Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q. Where  do we meet?

A. Currently we meet at Two Bees & A Bud Flower Farm.

1549 200th Ave, New Richmond, WI 54017

 

From

To

Transportation method: Driving Walking Bicycling Transit

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Q. When do you fly?

A. We offer two flights per day. 7 DAYS A WEEK (WEATHER PERMITTING)

Flight times are determined by Sunrise and Set.  The first hour of daylight and the last hour before sunset are generally the calmest times of day.  This is when the thermal heating from the sun is the weakest.  Balloons need calm wind conditions to operate safely and if those conditions are going to happen it will do so at these specific times of day.  Remember Mother Nature is in control of our weather conditions.

Q.  Why do you fly so early?

A. Hot air balloons are completely dependent on the wind.

The first hour of the morning is most often the calmest time of day.  If weather conditions will be safe for us to fly, it will only be in that first hour of the day.  Once the sun begins to heat the earth the atmosphere begins to bubble and boil like a pot of water.  This makes it hard to control a balloon.  So an early start is the best.

 

Q. How rough is the landing?

A.  A hot air balloon will land at what ever the speed of the wind.

We do not have control over the wind speed at landing time.  Air has many similar qualities to water.  We could descend into relatively calm conditions near the ground or we could descend, for landing, and find ourselves increasing in speed.  We have no brakes, in other words we land the balloon by dragging the basket on the ground.  I have seen days where I could point out a manhole cover three miles away and land directly on it and I have seen days were I have drug along the ground the length of a football field before we could get the balloon stopped. Overall we are very careful of the conditions we choose to fly in and safety is our top priority, however, we are dealing with mother nature and can not predict what the weather can or could do.

 

Q. Where do we fly?

A.  We float with the wind.  Any given day the wind could be in any direction.

Each day is different.  What landing sites we will use on any day is determined by the speed and direction of the wind that day.  We could may land at the same location two days in a row or we might not go back to that landing site for weeks.

Q. How far will we fly?

A.  We will go as far as the wind will take us.

Remember balloons float with the wind.  We have seen days where we flew for one hour and 15 minutes and went one mile!  We have also seen days where we flew for 45 minutes and went 27 miles.  Part of the Magic of a Balloon Flight is the unknown!

 

Q. How long will we fly?

A. We will fly for about 45 minutes to an hour depending on launch & landing sites and wind speeds .

Our safe weather conditions normally last for about an hour after sunrise or that last hour before sunset. We plan our flight biased on wind forecasts as well as observations we take at the meeting location before we leave.  Our goal is to choose landing sites that are about 45 minutes to one hour of flight time.  Keep in mind we do not promise any specific flight length.  If the forecast tells us that we will find 14mph wind speed and we get up in the air and the winds are 21mph we will be arriving at our landing site sooner than later.    To understand more about why we only fly for an hour click on the link.  Why do we fly so early?

 

Q. How high will we fly.

A. When the passengers start to pass out from lack of oxygen it is time to go back down.

Just kidding!! In our flying area we have a ceiling of 6000 feet.  Our normal flight goes anywhere from tree tops to a couple of thousand feet.  There are days when we spend a large portion of our flight up high and some days down low so we can take advantage of winds that are moving in the direction we need to go to get to a suitable landing site(s).

 

Q. Do you fly at any other time?

A. NO, sunrise and just before sunset are the only times of the day when weather conditions will allow us to fly safely. (Remember Even at these times of the day, not all days are susceptible)

A balloon needs calm smooth wind conditions to operate safely.  Think of it this way.  Your driving your car but you have no brakes, no control of the speed of your car and when you turn the wheel it takes 15 seconds before the car turns.  You are trying to hit your driveway but the guy in the passenger seat just hit the accelerator.  You will miss your driveway because you had no idea the car was going to speed up and its too late to do anything about it.  You end up in your neighbors yard!!  This is flying a balloon.  This is why we MUST have smooth, calm conditions to fly safe.

 

Q. How often do you have to cancel a flight?

A. Unfortunately many days are not safe to fly.

But weather is weather, there is no way of knowing for sure.  It is very much like flipping a coin. You have just as much chance of being right as you do being wrong. Now those of you who passed 9th grade math know that a 50% chance does not mean that if you chose two days you will get one right.  Over the years I have seen passengers whom picked 13 days and did not get a good one.  50% chance means you are only 50% likely to get it right each time.  When we must cancel flights due to inclement weather, we are doing so strictly for safety reasons and are more than happy to explain why.

