Please contact us at least 48 hours before your flight time if you need to cancel or reschedule any or all passengers. If you contact us with less than 48 hours’ notice, or do not show up for your scheduled flight on time, a 50% charge of the total flight payment will be retained, and a $35 rescheduling fee per person will be applied at the time of rescheduling.Â
The 50% charge may be applied as a deposit toward a future flight at any of our locations currently operating with no expiration date. These fees do become non-refundable under any circumstances, including cancellations due to illness or weather. Any vouchers purchased through a third party (e.g., Expedia or TripAdvisor) will become void.
Flight time varies depending on location, wind speed, and direction. However, we do aim for about 45 minutes to one hour.
Rainbow Ryders schedules sunrise balloon flights every day, year-round in Albuquerque and Phoenix, and from June to September in Colorado Springs and Park City. We also offer sunset hot air balloon rides in Albuquerque from November through January and in Phoenix from November through March.
You should allow 3 to 4 hours for the entire experience, which includes shuttling to and from the launch site, the flight itself, and the post-flight celebration.
Please dress for an outdoor adventure. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing—dress in layers, preferably with long pants. If you dress for the ground temperature, you should be comfortable in the air as well because our balloon travels with the wind, reducing wind chill. Also, if you are standing near our burners, it is similar to standing near a fireplace.
Some other things you should bring are:Â
Flight times vary throughout the year based on sunrise and sunset times. For sunrise flights, we typically meet 30 minutes before sunrise. For evening flights, we meet about 2.5 hours before sunset. For the most up-to-date timing, please call our office.
There will be a chase vehicle that follows your balloon for the entire duration of the flight. Once landed, the Rainbow Ryders flight team will drive you back to our original meeting point.
If the flight is delayed or canceled due to inclement weather, we will contact you to reschedule or issue a refund if you are unable to reschedule.
Due to insurance requirements, we are unable to fly anyone who is pregnant or who may be pregnant. Also, due to insurance requirements, the minimum age to fly is 5. While there is no age maximum, there are no seats in the basket, so passengers must be able to stand for the entire flight (about an hour) unassisted.Â
If you are concerned about physical limitations, we always recommend checking with your doctor before booking your flight.
We do not have a weight limit, but due to the capacity of our baskets and the safety and comfort of all, individuals over 300lbs will be required to pay the price of an additional passenger.
Unfortunately, due to insurance requirements, we cannot allow anyone who is pregnant or who may be pregnant to fly.
Unfortunately, our traditional baskets are not wheelchair-accessible. However, we often offer a wheelchair-accessible basket during Labor Day Lift Off—if that is of interest, please give us a call. For regular flights, all passengers are required to stand unassisted for the duration of the ride, which is about 45 minutes to one hour.Â
As long as your four-legged friend is comfortable with the noise/temperature emitted, they are more than welcome to fly. To confirm this, service animals will be required to come to our office before the flight date to test their reaction to the high-pitched noise our burners emit. Please give us a call to learn more about flying with your service animal and to schedule your burner test!
You will put your foot into a slot on the side of the basket, swing your legs over the top, and then into the basket. There is no graceful way to do it, but don’t worry, our staff, crew, and step stools are always available to help!
Rainbow Ryders’ pilots meet our passengers at our well-lit, designated meeting location. From there, we will study the wind conditions and pick the best location to launch. Our flight team will also drive you back to the meeting location at the end of the flight.
Our balloons accommodate between 2 and 4 people, up to 12 to 14 people. If you do prefer a smaller basket, please mention that at the time of reservation. While we cannot guarantee anything (as it depends on how many people book), we will always do whatever we can to accommodate your request.
Once the balloon is inflated, we will fly from ground level to a couple of thousand feet above ground level, depending on wind direction and speed. Because of the burners, the temperature will be a few degrees warmer than the surrounding air. The sensation will be like you’re floating, and it will be very quiet, aside from the sound of the burner. Your experienced pilot steers the balloon by adjusting its altitude to reach different wind patterns, so the balloon’s height will vary throughout the flight.
The chase crew are members of the Rainbow Ryders’ flight team who follow the balloon on the ground via radio contact with the pilot throughout the flight. They will meet you when you land, pack up the balloon, and return you to the designated meeting location.
After landing, we provide a celebratory toast and post-flight refreshments.
As with all service providers, gratuity is always appreciated. A typical tip would be 10-20% of the total price. Like the saying: If you like the ride, tip your guide.
Great for last-minute gifts or for those who seem to already have everything.
Ballooning gift certificates are redeemable for up to one year after the purchase date, giving your special person the flexibility to pick the best date and time for their hot air balloon adventure in Phoenix and Albuquerque.
Rainbow Ryders schedules sunrise balloon flights every day, year-round and sunset balloon rides November through March. Colorado Springs is seasonal and only has sunrise flights in the summer.
*Please note: Some exclusions and blackout dates may apply.
