Is the open-door helicopter experience worth the cost?
According to the video, open-door flying creates an experience so distinct that flying with doors closed doesn't compare.
At a glance
Length
5 min
Channel
Brett and the City
Video from
Jul 2020
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Adrenaline seekers and photographers wanting NYC's most unique aerial views
What this video answers
Is the open-door helicopter experience worth the cost?
How much should I expect to pay for a FlyNyon flight?
What is the safety record, and will I feel secure?
Should I bring a camera or phone for photos?
What should I wear on the helicopter?
Reads the guide aloud in your browser — free, no account.
Open-Door Helicopter Flight Over New York City
FlyNyon operates open-door helicopter tours departing from a heliport in New Jersey, offering one of the most distinctive aerial views of Manhattan available to visitors and locals. The experience takes you on a scenic flight path that covers iconic landmarks from the Brooklyn Bridge and Empire State Building to the Financial District's World Trade Center and Central Park, all within a single trip. Unlike standard enclosed helicopter tours, FlyNyon's signature feature is the removable doors, which the video presenter emphasizes creates a dramatically more immersive and visually unobstructed experience than flying with doors closed.
This adventure suits adrenaline seekers and photography enthusiasts who want an unforgettable New York City perspective. If you've already seen the city from street level and observation decks, this is the next logical step to truly understand Manhattan's layout and scale. The experience works equally well as a solo adventure, couples' outing, or group excursion—and booking during promotional periods makes it far more accessible than the peak pricing of a few years ago.
Key Moments
What You'll See on the FlyNyon Route
Brooklyn Bridge and the East River waterfront from directly overhead
Empire State Building and midtown Manhattan's skyline in full perspective
The Financial District including One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower)
Central Park's entire layout and surrounding neighborhoods
Open-door views with no glass barrier between you and the landscape
Flight coverage from downtown Manhattan all the way north in under 30 minutes
Essential Details Before You Book Your Flight
Duration: Flight options range from shorter trips to 27–30 minute tours, which is long enough to see all major Manhattan landmarks without feeling rushed
Current pricing: The video shows recent promotional pricing at $134 per seat (compared to previous rates near $400 for sunset flights); FlyNyon runs sales regularly, so waiting for deals is worthwhile
Getting there: Take the PATH train from Manhattan to Newark ($2.75), then a short Uber ride to the heliport (~$10)—far cheaper than a direct Manhattan-to-heliport Uber ($60–70)
Best seating: The seats directly behind the pilot offer the optimal wind positioning and camera angles for photos
Ideal timing: Spring and summer months are strongly recommended; winter flights are extremely cold despite the harness and safety gear, while summer offers warmth (though expect significant wind that makes handheld camera work challenging)
Safety briefing: Expect a 30-minute pre-flight safety briefing covering harness use and water-landing escape procedures; all passengers are securely harnessed and locked in throughout the flight
Booking flexibility: Promotional tickets can typically be booked for any date within the next two years, so you can lock in a discounted rate without committing to a specific date immediately
Questions About FlyNyon Helicopter Tours
Is the open-door helicopter experience worth the cost?
According to the video, open-door flying creates an experience so distinct that flying with doors closed doesn't compare. The presenter emphasizes that after experiencing the doors-off version, the difference is genuinely transformative, though initial first-time visitors may feel the premium pricing is justified while repeat visitors might opt for discounted promotional rates.
How much should I expect to pay for a FlyNyon flight?
Pricing varies significantly based on timing and promotions. The video shows current deals at $134 per seat for a 27–30 minute flight, down from historical rates of nearly $400 for sunset tours. The presenter strongly recommends waiting for sales, which occur regularly, rather than booking at full price.
What is the safety record, and will I feel secure?
The video confirms that passengers are securely harnessed and locked in place throughout the flight. A pre-flight safety briefing covers harness release and water-landing procedures as a precaution, though such emergencies are described as extremely rare. The presenter reports feeling very safe during the experience despite the open doors.
Should I bring a camera or phone for photos?
Yes, but be prepared for challenges. The wind is so strong that holding a camera or phone steady is difficult, even in summer. The video suggests that the behind-pilot seating position offers the best angles if photography is a priority, but expect to struggle with wind and vibration.
What should I wear on the helicopter?
Dress warmly in layers if you're flying during winter or early spring, as altitude and wind create extreme cold. During summer months, warm clothing is still recommended because of the significant wind chill, even though daytime temperatures are mild. Avoid loose clothing or items that could blow away.
