To ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone who flies, passengers must be satisfied that they are physically able to take part in the experience. This means they must be able to climb in and out over the sides of the basket (which is approximately 1.1m high), stand unassisted for up to an hour, and be able to hold on and bend their knees to sit down for landing.
Passengers must also be able to fully understand and follow all instructions given by the pilot and react quickly to them in the unlikely event of an emergency.
Under Civil Aviation Law, the balloon pilot has a duty of care for all passengers and, ultimately, it is the pilot’s decision whether someone can safely participate on the day.
Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we are unable to fly women who are pregnant. However, if you become pregnant after purchasing a voucher, we will extend the validity of your voucher by 12 months. All you need to do is contact us and provide a copy of your MAT B1 form, which you will receive from your midwife.
Children as young as 8 years old can fly with us. However, as the basket is 1.1m high, we recommend that children are at least 1.4m tall so they can enjoy the view safely. Please note that children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
For safety reasons, we’re unable to accommodate passengers over 18 stone (115kg) unless a weight supplement is applied. This requires the purchase of two flight vouchers, allowing us to adjust passenger numbers to maintain a safe and comfortable experience for everyone. Please contact our office to discuss this in more detail.
You must not fly if you are suffering from a significant medical condition or if you have recently undergone major surgery. If you are unsure, we advise you to consult your GP before booking.
You must inform us in advance of any medical or physical conditions that could affect your safety or the safety of others. We may request a “Fit to Fly” note from your GP to meet our insurance requirements.
When booking a flight date, passengers are required to agree to our Terms & Conditions, which include a declaration that they are fit to fly.
Ballooning is an outdoor activity, so passengers should dress appropriately.
Sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing should be worn, like what you would wear for a countryside walk. Waterproof walking boots, thermal jackets, and jeans or hiking trousers are ideal. The air temperature can be slightly cooler at altitude, so we recommend wearing layers that can be added or removed for comfort.
Landing fields can sometimes be uneven, wet, or muddy, so please avoid wearing new white trainers, open-toe shoes, or platform footwear.
To keep space in the basket comfortable, please keep bags to a minimum. If you do need to bring a bag onboard, ensure it is as small as possible. Larger items can be left in our Land Rover during the flight.
Scarves, headscarves, or anything that wraps around the neck must not be worn during the inflation or landing phases of the flight.
Absolutely. Under the instruction of the pilot and ground crew, passengers are encouraged to help with the set-up and pack-down of the balloon before and after the flight. It’s all part of the experience – and great fun!
Yes. Our UK ballooning season runs from April to October each year.
Please see our Weather and Flexibility FAQs for more information about ballooning seasons and required weather conditions.
Yes. In fact, ballooning is one of the safest ways to fly and has an excellent safety record.
In the UK, ballooning is heavily regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, and we strictly adhere to their guidelines. Our pilots are extremely well trained through a world-renowned and highly regarded UK pilot training system.
Passenger safety is our number one priority, and we go above and beyond to ensure every flight is safe for our passengers, pilots, and ground crew.
Yes. All our balloons are fitted with seats, which are used during landing. This is the safest way to land in a hot air balloon.
Before your flight, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing from our pilot, during which you will practise landing positions. This involves “bums on seats, holding onto the handles in front of you with both hands, and heads back against the padding”.
Most of the time, the balloon remains upright during landing. Occasionally, in slightly faster landings, the basket may tip onto its side. This is completely normal, dictated by wind speed on the day, and is nothing to worry about – passengers find it a lot of fun!
Yes. As a commercial air operator, we carry a high level of insurance covering both ground and flight risks. This is set out by law and complies with Regulation (EC) No 785/2004 of the European Parliament.
We want you to feel confident flying with Yorkshire Balloon Flights and can assure you that you’re fully covered.
We have two main launch sites: York Knavesmire and Rawcliffe Country Park.
York Knavesmire is our primary launch site but may occasionally be unavailable due to race days or other events.
Address: Knavesmire Road, York YO23 1EX
You can also search Yorkshire Balloon Flights on Google Maps or use what3words: soils.cones.goats. Parking is free along Knavesmire Road, and we meet on the hardstanding just beyond the three large metal gates.
Rawcliffe Country Park is our backup launch site when the Knavesmire is unavailable.
