Frequently Asked Questions

We accept Cash (NZD), EFTPOS, WeChat, AliPay, Afterpay, Union Pay and most major credit cards including American Express, Visa & Mastercard.

Please note there is a 2.50% surcharge for all credit cards and international debit cards.

Check-in is 30 minutes prior to departure. If your group is larger than ten, please allow 45 minutes.

Our office is centrally located in town at 10 Main Road, Franz Josef. After you have checked in our driver and van will take you to our private helipad a just few minutes down the road.

There is street parking in front of our office, additionally there is a car park just across the road which is also suitable for camper vans.

Unfortunately, due to the ever-changing weather, we can never 100% guarantee a landing. We aim to inform you at check-in if there is a chance you may be unable to land during the flight and discuss options available with you.

In the event of an overflight your flight time will be reduced to reflect the time that would have been spent on the time. We will refund you the cost of the landing fee we no longer have to pay, unless you have book a reduced fare then there will be no difference in price.

We have one of the longest landing times in town! Typically, your snow landing will generally last around 10-15 minutes depending on your flight length, so you can take plenty of photos & our pilots can take some of you too! Landings are always weather conditions permitting.

We can fly up to 16 people between the three helicopters at once, so although it may not always be possible, we will always try our best to accommodate these requests. Requests need to be made in advance not on the day.

Yes, but please let check in staff know this may happen as we need to inform the pilot prior to take off.

It is technically possible to apply for a permit to use a drone but it is not common for these permits to be approved due to the number of helicopters in the region and the National Park regulations. Flying a drone without a permit can result in large fines and charges from the Civil Aviation Association and New Zealand Police. More information can be found on the below links.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/apply-for-permits/drone-use-on-conservation-land/using-drones-in-national-parks

https://www.airshare.co.nz/tourist-questions-answered

We have a 24hour cancellation policy and all changes need to be made prior to 24hours. Cancellations within 24hours will be charged the full amount of their fare and seats forfeited. 

If you need to change your flight within the 24hour period, please contact us as soon as possible so we have more time to try fill those seats and then we will be able to see if rescheduling you is possible.

For direct bookings we don't take payment until check in due to the large number of reschedules we have. If a flight is cancelled after check-in and payment has been taken you can either reschedule the flight free of charge to another day or time or if unable, we will refund your flight in full.

If you have booked & paid in advance through a third party, you will be refunded by them according to their own time frames.

We have a 24hour cancellation policy and check in is 30minutes prior to your departure. If you think you will be late, please contact us as soon as possible so we have more time to try fill those seats and then will be able to look at rescheduling you if possible. No shows or missed check ins will be charged the full amount of their fare and seats forfeited.

Yes, it is extremally likely you will be sharing the helicopter with others. We require 4 passengers for the flight to depart, smaller and solo bookings will be paired up together. If you do not wish to share we do have private charter options available.

Our helicopter seats are 40cm wide, if you want more space we offer a 'comfort seat' option at booking which will guarantee an empty seat next to you on your flight.

No, we cannot guarantee these as we need to allocate seats at check in after weighing each passenger and seat them according to each helicopter's specific weight and balance regulations - this is for safety reasons. The front seats have the most restrictive conditions. Private charters do have more flexibility and we are happy to discuss seating with your charter booking but there are still specific weight and balance regulations for each helicopter we need to meet.

Yes, maximum weight limits are applicable according to our weight and balance so do vary based on the machines requirements, all passengers on boards weight and flight lengths. Our helicopter seats are 40cm wide, if you are wider than this or you want more space we offer a 'comfort seat' option at booking which will guarantee an empty seat next to you on your flight.

Not as such, but there is a maximum take off weight for the flight and this does vary for each flight according to the other passengers weights and the helicopters weight and balance requirements. Certain seats have stricter weight requirements than others.

