Zip Aviation

We were so happy with Zip Aviation's customer service and pilot team! We feel like we saved a lot of money not cabbing all over the city and waiting in lines by seeing NYC's best sights from the air. The helicopters are large and luxurious, so not a lot of vibration or noise. I'd recommend showing up at least 45 minutes before your reservation to allow time for security, safety briefings, and storing your stuff. They allow a phone or camera on board, that is all. We truly enjoyed this thrilling ride and will recommend to friends! Definitely worth it! more

My family and I were fortunate enough to afford a helicopter tour of New York City with Zip Aviation and Manhattan Helicopters (apparently owned under one company), and we cannot say enough good things about them. We paid just over $140 per person (4 of us) and were treated like we paid thousands. There are other people in the helicopter with you, but everyone was very friendly. A definite recommendation for groups or families. We got closer to the sites than I thought we were allowed to, and we were thoroughly entertained by great Sinatra music and historical commentary. I liked that the pilot interjected his jokes but maintained his full attention on the busy airspace which kept us safe. It was really cool hearing him talk to other helicopters as well, our sons loved that! I still can't believe how fun it was and will definitely go back the next time we are in New York! more

the coolest thing i ever did....cant wait to do it again.... more

The staff were welcoming and friendly from the moment my wife and I entered the Zip Aviation office. Very organized staff, watched a good safety video before being walked out to the helicopter and shown to our seats, all relatively straight forward and stress free. Our pilot Clem was great, did a good tour, very knowledgeable of NYC. He made everyone onboard relax and enjoy their flight. Highly recommend reserving a tour around sunset, the city looks magical when all the lights start to come on. Will definitely use Zip Aviation for my tour next time I'm in the city, Tim more

My flight was canceled due to the military landing several helicopters on the heliport. But ZIP aviation let me wait there for two hours before telling me that I would not be able to fly. Completely disorganized. Then they were rude as they were trying to get rid of me as the heliport was closing (I was trying to get some kind of document showing that I paid but did not fly). Since then I've tried to get a refund for my $215 booking. I sent several emails and called many times. Although they told me that they were working on it, I never got a refund. These guys are either completely incompetent or just trying to steal my money. more

NEVER RESERVE THE TOUR ON-LINE.\r I reserverd the tour on line and paid for it. They asked me to checkin at the office by 4:30pm. I did but had to wait for over 2 hrs to get on the helicopter. However, the tourists who didnot have the reservation made on line, got to go sooner than us and cheaper also. Zip aviator realized that since they have received the money from us which was non refundable,so let us wait as much as possible and get the walkin- tourists' money as well. We were the last set of passengers to ride the helicopter. The helicopter was HORRIBLE and DIRTY. Nothing close to what is shown on the website.\r AVOID this company if you can. Never make reservation on line. Go to PIER6 and talk to the agent directly and ensure you are getting what you are paying for. They are ripoffs so be very very CAREFUL.\r more

As a New Yorker, I thought it would be wonderful to celebrate this great city and my 40th birthday by taking a helicopter ride with Zip Aviation. The experience was anything but. Upon arriving at the terminal I was met with absolute chaos. There were many different companies all sharing the same terminal and when I did locate my representative they told me to speak to someone inside. I was not allowed inside, so was told to speak to someone outside. Trying to find a representative to ask where I should line up was almost impossible. Finally a lady came outside and told the 1.30 people to line up. So we waited and waited. A representative then came out to take the 2pm flight inside. When I informed them that the 1.30pm flight was still waiting to go inside. I was told that I should relax and not give 'him attitude'. The group that was with me was equally upset with the way we were treated and started to voice their concerns. Finally, at 2.30 we were led inside only to wait another 30 minutes. Many groups that were behind us, came in and flew before us. At 3pm (an hour and a half after our scheduled departure) we were led outside for our flight. We stood waiting for a helicopter, only to be told one wasn't available and to be led inside to wait again. At this point I asked one of the representatives why is had taken an hour and a half for a 10 minute flight. He told me it was a safety issue and that they were being 'safe in New York.' I asked to speak to his manager. The manager came over and I told him how long we had waited, that we had been led outside and that no-one was giving me an answer as to why we were being treated this way. During my conversation, he just walked away. We were then led outside for our flight. My day was completely spoilt. I had always dreamed of flying in a helicopter for my 40th birthday and my friends had bought me a ticket for my birthday. My mother had flown over from the UK and I had bought her a ticket too as this had been a dream of hers. From start to finish, this experience had lasted 2 hours. 2 hours of waiting, being given no information, treated badly and ignored. I'm extremely upset that I spent my 40th birthday like this. It was supposed a memorable and wonderful occasion and instead my whole day was spoilt. I would not recommend that anyone give this company money their well earned money. Even after complaining to their customer service department I received a short and unapologetic email. Save you money. This is not a good representation of New York. more

Lived in this city my whole life when for my birthday my husband surprised me with a helicopter tour. I refused but we went for a walk along the Hudson and stopped in and chatted with the loveliest person who explained the helicopter to me me in detail and I had no choice but to go. If I only knew then what I know now and all the years of shoping in nieghbourhoods I never thought twice about. Next month we're taking all our grand kids. I dont want them to wait until their old like me to see this place the way I just did.\r Thank you ZIp Pros: Great Staff (funny) Cons: Place is a little small more

I want to be a pilot now!!! Best time ever! We flew right through the downtown corp, circled the buildings and into times square. What a rush. Thank's ZiP! Pros: really nice Helicopter incredible pilot Cons: bad weather for days more