Address: Shipton Road, Rawcliffe, York YO30 5XZ
Search Rawcliffe Country Park on Google Maps or use what3words: butter.luck.logs.
Parking is free at the Rawcliffe Park & Ride, located next to the launch site. We meet passengers opposite the main bus stop.
We go wherever the wind takes us – that’s the magic of ballooning! While we never know exactly where we’ll land, flights typically travel between 10 and 20 miles from the launch site. We usually land in private farmland or occasionally on private airfields surrounding York.
Generally, we fly between 1,000 and 2,000 feet. Occasionally, the pilot may fly higher to find a faster wind or a different wind direction.
We work with a trusted local transport provider to return passengers to the launch site after landing.
All flights take place either in the morning or evening, depending on sunrise and sunset times.
Morning meet times can range from as early as 04:30 to as late as 08:30.
Evening meet times can range from as early as 15:00 to as late as 19:00, depending on the time of year.
The flight itself usually lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour. The full experience lasts approximately 3 to 4 hours, including meeting, set-up, safety briefings, the flight, pack-down, celebratory bubbly, and transport back to the launch site.
Yes. Before your flight, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing from our pilot, covering landing positions and all safety aspects of your flight.
On shared flights, our baskets carry between 8 and 14 passengers, plus the pilot.
Exclusive flights carry 2 passengers, plus the pilot.
Friends and family are welcome to watch the launch but must keep a safe distance during set-up and inflation. We also ask that they do not follow the balloon during the flight, as we often land on private farmland where access is not permitted.
To change your booking, please contact our office at hello@yorkshireballoonflights.co.uk or call 01904 914376. We require at least 5 days’ notice to cancel or postpone a booking.
You can request a flight date via our website by following these steps:
If you have an Exclusive Flight for Two voucher, please contact our office directly to book.
Please note that bookings are not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from us.
Hot air ballooning requires light winds, good visibility, dry weather, and firm ground conditions.
Weather conditions can be complex. Even if the day appears calm and clear, it may still be unsuitable for ballooning. Our decisions are based on detailed aviation-specific forecasts, including wind speed and direction at multiple altitudes, thermal activity, sea-breeze effects, atmospheric stability, wind shear and other factors.
Your safety is our priority, and we will never fly in unsafe conditions.
We understand how disappointing cancellations can be, but safety always comes first. Ballooning is highly weather-dependent, and it’s common to experience several weather-related cancellations before flying.
Very occasionally, other factors beyond our control – such as mechanical issues, staffing, or insufficient passenger numbers – may also prevent a flight from going ahead.
As a commercial operator, we do not base our decisions on what other balloonists are doing. Our pilots follow strict commercial operating limits and make decisions based on aviation forecasting and experience. These limits are far more stringent than those for private balloon flying.
Before your flight, you must call our Weather-Line and listen carefully to the message, which will confirm the launch location, meeting time, and flight status.
Weather Line: 07510 518882
Occasionally, we may contact passengers in advance if severe weather is clearly forecast.
Yorkshire Balloon Flights vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
We will extend your voucher free of charge for a further 12 months if you have made five or more flight attempts during the original validity period.
If fewer than five attempts have been made, we can extend your voucher for an additional 12 months for a £40 extension fee per person.
Flight vouchers are non-refundable. However, purchases may be cancelled in writing within 14 days of purchase. A full refund will be issued minus a £10 administration fee per person.
Yes. We allow name changes on vouchers, provided this is authorised by the original voucher holder and the new passenger agrees to our Terms & Conditions.
We cannot accept vouchers that have been resold to third parties.
Morning flights offer the best chance of flying, with cooler temperatures and generally lighter winds. Evening flights, especially in summer, are more likely to be cancelled due to heat-related instability and sea-breeze effects from York’s proximity to the coast. Early starts are worth it!
Contact our office to join our standby list. We’ll only contact you if a flight with available spaces is very likely to go ahead.
Ballooning conditions are usually best when a high-pressure system is in place. If the forecast mentions “high pressure”, it’s often a great time to book.
Frequent booking increases your chances of flying sooner and counts towards your five flight attempts, which qualify you for a free 12-month voucher extension.
We’re a family-run business without a call centre, so email is often the fastest way to reach us. We respond to emails throughout the day whenever possible.
