Are you experiencing the January Blues? For many people January can be a challenging time, for others it brings the incentive to begin in a brighter and more positive way! Well what better way to start 2012 and your new beginning than with an exhilarating and enlightening hot air balloon ride?! More to the point, who better to share this experience with than Bailey Balloons who boast not only a wealth of experience, but an untouchable safety record!

Bailey Balloons is run by Jo and Clive Bailey who such an obvious passion for ballooning that their reputation has spread far and wide. Clive has been Flight Director for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta for ten years and Jo has been involved in ballooning and TV advertising including the recent Land Rover campaign flying a small one person balloon at night in Vancouver. Clive is also the BBC One Show pilot.

People come to Bailey Balloons because of our unique personalised service and our consistently friendly nature. Offering a complete 3-4 hour experience, not only will you fly with us, but you will also have the opportunity to help set up the balloon and take it down at the end, enjoying a celebratory champagne toast following the flight. With launch sites in Bristol, Bath , South Wales and of course at the fabulous Bristol Balloon Fiesta, just take your pick from any of our stunning locations! We even offer other unique services such as a weather checker on the day of your flight!

Looking to book a New Year Balloon Flight?

Our Gold anytime Balloon Flight Vouchers are now only £115!

Ride Vouchers from just £85 per person!

Simply book your flights online or call us on 01275 375300. Visit the site where you can browse our online availability whenever it suits you and book a date for your dream flight! Our great looking Flight Vouchers and passenger packs can be e-mailed within seconds of your online purchase or by Post to arrive the following day!

Ballooning first timer? Most of our customers are, so we thought to save you the suspense and answer all those questions on your mind, we’d tell you a little more about what to expect. Many of our customers are ordering balloon flights for Christmas presents at the moment and there are also a great deal thinking ahead and organising their Valentines surprise with plenty of notice to make it perfect; ballooning is known as the most romantic way to fly, after all. So what questions are we being overwhelmed with at the moment.

Firstly, most enquires are with regards to what to expect from their flight. Many are fearful of the takeoff and other of the landing, however there is no need for concern.

When you take off you will notice the ground dropping away, however you will not really notice a sensation of movement or rising. Many have described a feeling of peace and tranquillity once up in the air; this is heightened by the apparent lack of wind.  The balloon moves with the wind and so you will not experience windiness at all when you’re up! You can expect to climb to heights of approximately 3’000 foot; let your mind imagine what the world would look like from heights such as that, and nothing to obstruct your view!

Flights last for about an hour, and yes, you will enjoy a champagne toast, along with a certificate to commemorate your day! What’s more we encourage all of our passengers to help set up the balloon and dismantle it afterwards so that they can get a real feel for ballooning and enjoy a day of it, rather than just the flight.

You can expect your flight to take place either at sunset or sunrise as this is when the weather is at its calmest. Typically flights run from March to October, however some Balloons Over Britain operators will run flights outside of the typical ballooning season. Bear in mind, if the weather is not suitable for flying, then your flight will be cancelled. Simply phone to re-schedule in this case where we will make every possible step to ensure you fly at a date that is convenient for you.

Remember to wear clothing which is appropriate for country walks and the time of year, ideal clothes made of natural fibres. Another advisable item would be a hat or cap to protect your head from the heat of the burners. And please, ladies, you will be clambering through fields and over the balloon basket, so do wear trousers. We recommended sensible walking shoes or boots, preferably ones that are waterproof, as most flights take off from, and land in, a field. Finally bear in mind the limited space in the basket, so try to avoid bringing large rucksacks or bags.

The most common type of query we have is with regards to the safety of hot our ballooning. What we advise is that ballooning activities intrinsically involve the possibility of physical risks greater than those encountered in daily life, even though they are conducted under the supervision of commercial pilots who exercise all due precautions to ensure safety. By taking part in such ballooning activities passengers are understood to be fully aware of these risks. All Balloons Over Britain Operators are certified and regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and all the pilots hold full Commercial Pilot Licences. All operators carry combined single limit insurance to current European standards.

For more details, call us on 0845 071 6388.

