Air Carriage LLC — Attraction in Albuquerque

I WOULD GIVE THEM 6 STARS IF THAT WAS AN OPTION!!!

Where do I start? At the beginning of course. We booked this “Girls Trip” to celebrate one of our own’s 50th. We started our trip in Santa Fe and finished it with a hot-air balloon ride with AIR CARRIAGE. Wow! What a way to finish a perfect trip. We were absolutely not disappointed. As we ascended the skies our friend turned 50 and we all sang happy birthday. The clouds were magnificent. The sun was golden-white with a pale blue backdrop. Absolutely breathtaking.

But let me backup a sec. We met Art and his crew in the dark in a strip mall near the lift-off location. Art met us with a big grin (even though we were a little late) and a hardy welcome. We climbed into the van and drove a few minutes away. Once we were at the right location Art went through the rules and how everything was going to go down. Never was there a moment where we felt unsafe or confused. Art and his crew were brilliant. Art is a perfectionist, clearly. And if you’re going to fly over a thousand feet in the air, in a wicker basket, don’t you want a perfectionist? He is also very informative (we regretted not having his wisdom earlier in our trip) and clearly knows how to fly a balloon like a master. But more than that, Art is hilarious (well, we thought he was anyway). When I say our hot-air balloon ride was perfection I am not exaggerating. Soring over the Rio Grande was magnificent. And we touched down at the exact spot Art intended. The crew impressively put the balloon and equipment back together in short order all the while, laughing and having the best time. All of the passengers joined in the fun. It was like these guys had become our best friends. After everything was tidied up, we knew we hadn’t had enough of these characters (and Art’s jokes and stories) so Art brought us to his local breakfast spot. We walked in like we were with the mayor of Albuquerque. Everyone greeting Art with hugs and handshakes. The breakfast was delicious but the company was even better. In reflection, our only regret is that we had to catch...

Any negative review I have seen is related to having trouble contacting the company via phone. This is a small business which is what you want as it will provide the kind of one one ride with your pilot that you will enjoy. Being a small, family company a call center is just not going to happen. This is why the internet exists. Buy online! The company with the call center will come with a higher price tag and the chance to actually speak to a pilot is small if not impossible.

I fly balloons myself in Illinois. It would seem silly to pay someone else to fly you in another state but Albuquerque is like the Indy 500 of ballooning so I chose this outfit based off a recommendation from a local pilot.

I'm glad I did! Being a pilot, I notice the little things other people looking for a balloon rides should but don't know what to look out for.

Location of launch- you want to on the west or center of the city. This is because ABQ is nestled between the Sandia mountains and a mesa. You want to be able to see the whole area. With this company you will.

Pre-flight briefing- safety is #1 and they way you know if your pilot is safe is if they go in to detail about what to expect about your flight, what to expect during your landing, and details about general safety. You MUST fly with a company that has a safety briefing. This one does. Look no further.

Cost- National average for a balloon ride is $250. Albuquerque is a very competitive market so you can expect to pay less. BUT, you get what you pay for. Balloons are expensive, I know because I own 6. If your paying less you get less. This is baucket list item, don't potentially ruin your experience by choosing price over safety. With this company you will be safe and you will get a good deal.

Fun- your vacationing right? You want your pilot to be having as good of a time as you correct? Art will be sure that happens.

Look no further. Book online. Book with...

Flawless Flight! I took my mom up for her 60th birthday and my 6 year old daughter came with us. We had to reschedule due to rain the first weekend, but living in NM during balloon fiestas, you come to understand that weather is a BIG DEAL when it comes to ballooning and they will not hesitate to to cancel a whole event over it for safety precautions. A full refund or reschedule is offered, so if you’re from out of town you will be reimbursed if the weather does not cooperate.

The pilot and chase crew were very knowledgeable and fun. The pilot gave history of ballooning and why there is a champagne toast/balloonist prayer after each flight. We got to help set up and take down- but you don’t have to. My daughter liked jumping on the balloon after to try to get their air out to fit it back in its bag. When we did our toast they made the champagne cork into a ballon for my daughter as a keepsake. They were very inclusive of all the age ranges.

The basket was huge and there are individual compartments that make it feel more personalized. You have to climb in, which there are foot holes to do so (my daughter used a foot hole as a window on the ride because she was scared to look over the basket). She stayed there the whole time, but said she was having fun and had a smile the whole time.

I’ve been in a balloon before, but told the guys that this one was a flawless flight. We drove a van from our meeting point across town to our take off point and they dropped the balloon perfectly right back next to our meeting point. It was peaceful, serene and a very smooth ride. They followed all safety and weather precautions. Highly recommended! Thanks...