Booking Strategy That Saves Money
My tip: Book a FlyNyon flight during one of their promotional periods and secure your date months in advance—the ability to lock in a $134 price and book for any point over the next two years means you can plan around weather and your schedule without paying peak pricing.
A helicopter with removable doors that allows unobstructed views and photography during flight, without any glass barrier between passengers and the landscape.
Harness
A safety restraint system that securely locks passengers in place to prevent falls or movement during the flight.
Heliport
A designated landing and departure facility for helicopters, separate from standard airports.
PATH train
A rapid-transit rail system connecting Manhattan to New Jersey, offering an affordable alternative to car service for reaching the heliport.
This video is exceptionally practical for anyone seriously considering an aerial tour of New York City. Rather than simply showcasing pretty views, the presenter digs into the actual costs, logistics, seating strategy, weather considerations, and comparison to other helicopter companies—information that directly affects whether you'll enjoy the experience and feel it was worth the investment.
The most valuable insight is the path-train-plus-local-Uber strategy that cuts transportation costs from $70 to under $13, and the clear explanation of why open-door flying is genuinely different enough to justify choosing FlyNyon over competitors. This is honest, specific, and actionable enough to recommend to anyone planning to book.
Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii
Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.
Flying over New York City with FlyNyon
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Video transcript for “Flying Over New York City - Is FlyNyon Worth it?!?” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
[Music] hi guys and welcome back to anything new york where today we're going to be talking about one of my favorite things to do in this city so if you're an adrenaline junkie like myself then this is a must do this is probably the most unique perspective that you can get
of new york city so fly nine is a company based out of new jersey that offers open door helicopters as you fly across new york city and it's pretty darn incredible now i do want to talk about a few different things about this experience but first things first the price the first time i ever did this was about
two or three years ago and i believe i paid almost 400 dollars for a 20 minute ride and it was during sunset so it was pricier than if you were to go early on during the middle of the day now for it being my first time doing it i i would say that it was worth the the 400 slices of pizza but for the next
time i did it i i would not have paid 400 again that's a lot of money but luckily flying ion is just about always running sales so right now i i just went on their site and it was 134 per seat and that's for a 27 to 30 minute open door helicopter flights now that sounds much much better so if
you are looking to do this experience i 100 recommend waiting until they have these deals which is pretty much always and the 27 to 30 minutes is one of their longer flights that they offer and is plenty of time since in a helicopter to get from downtown by the world trade center
all the way to central park could take you less than one minute since i don't think there's usually much traffic up there even from their shorter flights that are cheaper you will see everything from the brooklyn bridge to the empire state building then the financial district with the world trade
center and then also central park so you pretty much get to see all of manhattan within even the shorter one another side note is that their heliport is in new jersey so if you were to take an uber from manhattan all the way to the heliport it would probably be upwards of 60 or 70
so what i do every time is i take the path train for 2.75 get off at the new workstop and then take an uber from there which is usually around 10 now the next thing i want to talk about is why fly nion i have flown in helicopters with multiple companies here in new york city and fly nine is the only one that i've flown
in that did have the open doors and that just makes the experience so much more incredible like after flying with the doors off it it really is not the same experience when you fly with it on it's just pretty indescribable how incredible it is with the doors off you just are gonna have to try it for
yourself and now where to sit so lucky for you guys who are watching this if your friends you're going with aren't watching this then you'll have the upper hands but in my personal opinion the best seat to sit in the helicopter is right behind the passenger seats just the way how the wind is blowing and
how you want your legs to be out and if you want to get the best photos of yourself then that's where i'd highly recommend and i would say you should do this during the summer or spring months since if you do this during the winter it is quite freezing up there even during the summer it's extremely
windy it's so hard to like hold your camera and phone to shoot your content but it's at least warm so if you're going during the winter just make sure to layer up and of course we should touch upon safety since you're riding in a helicopter it of course can be very dangerous but for my experience i i did feel very
safe when you're flying with fly nyan at least you are wearing a harness and you're you're locked in so that you you can't fall out of the helicopter but they do teach you when they give you a briefing for about a half hour before you take off how to get out of it if for some reason
that the helicopter does land in the water and you do need to escape and swim that is such a very rare chance that that happens but it still could happen so it's good that they do brief you and make sure that you are aware and capable to get out but overall i would say that i did feel very safe while flying so
that is what i think you should know before flying over new york city with fly nyon and another note to just make sure if you are going to buck this try to make sure you do get the sale since even with that deal you can typically book the trip for any time within the next two years
so you don't need to know the specific date right at the time but you can at least lock in your tickets so that's gonna be it for this video and from anything new york make sure to hit that subscribe button and we will see you guys next time from here in new york city
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