 

 

Q. How many people can go in a balloon?

A. Balloons vary in capacity from 4 to 22 adults.

We do not like the larger balloons for several reasons.  Most important is your flying pleasure!  We just do not like the Tour BUS mentality.  Yes we could make more money that way but we are creating memories for YOU not trying to put more 0's on our bank balance.  Our balloons range from a pilot plus two passenger up to pilot plus 6 passengers at most.  What size balloon or how many balloons are used depends on how many people are scheduled that day.  This is also why we offer a Private Flight Option.

 

Q.  How do we get in and out of the balloon?

A. Our balloon baskets have Steps built into the side of the basket.

Getting in and out of our baskets is rather simple.  Put your foot into the step and grab the bar over your head and climb in.  Think of it like getting into a bathtub shower.  There are also seats inside the basket that you can use to step on as well. In reality our guests find it more difficult getting in and out of our vans than the balloons.  Funny that I have never received an email with a concern about getting in and out of our trucks.  That is far more challenging for some than the balloon!

 

Q. Can we get a balloon just for our family or couple?

A. Yes we call that a private balloon.

Our balloons come in several sizes.  We will use the sizes or combination of sizes that best suits the number of people who are scheduled for that day.  We will combine groups to fit the balloons so that we have no empty seats.  If you wish to have a private balloon to yourselves please let us know.

 

 

 

Q. Does a persons weight matter?

A. Yes it does!

In a hot air balloon you, as a passenger, represent a significant percentage of the total aircraft weight load. On an airplane you represent only one out of 250 people so if you are overweight by 100 pounds then the total average weight per person, only changes by less than half a pound.  Some people have more than that for lunch. In a balloon one person can represent about 25% of the total passenger load so 100 pounds changes the per person weight by 25 pounds each!  That is the weight of a small child.  Imagine what we would have to do if someone showed up with 4 extra kids we did not expect. we would not be prepared for that and could not take them flying that day. Currently we do not make an additional charge for additional weight but we do reserve the right to decline to fly someone on any given day if that persons weight significantly changes the total passenger load for that flight. Please if you are significantly overweight let us know.  It is very easy for us to schedule the right size balloon to accommodate you.

 

Q.  What time do we meet and when will we be done?

A. The entire program takes 3 to 4 hours.

Our meeting times are determined by the sunset and sunrise times on any specific day.  When you check in for the Go/No Go weather decision we will reconfirm your meeting time and driving directions if you need.
Average time span.  We start with a pre-flight briefing where we explain the mornings program from start to finish (about 10 minutes) we then launch a small helium balloon and see what the wind speeds and directions are. (about 10 minutes)  This determines what potential landing sites we will use for that day.  We head out to the launch area. (2-5 minutes)  We inflate the balloon(s) (about 15 minutes.)  Take off and fly 45-60 min.  Land and pack up.  (15 minutes).  We celebrate with the traditional Champagne toast.  15-20 minutes.  Load up and head back to the Meeting Location.  Plan on around 3-4 hours total.  REMEMBER we will be outdoors!  Dress appropriately.

 

Q. Can we bring cameras and video gear?

A. YES....

Bring lots of film or batteries and memory cards.  You will love the photos you take! also if you have extra batteries that may be something you will be glad you packed.

 

Q. Do we have to make some sort of deposit?

A. Your flight needs to be paid in full to make a reservation.

To book your flight you will need a credit card to reserve your spots.  Here is a link to our cancellation policy page. Cancellation Policy.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  Cancellation Policy??>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

Q. If the weather is bad do I get my money back.

A. NO!  We simply ask that you choose a new flight date.

If the weather is not safe on the day you have chosen we will provide you with a code to use with our booking calendar so you can choose a new flight date without having to pay for your flight again.  We ask that you be tolerant with us when it comes to weather.  We have dozens of reasons we WANT TO TAKE YOU FLYING!  We only have one reason we won't and that is for safety.  Not only your safety but the safety of our equipment, Ground Team and Flight Staff.  Trust us when the weather is right we will fly and we promise you will be so glad you waited for a good day!

 

Q. Will we be cold up there?

A. Actually you will be WARMER in the balloon.

(There's a Clue here....HOT air balloon,) HOT air balloons float with the wind so there is no wind chill.  Generally in the morning as we climb the air actually gets warmer by a few degrees.. You may want to wear a hat to protect your head from the radiant heat of the balloon burners. On the average you will be 8 to 10 degrees warmer in the balloon than if you were still on the ground.

 

Q. What should I wear or how should we dress.

A. Imagine if you were going to the park or out on a hike in the woods.

We will be out in open pastures and fields.  The grass in many cases is tall and wet from the morning dew.  We suggest you dress as if you were going for a hike in the woods or a walk in the park.  Because we will be out in open and most often un-kept areas we do not suggest open toed shoes such as sandals and flip flops.  You feet will most likely get dirty and wet.