At The Ballooning Business, you can enjoy a serene experience high in the sky like no other method of transport, with the assurance of our experience. Established since 1989, we are in fact one of the UK’s original balloon rides companies. We have launch sites in Northampton, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Bedford, Huntingdon and Banbury and offer flights in most cases at sunrise and sunset as this is when the weather is normally at its mildest.

You will enjoy your airborne adventure for approximately one hour over the location of your choice, so you know precisely what you are going to see and can have the camera at the ready for your first experience of seeing the stunning sights from a birds-eye view. You will be inspired at how different everything looks from a balloon and feel a sensation almost as if you were walking in the clouds; there’s really nothing quite like it!

Even thought the flight will last an hour, you must allow for approximately 3 hours as on the day in order to enjoy the full experience, you will help set up and dismantle the balloon, plus you will be rewarded with a champagne toast; it’s no wonder ballooning is seen as the most romantic way to fly! Imagine taking your loved one up in a balloon, a memory you will truly treasure forever, and as if it couldn’t get any better, you’ll then enjoy a glass of sparkling too, and in real crystal glassware! You know, many people choose this is as their opportunity to propose…

At the end of the flights you will be presented with a commemorative personalised flight certificate as a token to remember your day by and of course return transport to the launch site. But most importantly of all, you will have forever with you, the most amazing memories, and ones that will last a lifetime!

It doesn’t end their however, here at The Ballooning Business, during the Christmas week we’re offering Thursday morning flights for just £80! Yes, you heard that right – just call 01296 688772 for more information and bookings. But that’s not all…

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER – Buy any voucher now with just a £50 deposit before the 31^st December and you won’t have to pay the balance until the 31^st March 2012! Just our way of saying HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Wanting to book a hot air balloon flight as a Christmas gift? Don’t panic, it’s not too late; Wickers World allow you to book your vouchers online or by phone giving you the choice of delivery via e-mail or post! E-mailed vouchers will be delivered instantly 24 hours a day, so in order to present it as a gift, all you need is a printer (with ink of course). So this means you can order right up to Christmas eve it’s self, or if you’re really sneaky, you may even get away with Christmas morning! However if you’d like your voucher to arrive courtesy of our Royal Mail service, you’ll find your options are still quite impressive; your last postal opportunity is on the 23rd December for Saturday Special or alternatively book by the 20th December for normal 1st Class delivery. Don’t forget, if you’d like your vouchers to be posted on the same day as ordering, book before 3.30pm.

Wickers World has operated an unrivalled service throughout the Midlands and the North West for over 22 years, flying more passengers on more flights than any other operator in the region! So it’s no wonder we’re so popular during this time of year! If you’d like to take a look at the available flight dates and schedule an appropriate or better still a meaningful date, take a look at our Date Availability page. Our competitors decline to show their available dates until AFTER their customers have ordered the tickets! Could this be because they don’t want you to know how rarely they fly in your area?

With flights scheduled from Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire all year round, you can pick a sentimental date to take a trip 3,000 foot in the air over some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes. So why not put a huge great big smile on your loved ones face by surprising them with the gift so many only dream of. Still on Britain’s list of top most wanted things to do in life, there’s no doubt the recipient will be overjoyed with their wonderful surprise.

Book online now where you can check out our prices, locations and date availability, plus have a peak at our customer testimonials, or alternatively call to book with one of our team on 01889 882222 – lines open from 9am to 9pm every day until Christmas!

2011 is approaching its end and despite the obstacles the recession has brought with it from redundancies to frozen salaries, your staff have stuck with you. Your customers and clients have remained loyal to your business despite the fact that you have been unable to offer them the reductions you could last year or the incentives for that matter. It’s been a tough year and those who have stuck by you and your business should be rewarded. Many companies buy presents for their employees at Christmas time, or offer a bonus, where as clients and customers are often taken for posh meals. But have you considered doing it a little differently this year?

The likes of Peugeot, Ford, Unilever, Bovey Castle Ltd, Calibre Recruitment, Morgan Stanley, Bentley, Tresanton Hotel, Express & Echo, Eventscape, Nuffield Hospital and Supercat Ltd decided they would do it a little differently to the rest and have all impressed clients and wowed staff with a corporate hot air balloon ride at Aerosaurus Balloons.

