Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions • Suggested Lodging • Suggested Wineries • Suggested Dining

Where do we fly and what do we see?
On most days, we launch from the historic grounds of the Vintage Estates in the heart of Yountville, small rural town near the mid-point of the Napa Valley.  As we rise above the valley floor, panoramic views open up of the Oakville Appellation, Rutherford Bench and majestic Mount St. Helena to the north, the Yountville Appellation immediately around us, the Stags Leap Appellation to the southeast and the peaks of the Mayacamas Range on the West and the Vaca Range to the east.  Wineries and vineyards that regularly appear in our foreground include Domaine Chandon, Dominus, S. Anderson, Pine Ridge, Goosecross, Newlan, Trefethen, Laird Family, Monticello, Andretti, Cardinale, Far Niente, Robert Mondavi, Opus, Silver Oak, and the vineyards of numerous famous wineries including Beringer, Franciscan, Markham, Charles Krug, Beaulieu, Stags Leap, V. Sattui, Cakebread, Clos du Val, Sterling, and many others.  If the winds aloft allow a climb to higher altitudes, we may catch a glimpse of San Francisco Bay and the San Francisco City skyline to the south, Sonoma Valley to the West and the Sierras to the east.
Why do you fly so early?
In Northern California, hot air ballooning is always an early morning sport.  We launch just after dawn when the winds are at their calmest and the temperatures are the coolest.  A few hours after sunrise, the surface winds become too strong and unpredictable for ballooning.  We hope that the lovely light of the early morning and the special sounds that can only be heard before the rest of the world is awake make it worth it to our passengers to get out of bed extra early for their morning with us.
How many of us can you fly?
We offer our passengers the option of guaranteed passenger groups of 4, 6 or 8 maximum.  As balloons have gotten larger and larger, with some of our competitors flying as many as 10, 12, 14, or even 20 passengers at a time, we believe that our smaller groups offer a more intimate and personalized experience.  It is also our policy to under-book our balloons, so that we are not filling each balloon to its absolute maximum capacity, giving our passengers an extra measure of comfort during the flight.
Is Commercial Ballooning Regulated?
Yes.  Our pilots are all FAA certified and our equipment is inspected regularly at FAA designated repair stations.  Our insurance meets the requirements of the California PUC for passenger travel in our ground vehicles is PUC certified as required by law (TCP 9582C).  We belong to several voluntary organizations which set standards for ballooning, including the Balloon Federation of America and the Professional Balloon Pilots Association of Napa County, and are members of the Napa Valley Conference and Visitors Bureau, the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Chambers of Commerce of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga and Sonoma, and the Better Business Bureau, all of whom can give you references regarding our operation.
What is a “double” or “multiple hop” and why don’t we do them?
A double hop is a way for a company to fly more passengers.  It does nothing to enhance the ballooning experience, and in fact can compromise the experience, which is why we long ago made the commitment to fly only single quality flights.  You will need to ask each company in your research whether they do hops, as that is not information which a company will volunteer to tell you about.  In a double hop, twice as many passengers are scheduled to fly in a balloon as can fit in that balloon at one time.  The first hop passengers will board the balloon upon its inflation and take off from the original launch site; the second hop passengers will get into a van and follow along until the balloon lands at an intermediate location.  There the first hop passengers will disembark and the second hop passengers will board and launch.  Because of the timing constraints, most flights in a double hop situation will be shorter than they would have been if the company had committed to single flights.
How high will we fly and how long will we fly?
Although your altitude will vary during the flight and will depend on the wind conditions that day, average altitudes in our area are between 1,000 and 3,000 feet above the valley floor.  Some of the flight may be at treetop level, and, if the winds permit, your pilot may take the balloon higher to catch a needed wind current or take advantage of the extended vistas, a special treat if you are fortunate to fly on one of those days.  Some passengers prefer the low flying, others enjoy the higher altitudes best; the pilots generally try to give you a little of both. Flights typically last about one hour, but may last from 45 minutes to one hour and 45 minutes, depending on conditions. Pilots must take into account the wind speed and direction, and the availability of appropriate and approved landing sites.   Ballooning is an “authentic” adventure, not a virtual experience.  Each flight is unique and part of the adventure of ballooning is not knowing precisely what to expect until the flight is over.                             
What should we wear and bring?
Wear casual clothing, preferably in layers so that you can adjust to the warming temperatures as the morning progresses. Ladies are most comfortable in trousers, because of the need to climb in and out of the basket.  Flat-heeled, closed-toe shoes (not your best!) are strongly recommended, due to the varying terrain of our launch and landing sites.  Some people like to wear a light hat or ball cap because of the heat from the burner above, especially on a warm day.  Sun glasses or binoculars are optional, but cameras are a must – if you forget yours, we can accommodate you at check-in with film and single-use cameras.  You won’t want to be burdened down in the balloon with large bags, but we can find room in the chase vehicle for them if there are things you cannot leave in your car.
