.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before your tour date. 

If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, a 100% percent cancellation fee is applicable.

No changes are allowed within 24 hours of the experience’s start time.

Helicopter tours require good weather. 

If the tour is canceled due to poor weather or non-fulfillment of the minimum number of passengers, you may be offered a different date or a full refund.

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Researched & Written by
For Vanshita, traveling is not just a hobby but the truest form of self-expression. She has a penchant for road trips, spontaneous detours, captivating landscapes, and cultural encounters. She loves collecting souvenirs from the places she visits and taking snapshots with a story to tell. Her favorite cities are Boston, Budapest, and Nikko.

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