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How much does a helicopter tour of New York cost
The cost depends on the minutes in the air, the base you take off from, and how many people share the cabin. Here you find the true starting prices, the extras that apply, and how not to pay more than you need to.
Check availabilityfrom $273 · free cancellation
Editorial team, giroinelicotteronewyork.comUpdated on October 17, 20267 min read15 sources
In short
- 01The flight this site covers
- The HeliNY Manhattan tour starts at $273 per person, with 15-30 minutes in the air.
- 02Statue and skyline
- A similar flight, lasting 12 to 30 minutes, starts at $270.
- 03Children
- Children aged 2 and up get their own seat and pay the full price.
- 04Surcharge
- Those who book a Manhattan flight directly on the HeliNY website pay an additional $45 per seat for facility and fuel.1
- 05The entire cabin to yourself
- A private flight for couples from Westchester starts at $995.
The starting price and what it gets you
The cost of a helicopter tour of New York depends on three choices: how many minutes you spend in the air, which base you take off from, and whether you share the cabin with other passengers. The flight described on this site, the HeliNY Manhattan sightseeing tour, starts at $273 per person for a 15- to 30-minute flight, depending on the option you choose. The word "from" marks the starting point: the exact total appears when you set the date, option, and number of guests.
That price includes the flight in a small group of up to 6 passengers, with live commentary in English. Before takeoff you watch a safety video, available in English, French, German, and Spanish: Italian is not offered, but the instructions are easy to follow from the visuals. The listing does not mention transfers from the hotel, so you get to the base by your own means and should budget for that trip as well.
Right next to this flight, several very similar ones are sold. A flight over the Statue of Liberty and skyline lasts 12 to 30 minutes and starts at $270, another sightseeing flight of 15 to 30 minutes starts at $272. The price difference between these flights is small: to choose, look instead at where you depart from, the language of the commentary, and how much time you actually spend in the air. These details, rather than a few cents of difference, decide whether the flight stays with you or leaves you with the feeling of having seen too little.
Minutes in the air: what changes between the options
From Manhattan the listing of our flight offers three durations: a 12- to 15-minute flight, a 17- to 20-minute flight, and a 25- to 30-minute flight. On its own website HeliNY sells flights with the same durations and explains what you see on each one. The shortest goes from Downtown up to Central Park, the 17- to 20-minute option climbs up to the George Washington Bridge at the top of the island, and the longest also descends toward the Verrazzano Bridge, Staten Island, and southern Brooklyn.234
If your budget is tight, the short flight already shows you the postcard New York: the tip of Manhattan, the Midtown skyscrapers, and the green of the park.2 The longer options are for those who want to see the whole city, the river all the way to the northern bridge, and the harbor open toward the ocean. Before you pay, ask yourself what really interests you: a few extra minutes over the same skyline do not always add much.
One detail the price does not mention concerns flights from Westchester. There, the 30-minute option does not reach Lower Manhattan or the Statue of Liberty. The shared flight from Westchester starts at $395 with options from 30 to 45 minutes: if the Statue is the purpose of your trip, on the booking page choose the long option and check that the route includes it. If in doubt, write to the operator before you pay: asking costs less than finding out once you are in the air.
Minutes in the air
How long does each option fly
min
Comparison
Starting prices for sale flights
| Flight | Departure | Minutes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| HeliNY Manhattan tour | Manhattan or New Jersey | 15-30 | from $273 |
| Statue of Liberty and skyline | Pier 6, Manhattan | 12-30 | from $270 |
| Panoramic tour | Pier 6, Manhattan | 15-30 | from $272 |
| Skyline from New Jersey | Essex County Airport | 25 | from $315 |
| Shared flight | Westchester | 30-45 | from $395 |
| Private for couples | Westchester | 30-45 | from $995 |
"From" prices as shown by each listing on GetYourGuide, not exact prices; the departure is the one indicated by the listing.
Choose in one minute
Which flight for your budget
Start from what matters most to you.
Statue and skyline
From $270, with a flight from 12 to 30 minutes from Pier 6.
The HeliNY tour
Live commentary in English, maximum 6 passengers.
Statue and skyline
It has a recorded audio guide that also includes Italian.
Private for couples
Private flight from Westchester, from $995, from 30 to 45 minutes.
A departure from New Jersey
There are no Sunday flights from Manhattan, but there are from New Jersey.
Children aged 2 and up pay the full price because, according to FAA rules, they must have their own seat. Children under 2 must sit on an adult's lap, at no cost.
The departure base weighs on the final cost
Downtown Manhattan Heliport is at Pier 6 on the East River, a 5-minute walk from South Ferry station, the terminal for the subway Line 1.67 From Times Square you can reach it in about 30 minutes by subway or taxi.8 If you are staying in Manhattan, this is the most convenient and affordable base to reach: you just need a subway ticket, no commuter trains or long taxi rides.
From New Jersey the picture is different. A skyline flight from Essex County Airport in Fairfield starts at $315, and the base is about 35 to 60 minutes from Manhattan depending on traffic. By public transport, for a flight from that same base, you take the NJ Transit train from Penn Station and then a 10 to 15 minute taxi, for a total of about 60 to 75 minutes. On top of the flight price you then need to add the train and taxi fare, both ways.
HeliNY also operates from Linden in New Jersey, and from there shuttles passengers from the Linden NJ Transit station.910 For Westchester, the Metro-North train takes 35 minutes from Grand Central to White Plains, plus 15 minutes by taxi. On a private flight from Westchester, the transfer from any point in Manhattan is added as an option at an extra cost. When you compare a Manhattan flight with one from outside the city, be sure to factor in both the time and cost of getting to the base: sometimes that is where the real difference lies.