Our helicopter seats are 40cm wide, if you think you are wider than this or would prefer extra space we do offer a 'comfort seat' which will guarantee an empty seat next to you.

Our helicopter seats are 40cm wide. A comfort seat can be booked in advance which guarantees an empty seat next to you in the helicopter. If you would prefer extra space or you think you are over 40cm wide we highly recommend this.

Yes, infant prices are available on all flights. For infants the price will automatically be applied at check out.

We are currently running a children's special when booking directly on our website. At check out use the promo code CHILD20 to redeem a 20% off childrens fares on scenic flights.

We do not have any restrictions but if you are concerned, we would recommend talking to your doctor or midwife and following their advice.

As infants and small children can't pressurize their ears like adults we recommend bringing a dummy, bottle or something for them to suck during the last 2-3 minutes of the flight as we descend.

Most infants and children fly really well but occasionally some will get uncomfortable ears in the last couple of minutes of the flight & having something for them to suck helps this.

0-3yrs is classed as an infant. They must be under 15kgs & sitting on a parents knee.

4-17yrs is classed a child. They will have their own seat.

All infants & children must have an adult with them.

Yes, the glaciers are there all year round. Although Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers are the most famous names, there are over 1000 glaciers in the Southern Alps.

We recommend you bring a warm jacket in the winter and all year around sunglasses, sturdy footwear and your camera/phone for some amazing photos. The helicopter is comfortable temperature and the snow landing is generally only a couple of degrees colder than town so in the summer you'll often find people on the snow in shorts and t-shirts

For safety reasons, we only allow you to take a phone and/or camera. All clothing must be worn so it can't come loose. Please do not bring selfie sticks, handles for cameras, drones, flammable liquids, lighters, open food or drink or any bags (bum bags, camera bags, handbags, backpacks will get in the way of your seatbelts and there is not spare space in the helicopter for them). If you require emergency medicine or wish to take something for a special occasion please let staff know in advance so pilots can be made aware and ground staff can look at arranging this in advance.

Our office is centrally located on the Franz Josef main street so walking distance from most accommodation, however if you do not have a vehicle, we can offer a local accommodation pick up free of charge (subject to availability, particularly in peak season).

We fly all year round, weather permitting. Please book in advance particularly for these busy days.

Our safety video has subtitles in a number of different languages available, so we’ll make sure you feel comfortable loading in and out the helicopter. Unfortunately we only currently have English speaking pilots for the commentary during flights but they'll point out the main sites and you'll still get amazing views

No, we offer scenic flights with a snow landing.

Heli hikes are a different experience completely. They are a half day experience, the helicopter flight is 2-3 minutes to the glacier and 2-3 hours are spent hiking on the ice. There is just one company at each glacier that provides these - Fox Glacier Guiding or Franz Josef Guides.

Yes, for those travelling internationally or from out of the area for hunting or back country camping we can pass on contact details for firearms hire in Christchurch and a local MIA Westlander III tent with it's own fire that is available to hire

As with any activity there is always some degree of risk, we ask that you follow staff instructions to lower and eliminate these risks.

Under our Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) certification we must meet the same requirements as the likes of Air New Zealand or the international airline you flew to New Zealand on.

Both our company and pilots all have great safety records. We have a small immaculate fleet and use modern technology so you know you will be in good hands.

Any accidents are covered by ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) whilst you are in NZ.

Your travel insurance provider should be able to help with any additional insurances you require.

We do not have any restrictions but if you are concerned, we would recommend talking to your doctor.

If you suffer from motion sickness in cars or boats, we would suggest taking your normal motion sickness medication or consultant your pharmacist before your flight. In the unlikely event you are unwell, sick bags are carried in all our helicopters and vans.

You do need to be able to get in and out of the helicopter, but we will do our best to assist you with this. There are two steep steps to get up into them. Due to limited assistance being available on the landing sites, you may have to stay in the helicopter during the landing. If you have limited mobility please let us know at the time of booking.