How long does the whole experience last?
Because there are so many variables in ballooning, we can only give you an estimate of how long to plan on spending with us.  Generally, not counting any shuttle service we provide from your lodging, you should count on being with us for about 3-½ to 4 hours.  This includes check-in, balloon inflation, the flight, pack-up, transportation back from the landing site, and a leisurely sit-down breakfast served in a restaurant setting in Yountville.  An exceptionally long flight, in either distance or time, or an extended post-flight celebration can also increase the time you spend with us.  We hope that our passengers will be able to set aside enough time to fully enjoy the magnificent experience of ballooning without feeling rushed to get on to the next activity.  However, if you have an unavoidable time commitment, please let us know at check-in and we will make every effort within our control to accommodate your time constraints.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We are blessed in the Napa Valley with nearly perfect conditions for hot air ballooning most of the year.  Those conditions are calm surface winds, stable air currents and cool temperatures.  Each year, on average, we are able to fly about 200 days; the majority of our weather cancellations occur during our winter rainy season, although we do have some spectacular flying days during those months as well.  We make every effort to make an early morning weather decision which is accurate, avoiding the inconvenience of a cancellation on the launch site.  When you receive your confirmation of balloon flight, you will be advised to call our weather briefing number early on the morning of your flight.  This is a recorded message that will advise you of our weather decision.  If we do have to cancel, there is of course no charge to you and we will make every feasible effort to reschedule you if you will be in the area for additional days.
What do we mean by saying that we fly Napa Valley only?
San Francisco is famous for its fog and, especially during the months of July and August, but sometimes at other times of the year as well, that fog moves from the Bay and the coast into the inland valleys of Sonoma and Napa.  This is generally an early morning phenomenon, coinciding with the time that balloons need to fly.  For regulation and safety reasons, balloons cannot fly with the limited visibility that fog creates.  It is possible to drive 30-40 miles away, leaving Napa County for locations either north or east, and escape the fog.  For years, Napa Valley Aloft, like all of the other companies in our area, has offered the option of traveling to these alternate locations for a flight when we have fog in our valley.  Increasingly, we have heard from our passengers and have read the comments from passengers with other companies in such places as Trip Advisor that they have chosen to come to the Napa Valley to fly in a hot air balloon over our local vineyards, not to be taken an hour away to fly in another county.  In addition, with the increasing concerns over global warming, our company has taken a look at how we can decrease any negative environmental impacts caused by our operations.  One obvious place is to eliminate driving the extra 2 hours in the heavy-duty, gasoline consuming vehicles required to transport our balloons and passengers to the alternate location.  The down-side for our passengers is that they will not get to fly if it is foggy on their flight date.  The upside is that all of our passengers who fly will experience what they came for – a magnificent flight over the Napa Valley – and we will all be doing our part to protect our fragile environment.
Is ballooning appropriate for everyone?
Ballooning is a fun activity for people of almost any age, but it is an outdoor adventure and there are some individuals for whom ballooning may not be appropriate.  Infants, very young children who are not tall enough to see over the side of the basket, pregnant women, individuals who have done a recent deep scuba dive, and people suffering from chronic pain or have had recent major surgery, are invited to enjoy the inflation and our post-flight activities but not the flight itself.  If you have a medical condition which could cause discomfort or be aggravated during the flight, or have been advised to restrict your activity because of a medical condition, please consult your physician in advance. Passengers stand during the hour-long flight, and may need to walk a distance from the balloons to the chase vehicles, sometimes over uneven ground.  The balloons do not have doors, and a certain amount of flexibility and upper body strength are desirable for getting in and out of them.   Nearly everyone has some feelings of anxiety before the flight, and these usually disappear early in the flight experience.  Ballooning is best appreciated, however, by those who have a sense of adventure to enjoy the many variations that occur in the experience.  For more information, see our Passenger Information Sheet, which is provided with your confirmation materials.
How do I make a reservation?
Your reservation is a phone call away.  Use our secure online reservation form or you may contact the Concierge to assist you.  You may use Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover, Diner’s Club or JCB to hold your space.  We require 72-hours’ notice for cancellation or schedule changes.
How far in advance should I make my reservation?
Some people who plan far in advance make their reservation with us months ahead; others call when they get to our area.  For best results, we recommend calling at least 1-2 weeks in advance; weekends, holidays and the months of August, September and October are generally the busiest.  However, we can usually accommodate a limited number of last minute reservations, so don’t hesitate to give us a call even if it is the day before.