The experience in 10 steps
we can't wait for you to experience a hot air balloon ride!
Hot air balloon rides are a beautiful experience that are widely misunderstood and misrepresented on social media. Think of it like a slow elevator ride with the best scenery all around you.
We have described the experience for you below for you to mentally prepare for the big day!
We ask you to arrive before sunrise, so expect the parking lot to be dark and cold. If you do not see our van with the trailer, sit still and patiently wait for our arrival.
We will signal you to leave your vehicle and walk over for you to check out the basket and have a chat with the team.
We'd rather break your heart than your legs, our pilot makes an important call to check the surrounding weather conditions to see if it is safe to fly.
Unfortunately, we cannot control the weather and it can catch us off guard sometimes (yes, even if the weather channel said it'd be perfect weather)
If the weather conditions aren't safe, the balloon pilot will make a decision to either wait several minutes for the weather to die down or cancel the flight.
If your flight gets cancelled, we will re-schedule your flight or accept your ticket up to two years from the date of cancellation.
The team will start setting up the equipment. Then, our pilot will call you over to the basket to go over the "pilot breifing" this is the set of rules you are to follow throughout the flight for the safety of all passengers.
We will then get ready to inflate the envelope and prepare for lift off.
After the pilot breifing, we will begin to inflate the balloon envelope. This process takes about 10-15 minutes. This process is done by opening the throat of the balloon and inflating it with two large fans that are placed by the sides of the basket.
The balloon is then filled with hot air as the pilot ignites the burners.
Once the hot air lifts the balloon into a vertical position, the pilot will call all passengers over to board the basket. (This is an important moment because the combined weight of all passengers keeps the balloon from flying away)
Keep in mind that the basket has no gate or opening, passengers must climb over the 4 foot basket. (We provide a step stool for passengers that may need assistance)
From the moment passengers get on the basket, there is a 1 minute time frame before we lift off. We use this time as a photo opportunity where our crew members grab your phone to take a picture of you with your party form outside of the basket. (Don't worry, we hand back all devices before you take off)
As you can imagine...the rest is for you to experience in person!
After we are done packing the balloon up. We will celebrate our flight by entertaining you with the history of hot air ballooning accompanied by some champagne and mimosas.
We will drive all passengers back to the original parking location at no extra cost!
Farewell! Go share your story with the world! 7 out of 10 people come back to fly with us or another hot air balloon in their life.
MOre important details about the ride
A hot air balloon trip is probably not for you if you have a severe fear of heights. The majority of passengers, however, claim that they felt quite comfortable and protected during their travel. Without ideal weather conditions, a balloon cannot take off (more on that later), and your pilot is highly skilled. The basket is tall enough to reach the rib cage of a person of normal height, even though you won’t be strapped into it. You won’t lose your balance. You could have a moment of trepidation as the earth grows smaller and smaller as the balloon takes flight. Relax. Most hot air balloon rides are merely a few feet above the treetops to 2,000 feet in height.
Anticipate your balloon journey to be warm, even in chilly conditions. The burners on the balloon are similar to being close to a blazing campfire. Be ready by dressing in a few layers that you can take off as the trip gets warmer. Sweating through the whole hot air balloon flight can quickly ruin it.
First of all, be certain that your pilot shares your desire to take off. But in less than ideal weather, he or she won't put your security in danger. Be ready for a change in the schedules of your flights. The need to abruptly cancel a flight may arise even if you are already on the launch field. The pilot makes the choice since they are the experts. You won't be able to fly that day if the wind speed is 10 mph or higher. Any anticipated rain will also abruptly stop a scheduled flight. But don't worry. When the conditions are ideal, you'll get to fly.
It would be a good idea to reconsider wearing those pretty heels on your trip. When riding in a hot air balloon, there are no seats or chairs. Wearing a comfy pair of athletic shoes your best bet, especially because of the rough terrain we will land in. Closed toe shoes will protect you from mesquite, cacti, and small critters.
Your balloon experience should take between three and four hours. Nobody wants to stand for that long in uncomfortably tight shoes. Get the most out of your first hot air balloon journey by being well-prepared.
Yes, it is very sturdy. You could be concerned that when other passengers walk about, the hot air balloon basket will begin to shake. Simply said, this is untrue. A smooth trip depends on the hot air balloon's basket's stability. Manufacturers are aware of this and take steps to ensure that everyone is secure.
Expect a rocky landing. Each passenger will get special instructions from your pilot on how to help ensure a gentle and comfortable landing. The only thing you need to worry about is listening to the pilot and acting on his exact landing instructions.
After the pilot breifing, we will begin to inflate the balloon envelope. This process takes about 10-15 minutes. This process is done by opening the throat of the balloon and inflating it with two large fans that are placed by the sides of the basket.
The balloon is then filled with hot air as the pilot ignites the burners.
Once the hot air lifts the balloon into a vertical position, the pilot will call all passengers over to board the basket. (This is an important moment because the combined weight of all passengers keeps the balloon from flying away)
Keep in mind that the basket has no gate or opening, passengers must climb over the 4 foot basket. (We provide a step stool for passengers that may need assistance)
From the moment passengers get on the basket, there is a 1 minute time frame before we lift off. We use this time as a photo opportunity where our crew members grab your phone to take a picture of you with your party form outside of the basket. (Don't worry, we hand back all devices before you take off)
As you can imagine...the rest is for you to experience in person!
After we are done packing the balloon up. We will celebrate our flight by entertaining you with the history of hot air ballooning accompanied by some champagne and mimosas.
We will drive all passengers back to the original parking location at no extra cost!
Farewell! Go share your story with the world! 7 out of 10 people come back to fly with us or another hot air balloon in their life.
Air Carriage over texas
Hours of Operation
- Tuesday - Friday
- 07:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Saturday - Sunday
- 07:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Holidays
- Ask For Availability
- Best Hot Air Balloon Experience
- Best Experience For Your Family
- Enjoy Mimosas After Your Flight
- Tell a Great Story For The Rest of Your Life
Proudly providing hot air balloon rides for explorers near Austin, Texas.
- Austin Texas
- hotairart@yahoo.com
- (512) 766-0018
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Hours Of Operation
- Monday
- Tuesday-Saturday
- Holidays
- CLOSED
- 07:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Call For Availability
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