I'm afraid of everything!! I wasnt afraid here. I was obviously talked into this cause I would have never thought of it on my own. We were on our last day in NYC nothing else to do, well, so we thought. \r We desided to take a walk on a pathway along the hudson that morning when we saw all the helicopters coming in and out. My husband got this look so we walked into the first building where we grabbed information on the tours and walked out. We saw that there was also another company and took information from them aswell. \r We read both front to back and saw that the first company acctually flew over the city. So that was a no brainer for my husband, me, well, I was happy to stay on the ground.\r So we walked in ZIP HELICOPTERS where we were met by two lovely ladies one of which could be a star and we bought one ticket. \r We were talking back and forth before my husband went up and the one lady told me that I should not be afraid that it's like being on a majic carpet and that I should go with him. \r So I decided that I'm turning forty this year, why not conquer a fear. I cant even fly in planes without being drugged.\r Awesome, Awesome, Awesome.\r from start to finish.\r I've read the reviews and who cares if you get to sit together. WOW!! if your not siamese twin or getting hitched. It's one of the most wonderful things you'll get to see in your life.\r PS the pilot was pretty cute and I got to sit with him. DONT tell my husband. Pros: Better than the first place we went to. Cons: It's a trailer...but a clean trailer more

Most Amazing Experience we ever had!!!!! The Pilot was awsome.So Funny. A Special thanks to the lovely lady incharge, we ended our trip with what seemed an almost disapointment from another company with the most beautiful memories.Best way to see the city..\r \r We'd sure recommend you!!! Thanks a million. Pros: Tours not available with the other company ...amazing Pilot more

Well what an adventure we had !!! Dispite our whole trip being put off because to the President of the United States, and that all the fun things we had planned were cancelled or reschedulled or delayed. We want to thank the staff at Zip Aviation for taking good care of us and guiding us through the steps of what we figured was another cancelled attraction. Way to go!! What a great team. and phoey on those who were complaining.Thank you Zip\r Sara Pros: staff worked well under stress Cons: small terminal for so many people more

After the long wait and the rude customer service we received from another highly recommended Helicopter tour Company on our three day trip in New York we walked out. We were horrified.It was a nice relief to walk into Zip Aviation and sit down and be able to talk to the staff openly and be reassured that we would be safe and treated like we mattered. Great Job Zip.Our pilot was friendly informative and made us laugh the whole trip.It went by so fast!!! We'd do it again if we come back to New York, but at night! Pros: Great Staff, excellent Pilot, wonderfrul experience Cons: Seating limited more

A wonderful experience!\r This was the highlight of our New York trip.\r Great company, everyone was so nice.\r The Pilots were highly professional and very informative.\r I would Highly recommend them to anyone!\r \r Pros: Great Tour, great Staff. Cons: no parking more

We waited for a long time, couldn't sit next to each other, and then were treated very rudely by the staff. It was a very disappointing experience- and I would definitely not recommend it.\r \r Helicopter rides could be fun- there are other companies nearby that you should try before getting zipped by zip. Pros: great views Cons: horrible customer service more

We had a horrible experience with Zip Helicopter Tours. First they misled us about specifically what would be involved. Then they tried to change the appointment time the day of our trip from 6 to 1 pm! What the heck? Finally when we arrived, they were rude to us from start to finish.\r if you're going to spend decent money on a helicopter tour of nYc- spend it elsewhere. Pros: Great view of city Cons: Horrible customer service more

So my in-laws were coming to town..and they have been here quite a few times so it's difficult to find new, fun things to do in order to entertain them. We went to a BDWY show and then my husband suggested we all go on a night tour with ZIP. I have never been on a helicopter myself, so was thrilled by the idea. And the reality was even better! the staff was awesome, and explained us everything we had to know. Then we cruised around NYC (we initially took the 15 min package but then decided to go with the 25 min one, on the spot...). We all loved it and really enjoyed taking a different look on the city. Highly recommended for those out of town guests you have :) Pros: nice staff, esp. the pilot Cons: some might think it's a bit pricey...but it's worth every penny more

my dad bought me this tour for my birthday!\r and oh my god it was great and then my boyfriend proposed!!!!!!!!!!!\r the most amazing proposal in front of the statue of liberty!!!!!!\r The pilot was so sweet\r They congratulated us and gave us free photos!!\r I want to use ZIP for my honeymoon!!! Pros: ALL GREAT, more

This was my first helicopter tour & I must say It was a fantastic experience!! I certainly reccommend that everyone at some point take this tour!! more

What an amazing experience!!! Touring around the skyline of the most beautiful city in the world, in a helicopter, was mind blowing. I live in NY and had never thought to do this until a friend came to town, and it was on the top of his to do list.. That's what NY's about, it's hard to see it all, and it takes a visitor to help explore parts of the city you haven't experienced. I felt so safe and secure throughout the flight in the professional hands of the pilot and the staff. I never thought twice about being flown high above the city, it allowed me to concentrate on the incredible sights below me, After that, what's really important, as in any flying experience, is how you are made to feel before and after the flight. These guys nailed it. From the moment I came to their heliport I felt as if it was my helicopter they were using to fly me to some adventure I had planned. It doesn't get any better than that. Super friendly, super cool, people. They also made it easy to get pictures to remember the trip forever, Next time I'm taking the longer flight, because once you're up there you don't ever want to come down, Pros: fast easy friendly and and adventure to rememnber forever Cons: there weren't any more