Before paying
What to check in the summary
01
In the price
- The duration of the chosen option, from 15 to 30 minutes
- The group, maximum 6 passengers
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
02
To keep in mind
- Subway, train, or taxi to the base
- A second seat beyond the weight threshold of the flight
- The full seat for children aged 2 and up
Calculator
How much does your group spend
Choose how many people fly and compare the totals.
People
Total from$545
per person from $273
Check availabilityfree cancellation"From" prices according to GetYourGuide, converted at the reference ECB rate. The exact price is shown at the time of booking.
Video
How much does a New York sightseeing flight cost
The video loads only when you press play.
Supplements, children, and weight
When you book directly on the HeliNY website for a Manhattan flight, in addition to the seat price you pay a facility and fuel surcharge of $45 per seat, which may vary by season.1 When you book on GetYourGuide, check the summary before you pay: the total shown there is what counts. If you compare the price with the operator's own website, always compare total with total, not the seat price with a total.
There are no discounts for children: from age 2 they have their own seat and pay the full price. HeliNY flies children under 2 on an adult's lap at no extra cost, and asks that you mention this at the time of booking.5 For a family with young children this changes the cost considerably, so always indicate the correct age when you fill in the booking. An incorrect age can cause you to be denied boarding at check-in, when it is already too late to sort things out.
Weight can also cost extra. On the Statue of Liberty and skyline flight, anyone weighing over 113 kg must purchase a second seat; on another flight from Pier 6 the threshold is 124 kg. The seats on board are assigned by the total weight of all passengers on the flight, so you cannot pay extra to sit in the front. If your weight is close to these limits, clarify with the operator beforehand: it is simpler than finding out at check-in.
When the flight becomes private
On HeliNY flights the only way to have the cabin to yourself is to buy all 6 seats, with no discount for this choice.11 For a couple this is a high expense; for families or groups of friends who fill the helicopter, the cost is closer to that of a shared flight: you would be paying for the seats anyway. In that case it makes sense to do the math with the whole group before choosing a shared flight out of habit.
There are also flights that are private from the start. The couple's flight from Westchester starts at $995 and lasts 30 to 45 minutes; the private group flight for 2 to 6 people starts at $1,710. A 30-minute private charter flight with champagne starts at $4,690. Before you book, read carefully whether the listed price is for the whole group or per person: on private flights the difference is significant. If the answer is not clear on the page, ask the operator before you pay.
For special occasions there are dedicated packages. The proposal flight starts at $3,780 and is non-refundable: it can only be rescheduled in case of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances. The HeliNY proposal package starts at $3,520 and cannot be moved within 48 hours of the flight. Those who want to try the controls can choose the Westchester flight experience from $705, which does not enter New York airspace.
Cancelling, rescheduling, and saving money
The HeliNY flight on GetYourGuide can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund, and you can book now and pay later. This is not true for all: FlyNYON walk-on flights are non-refundable.12 Before you confirm, always check the cancellation terms of the flight you have chosen, especially if your travel dates are not very flexible. With free cancellation you can book early without committing too much, and decide later with the weather forecast in mind.
There is no such thing as an inexpensive helicopter tour of New York, in the sense of a half-price flight: among the flights we track, the lowest starting price is $270. You can save by making smart choices: the Manhattan base saves you train and taxi rides, and booking early in your trip leaves room for a reschedule if the weather does not cooperate, as HeliNY recommends.13 And if the group is large, check that everyone flies on the same helicopter or be prepared to split up.
Weather is the factor you cannot control. Light rain that does not reduce visibility may still allow flying, while heavy rain or fog can lead to cancellations, sometimes at the last minute.14 From Manhattan, Sunday is a no-fly day: only departures from New Jersey are available on that day. HeliNY recommends booking at least 2 weeks in advance, so plan ahead if you already have your dates set.15
Ready to fly?
Manhattan awaits you, seen from above
Choose duration, date, and departure point: the price is shown right away, payment can wait.
You ask,we answer.
What is the starting price of the HeliNY flight?
From $273 per person. This is for the Manhattan tour sold on GetYourGuide, 15 to 30 minutes in the air; you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before.
Do children pay less?
No, from age 2 they pay the full price. From age 2 they have their own seat; under age 2 HeliNY flies them on an adult's lap at no cost.5
Does the price include hotel transfers?
Not indicated in the listing. The HeliNY flight does not include transfers; on private flights from Westchester, the transfer from Manhattan is an option at an extra cost.
Are there supplements beyond the seat price?
Yes, on the HeliNY website. When you book on the operator's website for a Manhattan flight, you pay $45 per seat for facility and fuel; on GetYourGuide the summary total is what counts.1
Do you pay more above a certain weight?
Yes, a second seat. On a flight from Pier 6 a second seat is required above 113 kg, on another above 124 kg.
How much does a private flight cost?
From $995 for the couple's flight. The private couple's flight departs from Westchester and lasts 30 to 45 minutes; the group private flight for 2 to 6 people starts at $1,710.
Can I cancel if I change my mind?
Yes, up to 24 hours before. The HeliNY flight can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours before; FlyNYON walk-on flights are non-refundable.12
Sources
Where the information comes from
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- 5HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
- 6HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
- 7HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
- 8HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
- 9HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
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- 11HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
- 12FlyNYONFlyNYON FAQs↩
- 13HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
- 14HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
- 15HeliNYHeliNY FAQ↩
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