Friday Harbor Seaplanes — Local services in Friday Harbor

I just wanted to say thank you for an amazing experience!! Our Delta airline flights were delayed by 8 hours and the first day of our trip to Friday Harbor was not what we had expected. We got stuck in Seattle and missed our original transportation by car and ferry but Friday Harbor Seaplanes came to our rescue. Michelle was absolutely amazing and got us booked on the first flight out the following morning so we didn’t waste another moment of our trip. She arranged a shuttle to pick us up at the hotel we booked which was also quite the task as many hotels were completely booked up but we finally found one and Friday Harbor Seaplanes accommodated us and got us to the airport and flew us in to Orcas Island. I was really impressed by our pilot and how well he flew the plane. I was a bit nervous and I tend to get motion sickness and he made the flight very enjoyable and even checked in with me during the flight to see how I was feeling. I felt he took slight turns a bit more slow and careful with me in mind and it was very appreciated. My friend also had her baggage delayed by Delta Airlines for 2 days and Michelle was so kind to try and help us by arranging for the airport to deliver the luggage to them so they could bring it to the Friday Harbor dock on one of their daily flights. Unfortunately Delta was being lame and they wouldn’t do it, but the fact that Friday Harbor Seaplanes was willing to help us went above and beyond our expectations. What amazing customer service! I hope to one day visit the islands again and without a doubt I will use Friday Harbor Seaplanes again. They treated us like family!! Thank you! I wholeheartedly recommend this business. They are all great people and do an...

When I made our reservation many months ago, I offered to charter a plane to ensure our family would travel together. I was assured that all of the planes can carry five people, and we would absolutely be together. I called to verify our reservation and was again told not to worry, we would definitely be on the same plane. I called a third time with another question, and was again reassured we would be together. When we arrived, they had another couple’s luggage loaded on a plane. They split my family and put three on that plane, and two on another plane 10 minutes later. We could tell they were just running the schedule like a bus service at that point, and refused to let us just wait as a family for the flight ten minutes later. I ended up on a plane with two of my kids, and a couple with a toddler who shrieked into the headset for the duration of the flight. It would have required the ground staff to spend a few minutes moving luggage around to allow us to fly together, but they were not interested in accommodating us. My disappointment would not have been as great if they had told me ahead of time that they are just moving bodies and not accommodating families. There were not weight or size or luggage differences between our family and the people they paired us with. And we were all there at the same time, so timing was not a problem either. The pilot was awesome, the flight was beautiful, but I missed having the adventure with my family and it broke my heart. Enjoy the trip but don’t have expectations of them honoring your reservation time or...

We signed up for a float plane tour around the islands. Ride is about half an hour.

We flew around San Juan, Shaw and Orcas Islands. This provided a chance to really see what is on those islands (small towns, estates, farms, and beautiful harbors).

Our pilot narrated the flight and took questions as we flew. He was skillful, friendly and very informative.

It was a clear day, smooth flight and the water landing and take-off surprisingly smooth.

The aircraft was a de Havilland Beaver, which held six including the pilot. We were seated in the last row and our view and comfort was fine. I would probably sit in that same seat again. There was one other couple on board, so we had one empty seat. Everyone had a headset so we could communicate with each other and the pilot.

This plane has good power (450 hp radial engine). So you it really moves - as compared to a Cessna 172 Float Plane tour we had previously taken out of Lake Union with another company, which seemed to struggle to get up and out of the water on take-off.

I highly recommend it if you want to see what's on the islands and get the thrill of a water take-off and landing at...