REMEMBER!

This is an outdoor sport!  Balloons need large areas to launch and to land.  This means open fields like Farms, Cattle Pastures and hay fields and large open and often UN-KEPT land.  This means tall grass, Cows, Bugs, Ants and many other items associated with large open areas. O did we say OUT DOORS..

We do not choose what fields happen to be lined up with the wind direction on any given day.  SO... Assume your shoes will be soaked and have mud all over them and your pants will be wet all the way up to your knees.

THEN when we land somewhere nice you will be thrilled and when you wear sandals or flip flops you will
understand why we are all laughing.  O did we say OUT DOORS..

 

 O and by the way. There are no snakes.. We put a sign up that says "No Snakes Allowed"

 

 

 

Q. Do you ever have blackout dates?

A.  Yes,  There are days when we need time for maintenance, inspections or for other reasons to put special rules on a specific date.

Here is a great example of a special rule.  Valentines Day.  This is one of the most popular days to fly and especially on those years where the 14th falls on a weekend.  Our availability will be taken WEEKS in advance.  If you wish to fly on a special day or holiday, make your reservation well in advance of your special day.

Q. Can we get discounts for Military?

A. No.  The balloon does not know the difference.

As much as we would like to we simply do not have the margin to give any discounts.

Hot Air Balloons age per hour of flight time regardless of who is on board.  To give discounts for any special group of people means that we favor them over someone else.  We would also have to charge someone else more to be able to give you the discount and that too is something we frown upon.  Why should someone else give up there hard earned money to pay for any part your balloon ride? You are welcome to ask someone else to chip in for your flight but please do not ask us to do that for you!  Stealing money from those who have earned it and giving it to those who have not earned it is the job of our government and not ours. The next problem is  who do you give the special discounts to? What makes someone worthy of special treatment over someone else?  Here again we get into a sticky mess.  My group is better than your group and so on.  We just go by one simple slogan, "We don't play games with our prices and we don't play games with your life" If you want cheap we are simply not it.  We do this for a living and not a hobby.

 

Q. Do we need to be on time?  What if we are late?

A. YES...  YES you must be on time.

We can not express this enough.  Our timetable is dictated by sunrise.  We can not stop or slow down the sunrise.  Once the sun comes up it will begin to heat the earth and take away the calm that we need for safe flight.  WE MUST FLY during the first hour of daylight to be safe.  After that the winds will increase and so will the risk of being hurt.  WE WILL NOT risk harm to those passengers who did show up on time for those who for what ever reason can not be on time.  How would you feel if we took extra risks with your life for someone who could not follow simple instructions.  If you are running late CALL US RIGHT AWAY and we don't mean 10 minutes after you should have shown up.  Please understand when we must leave we will.  We do not care if you are only 10 minutes away we must leave and the pilots are the only ones who have the training to make that decision so it does not matter if YOU think we could or should wait.  If you call and ask if we can wait, do not be surprised if we ask, if you can stop sunrise. SUNRISE SETS OUR SCHEDULE.  IF YOU ARE LATE WE WILL LEAVE WITHOUT YOU!  Be on time or 15 minutes early just to be safe.

Q. Why do Gift Certificates expire?

A.  Overhead is the simple answer.

The electric bill still needs to be paid and the phone bill needs to be paid and the balloons have to be insured and inspected annually and the trucks have to have insurance and MORE!  There are bills that have to be paid even if we NEVER  FLY A SINGLE FLIGHT.  It cost money to be ready to fly you.  We make our certificates good for an entire year to give you the time to take your flight.  Even if the weather cancels your flight there is still time to take the flight but.  The over head has to be paid even if you do not fly we are still paying the bills to be ready to fly you when you choose to fly but we can not keep you on the books forever.  This is also why there are no refunds on gift certificates.

Q. Why are some balloon rides cheaper?

A. We like to point out the old saying, "You get what you pay for!"

Some hot air balloon companies fly 18 to 24 passenger balloons so you can get a discount if you want to fly with 20 other people at the same time. You can also find some guys here that have a balloon in a trailer, or a balloon in their garage and flying a balloon is a hobby for them.   They try to earn a little extra money by taking people for rides. They are less expensive too!  All of them are less expensive and offer all kinds of discounts.  If that is what it takes to get your booking then please call them.

Besides, Be Honest,  what are you going to save? Ten or fifteen bucks? 

 What is your life worth?

