frequently asked Questions
FAQ
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions here.
You can also consult our passenger guide.
Do you have any doubts or can't find the answer to your question?
You can also contact us here
Why choose Alpes Montgolfière?
- We are an airline registered with civil aviation (reference AIRSHOW - FR.DEC.387)
- Our team is certainly the most experienced in France with permanent pilots each having more than 2000 hours of flight time.
- We fly in a small basket with a maximum capacity of 7 passengers.
- Our flight sector is the closest to the Mont Blanc massif
- Our flexible organization allows us to adapt to customer demand and we do our utmost to find you a flight date during your stay in the Alps (depending on the weather of course)
- We fly all year round except November, allowing you to fly in any season.
Where do we fly?
We are proud to offer you the most spectacular flying sector in the French Alps.
Our take-off base is located in Praz sur Arly (74) near Megève.
You will mainly fly over the Val d'Arly at an altitude between 2500 and 3500m, allowing you to have an incredible view of the Mont-Blanc massif, the Aravis, the Southern Alps, the Bauges massif, the Chartreuse, etc.
What if I get dizzy?
Vertigo is technically impossible on board because we are not connected to the ground. Our pilots have taken on board tens of thousands of passengers and none, even those subject to vertigo in everyday life, have had vertigo in our nacelles.
When is it possible to fly in a hot air balloon?
We fly all year round except November.
From experience this is the quietest month in terms of activity, with gloomy weather and therefore soggy meadows before the snow sets in.
This month allows our team to take a well-deserved vacation and carry out maintenance on aeronautical and rolling stock.
What time is my flight?
We only fly in the morning and therefore depending on the season, your meeting time will be between 7:30 and 9:30. And this is for aerological reasons!
During the day, the sun warms the ground, creating thermal updrafts, making the air mass turbulent and hot air ballooning dangerous.
You will receive the exact time of the appointment by SMS when confirming your flight between 48 and 24 hours before it.
How should I dress?
You should know that it is not colder up there than on the ground, dress as if you were going hiking. Our balloons sometimes land in wild meadows with wet grass.
The ideal outfit:
- Closed shoes (sneakers, hiking shoes, etc.)
- Pants (legs covered)
- Bring a jacket/coat depending on the temperature
- Cap and sunglasses if you feel the need
The following are prohibited:
Heels, open shoes, flip-flops, thongs,
The following are not recommended:
Shorts, dresses.
What is the maximum altitude we climb to?
Depending on the weather conditions of the day, our balloons can rise between 2000 and 3500m.
Enough to have an incredible view of the entire Alps.
What physical abilities are required to get on board?
You don't have to be a great athlete.
Good physical condition is sufficient.
You must be able to stand for one hour and get in and out of the basket under your own power.
If you have any doubts about your physical condition, we invite you to consult your doctor.
Can children fly?
Children are accepted from 7 years old, accompanied by an adult up to 14 years old.
Where will the hot air balloon land?
Hot air ballooning is an adventure from start to finish where nothing is written in advance.
We fly with the winds where the art of piloting consists of playing with the winds to direct a non-steerable balloon.
The direction is therefore random and changes every day.
We strive to respect the work of farmers and therefore depending on the season we can set up on a path clear of obstacles so as not to crush the grass in the meadows.
How long is my ticket valid?
Unless otherwise stated, our tickets have a validity period of 24 months from the date of issue.
Our tickets are non-refundable (except conditions specified in art 13 of our T&Cs.
If you have not made your flight during this period, but have made at least 6 attempts, your tickets will be extended free of charge for an additional 12 months.
Otherwise, you can extend it with a supplement of 50€/person.
We advise you not to wait until the last days of validity of your flight ticket to book your date.
What are the ideal conditions for a flight?
Our business depends directly on the weather.
Weather is not an exact science, especially in the mountains, with many local phenomena that are difficult to predict (Foehn, north wind, orographic fog, etc.).
We work directly with Chamonix meteorologists as well as with the Météo-France service dedicated to aviation.
Trust us, with 10,000 hours of mountain flying experience accumulated over the last 40 years, our pilots know when it is wise to cancel a flight.
Our decision is all the more difficult because some people travel from far away to take part in this fabulous adventure and we do not want to make them come for nothing.
And remember that every cancelled flight is a loss of revenue for us, we only act to ensure your safety.
And despite all the weather tools and all our experience, in rare cases we have to cancel the flight at the take-off field.
Again, the weather is not a crystal ball and safety is paramount.
Can I take my hot air balloon ride if I am pregnant?
Pregnant women are not accepted in our balloons. If you are expecting a happy event, contact our customer service who will extend the validity of your ticket so that you can enjoy your flight with complete peace of mind after your pregnancy.