So, you did it! You have booked your first hot air balloon flight. But you’ve no idea what to expect. How fast will the balloon go up, will you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach, what about all the wind up there, will you be safe? Wait, let’s cancel it, it sounds scary. Noooo, just read on and the whole experience will be crystal clear to you.
First of all, congratulations for booking with UpBallooning, you have booked with one of the best ballooning companies in Italy. We are part of Balloon Team Italy and we have an impeccable, accident-free safety record. You are in safe hands. But how does it work? What should you expect now you’ve booked a hot air balloon ride? And what will the day look like?
Now you’ve booked with us, you should expect a confirmation email or message with the exact information regarding take off time, take-off location and the total time you need for the experience. We change the take-off time depending on the time of year you fly, but expect to begin your day early. We can meet as early as 6:30am in the summer months, especially if you want to be there to watch the hot air balloons inflating (I would, it’s a lot of fun). The field we usually take off from is in San Casciano, here are the exact coordinates, but we also have alternative fields we use if the wind is different on the day. Don’t worry, you will be kept fully informed. Of course we also have a take-off site in the heart of Florence, if you’re lucky enough to have the correct wind to allow for this flight (Northeast wind), the take off is in the city. The whole experience last about 3 hours, and here’s a breakdown of what happens on this magical morning:
Arrival
You arrive at the field, park your car and are greeted by one of the team. There should be several hot air balloon companies working at the same time, and depending on what time you arrive, the teams will have the balloons on the ground, ready to begin inflating or they will already be filling them up with hot air. You will be directed to your balloon, there you will see a team working hard to get everything going. The pilot or one of the team will come to greet you and make sure you are at the correct balloon. You should stay near your balloon at all times, waiting for the pilot to give you instructions of when you should board.
Boarding
The time has come to get inside the basket. Our baskets are very safe and sturdy, they need to be able to withstand rough landings in an emergency, don’t worry they’re not made of just wicker, there is metal reinforcing it. You will use the purpose steps on the side of the basket to board. The first person to get in should be the pilot, then one by one, the passengers. The first passenger needs to be the strongest, to help the others get in who may need some assistance. Remember, you can only fly in a hot air balloon if you are fit and healthy, so you won’t need that much help to get in. Once all the passengers have boarded we can have the safety briefing. Our typical balloon has room for 5 or 6 passengers. But there are also two people and 16 people hot air balloons on our fleet.
Briefing
Once everyone is inside the balloon the pilot will explain about safety. He will show you the position to be in during landing and tell you what you can and cannot do during the flight. Basically you can enjoy the ballooning experience, take many photos, talk, sing, ask questions, but the pilot must concentrate, so don’t be offended if he goes quiet for a while. He also needs to communicate with the other pilots who are in the air, they exchange information about the different directions of the wind in the different heights, in order to steer the balloon to a good landing spot.
Takeoff
And we have lift-off! The balloon takes off, you should expect this to be very gentle, in fact you will be surprised that it’s hard to notice you’re going up at all, it just looks like the scenery is changing. Why is that? Simple, the balloon moves with the wind, this means you will hardly feel it move at all, it also means that you cannot get airsick, there is little sensation of movement. If you ever feel the wind while in the balloon, this is because it has changed direction and it will be a quick sensation, only for a couple of seconds or so.
The flight
So you’re up in the air, flying in a hot air balloon above the Chianti, a dream come true! During the ballooning experience, you need to always listen to the pilot and do as he says, he has command of the vessel and your safety is his first priority. The flight altitude will vary according to the wind on the day, expect it to be between 300 and 1200 metres, there is no way to predict what it will be. We also can’t predict how far you will travel, some days it’s only 5 kms or so, others you go as far as 20kms, again it depends on the wind. The pilot cannot steer the hot air balloon, he can only go up and down, by doing this, he will change the direction of the balloon, so he can find a good place to land, but he is limited to the wind directions available at different altitudes, which we can’t predict, only adapt on the day. During the flight you should expect to see the most amazing views, you can take a million pictures while up there, and don’t forget to post them and tag us! The flight is full of the most peaceful silence, the only noise should be the passengers and the fire the pilot uses to adjust the altitude. Don’t worry, the fire is at a safe distance from your head and the pilot has special gloves and implements should the fire go off unexpectedly, this is a normal thing to happen and we’re prepared for all the different unforeseen circumstances, our pilots have thousands of flight hours.
The landing
Your flight is over and it’s time to land. Listen to the instructions the pilot will give, pay attention to him and do as he says. The landing can be bumpy, like on a plane, it’s the most dangerous part of the flight, why? Because depending on the wind and the field you’re landing on, the balloon may have to make a fast approach, this means it will hit the ground hard and you need to hold on to the basket. The pilot will never risk your safety or your health, so you can rest assured that the landing is safe. It is possible the basket will end on its side, again this is not only normal, it’s a lot of fun, some of our best Instagram photos come from these landings, enjoy!
After you land, you must stay in the basket until the pilot tells you it is safe to leave. You must not, under any circumstances, leave the basket unannounced. This is because the balloon adjusts to the weight of the passengers and if one leaves, it may go back up again. This is dangerous and can cause an accident, stay until told you can leave, and leave in the order and speed as advised by the pilot.
The breakfast
Time for a tasty breakfast. Our breakfasts are some of the best in the balloon world. We have delicious pastries (expect to fly over the bakery they come from), we have a cheese and meat platter, and of course we toast with champagne. The pilot will toast with you and then leave you to have your breakfast while he and the crew put the balloon away. During high season there is a member of the crew having breakfast with you, they don’t always fly in the balloon, but come to the field afterwards. They are there to answer any questions, take photos and help you enjoy your delicious breakfast, it’s a hard job for them…
Going back to the cars
It’s over, you flew in your first flight and now you’re going back to normal life. We will take you back to the takeoff site, where your car is parked. If you have a private driver, they can take you straight from the landing field to the rest of your day, some people visit wineries and villages nearby after a flight. As the flight is early, you have the whole day ahead of you afterwards, you’re in the Tuscan countryside, the weather is great (it must be as you just flew in a balloon), what will you plan to do after your flight? How much fun can you pack into one day? What adventures lie ahead?
Thank you! We love flying with you, seeing the Chianti through fresh eyes everyday makes our job the best in the world, remember we’re here to help you and we’re all here to have fun. Our pilots love what they do and know how nerve-wracking it can be to take that first flight, they have seen it all before. Make that booking today, allow yourself to see the world from a new point of view, in the peaceful silence of a hot air balloon, your soul will thank you!