 

 

Q. Can I come along and WATCH?

A. Yes!

 

We know that occasionally there is someone who just does not want to FLY!  We have what is called the Chase Package.  You do everything the fliers do except the flight.  We charge a small fee for those who want to "Ride Along" with our ground team.  Please let us know in advance if you have any followers

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< CHASE FEE??>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Q. DO I NEED RESERVATIONS?   How far in advance should I BOOK!

A. YES..

Balloons come in sizes just like cars do.  How many balloons or what size balloons we bring out on any given day depends on the number of passengers we have scheduled for that day.  You need a reservation! If you just show up for a flight we may not have room to add you that day. Remember we try NOT to fly with empty seats since that will cause everyone else to pay more.

WE (On Average) RECOMMEND YOU SCHEDULE YOUR FLIGHT ABOUT A WEEK IN ADVANCE FOR A WEEKDAY FLIGHT AND TWO WEEKS FOR A WEEKEND.  If you need a flight the next morning do not hesitate to call. many times we can get you in on short notice.  But you must call us so we can try to get you in.  Do not show up for a flight without a reservation.  PLEASE

 

 

Q. What about small children?

A. As a parent you would be rich if you had a dollar for every time you said "Hot Hot. No No." We normally DO NOT recommend the flight for children under the age of 5.

I have a 6 year old who has flown 8 times and a 10 year old who has not made his first flight yet. The main problem we encounter with small children is the balloons burner. They are very powerful and loud. This tends to frighten small children. Wearing earplugs has helped some children in the past. Keep in mind also that with small children along you will force us to reduce our weather tolerance some. A landing that healthy adults can handle safely and a landing with small children are quite different. Children do not hang on the same way an adult does and if you are holding on for the kids "Who is hanging on for you"?  REMEMBER: WE DON'T GET TO CHOOSE the landing conditions. That is up to mother nature.  Another issue is understanding and obeying the pilots instructions. Small children do not communicate well and often do not obey instructions.

We are not against families flying with us.  In fact we are very very family friendly because we all grew up doing this as a family.  We just want you properly warned before you come so your youngsters can enjoy the flight as well.  All of my nieces and nephews have flown when they were just 3 years old. My own daughter Ava flew three times before the age of three.

If you have children under the age of 5 please take the time to talk to them about the balloon and make sure they understand that the fire is how we make the balloon fly and it wont hurt them.  Also consider ear plugs for the children and give them a test run before you come to fly.  They have no benefit if you can not get the child to wear them.

 

 

Q. How do I make a reservation?

A. Call Us!! (612) 484-4654 Or use our Booking form here online.

Our online booking form is easy to use and only takes a few moments to fill out.

 

Q. Is it SAFE?

A. Safety is the corner stone of our business.

We have been operating hot air balloons for OVER 38 years. We simply will not fly unless the conditions are right.  We maintain our aircraft to the highest standards.  Even above the standards required by the FAA!  When we must cancel a flight we tell our passengers one simple thing.

"We hate to disappoint someone but we refuse to hurt anyone".  

This includes us since we are going up there too....  With "Minnesota Balloon Rides" you are in the safest hands possible with an average flight experience of 30 years per pilot.

 

Q. What if the weather is bad?

A. WE DON'T FLY!

If the weather forecast does not look good for your flight we will simply ask if you have another day you would like to try to fly.  Our pilots are the best and we respect their decision if we must cancel a flight.  Over the years we have gotten real good at reading the weather.  We have lived the weather for over 40 years now.  If there is a chance of flying we will go out but if there is no chance then we will not drag you out of bed for no reason.

 

 

Q. How do we find out if the weather is bad?

A. Weather: Go/No Go (Check in procedure)

AM Flights:

A final flight decision will be made at 7:00pm the night before your flight. Please call the recording @ 612-484-4654 for instruction.

PM Flights:

A final flight decision will be made at 1:00pm the day of your flight. Please call the recording @ 612-484-4654 for instruction.

 

Q.  Why do the passengers have to call in?  Why don't you call us?

A. We tried calling our passengers and it did not work.

Many of our passengers are out to dinner  or doing something where they can not hear the phone or do not have service.  So we could make dozens of calls and not get a hold of some people.   So...  YOU CALL US!!  We are always here and you know when you are available to make a call.

Q. Is calling you on the phone the only way to find out if the weather is bad.

A.  No!  If you have access to the internet we post things on the calendar!

If we know for sure that the weather is going to be bad we will post weather alerts on the our Master Calendar!  You can click on the weather alert and a pop up message will appear telling you what the alert is.  Then you can send us an email telling us you have read the alert! Ain't this internet thingy great!!!

 

Q. How much does it Cost?

A.  Pricing

To book your flight you will need a credit card to reserve your spots.  Booking a flight is easy on our Book-A-Flight page.

Q. How can we pay?

A.  We accept credit cards and debit cards.

Our online booking calendars are safe and protected.  Once you have made your reservation you will receive an email with all the details you will want to know about your flight.

 

Q. Will I like it?

A. We are sure without a doubt you will LOVE IT !!!

 

 

Q. What if we are coming from a long ways away.

A. Plan accordingly!

You can use our handy directions map to calculate the travel time from your location to our meeting spot.  We suggest you leave a few minutes early just to avoid any unforeseen issues.  Remember Mother Nature sets our timetable and she will not wait for us.

 

 

Q. Can I put stuff on the Calendar?

A. No.

We are the only ones who can put stuff on the calendar.  If you would like something put on the calendar please send us a note or call and we will see if we can help.

 

 

Q. What if someone can not stand for an hour?

A. LET US KNOW RIGHT AWAY,

While we try to make our services available to everyone we do want you to consider that Ballooning is an active sport!  The physical needs to participate may indeed be outside of the ability of some.  This is a physical sport.  We will need you to be able to climb in and out of the basket.  We will need you to be able to hold on tightly should the winds increase at landing time and the landing could become rough.  Not only do we want you to enjoy the flight we also do not want to cause any harm to someone with limited physical abilities.

Please inform us in advance if you have anyone who's mobility is restricted in any way.

 

 

Q. Can we bring our own champagne

A. YES BUT,

We can not take it in the balloon.  Unfortunately the FAA requires us to be able to lock a door between the passengers consuming alcohol and the pilot operation the aircraft.  A balloon basket does not have doors.  But I promise you will survive the flight with out the champagne and we will serve you champagne as soon as we get back to mother earth.

 

Q. What if I get motion sickness easy

A. Have no worry. A Balloon simply can not cause Motion Sickness.

The hot air balloon moves so slowly that there is no sensation of motion at all.  Seriously if you had your eyes closed you would never know you were moving at all.  In 35 years of flying we have never had anyone get motion sick.  The balloon floats.  Imagine you were in a canoe floating down a river.  You feel like your sitting still but you can see by the banks of the river that you are indeed moving.  A balloon floats with the wind and moves smoothly up and down.  Truly a float with "no feel" of motion at all.

 

 

Q. Are there fumes from the fuel for the balloon.

A.  No.

In a hot air balloon we burn propane to create the heat to fly the balloon.  The same propane you use in your Bar-B-Q grill at home.  No one ever worries about the fumes from the grill.  Propane is one of the (if not THE) cleanest fuels we have.  Propane burns 99.7% clean.  No residue no fumes no nothing.  If it did create fumes our balloons would look horrible after a few flights yet after years of use there is no build up of anything.  think of it this way,  If you left your Bar-B-Q grill on by accident you could sit near it and not even know it was on unless you felt the heat from it.  There are, No fumes from the balloon burners at all.

 

 

 

Q. What if someone is AFRAID OF HEIGHTS?

A.  There are three things that cause people to be afraid of heights and NONE of them happen in a balloon.

• First natural fear is motion, that butterfly in the stomach feel like you have in an elevator or on a Ferris wheel.  The balloon is so large and moves so slowly there is no sensation of motion at all!  If you had your eyes closed you would never know you had left the ground.

• Second is the fear of falling.  This is like when you are on a ladder or the edge of the roof where you know if you make one wrong step you are going to hurt yourself.  This is also referred to as Impending Peril.  The sides of the balloon basket are high enough that you would have a hard time jumping out let alone falling out so that fear does not happen.

• The LAST one is centrifugal force.  The earth is a spinning object and the farther away you get the faster you spin. Some people have such a sensitive inner ear (Balance) that when they go up in a high place they feel like they are going to fall.  This is because they are spinning faster and their balance is being thrown off.  We have all heard someone say "I don't need to go near the edge or look out the window just being up here makes me feel funny"  That's because looking out is not the problem.  They are spinning faster and their inner ear has not become accustom to it.  In a balloon we are no longer attached to the spinning object.  In a balloon you actually spin LESS than if you had stayed on the ground!  This disarms the inner ear.

IN OVER 40 YEARS OF FLYING, and hundreds and hundreds of flights, we have never had to land and let someone out!

Thank you for taking the time to read this information.  Hopefully you have found the answers you were after.  If there is some question that is not answered here (Within Reason) please let us know so we can post a response for others.