Each business has been impressed by the experience Aerosaurus Balloons has given them and some have pledged to come back again very soon! Aerosaurus Balloons have over 23 years experience of providing champagne hot air balloon flights to individuals and groups and for a range of different occations. Boasting a number of meeting locations throughout the South West such as Cornwall, South Devon, Mid and East Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire; we are sometimes even able to fly from your own location depending on aviation, geographic and physical suitability.

One Customer quoted;

“Arthur, just a quick note to let you know the Breathingspace / Morgan Stanley ballooning evening was a great success (client’s words). A big thank you for sorting & please pass on our thanks to your excellent team, I am sure we will be bringing more clients to you in the future.”

But is it any wonder why corporate ballooning goes down so well when research suggests that Hot Air Balloon Flights consistently fall in the “Top Ten Things” people have always wanted to do? Why not consider entertaining your clients or rewarding your employees with this unique, exciting and memorable gift, plus, if you’re trying to impress prospective customers, there is no doubting the “Wow” factor this would have on any sales campaign!

Here at Aerosaurus Balloons we have multiple balloons which carry various numbers of passengers. We are able to provide exclusive tailored flights, team building experiences and mass balloon launches for up to 100 of your guests at one time and just to make sure your brand name is noticed; you can even have your name on the balloon! Interested? Get in touch on 01404 823 102.

Balloon Rides Ltd are a Balloons Over Britain members company who offer passenger balloon rides in locations around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. To be specific, in Yorkshire we fly from York Racecourse or from the banks of the River Ouse at Naburn Lock and in Lincolnshire we have sites near Grantham, Rutland Water and Stamford, however the site we fly from on the day depends entirely on wind direction.

Wind direction isn’t the only factor which must be taken into consideration on the day; for a successful flight not only must the winds be light, but the forecast should be clear of rain and the visibility good. For this reason we recommend that passengers call us at the time specified in your map pack to confirm if the weather permits us to fly. If the weather is bad, don’t panic; simply call to reschedule your flight as soon as possible at a time that suits you.

Depending on the flying conditions, we fly early morning and early evening when the wind is generally calmer and our flying season is from April to October. The time of your flight will depend on the time of year as it will always be in accordance with sunrise and sunset. Typically in May we meet you at 6am for morning flights and 6pm for evening flights, however in later months you will find that the morning flights will be a little later and the evening flights a little earlier.

Many passengers ask us how far we’ll fly, however as we travel at the same speed as the wind, it’s difficult to give an accurate answer. Having said this, if you consider that the balloon can only safely be flown in winds up to 10 mph, we normally cover approximately 7-10 miles. You will experience views from up to 1000 feet up, but we sometimes climb to 5000 feet (around a mile high) in order to find the right wind speed at which to travel.

We are often asked whether there are any age restrictions in terms of ballooning, but what’s more important is the passenger’s health and agility. All passengers must be medically fit to fly, and as our balloon baskets are about 1.1 metres (42 inches) high, passengers will need to be able to climb into the basket. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on the flight and must be over 8 years old, and their height must exceed 1.4 metres (4′6″). In the interests of safety and operational requirements we cannot undertake the carriage of passengers whose declared weight exceeds 18 stone (114kg).

If you’d like to book a hot air ballooning date with Balloon Rides Ltd, simply log into our date page on the web site where you can see date availability and follow our quick ordering process, or call our office during weekday office hours on 01757 288 888.

On the Sunday 11^th September this year at 7:40pm, the British ballooning team consisting of David Hempleman-Adams and Simon Care landed their balloon after taking part in the Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race 2011. The pair landed after 20 hours of flying in their Lady Luck balloon, finding themselves in Worgl, Austria, when a thunderstorm became a threat.

Enjoying a scenic flight over the luscious French Alps, the Swiss Alps, and the Austrian Alps, Hempleman-Adams and Carey initially launched their balloon from Gap in France at 10:40pm on the Saturday. Reaching a distance of 580.9 km, the pair weren’t far off the German Team 2 winners who reached 645.6 km, landing just outside Saltzburg. The German team 1 came in at second place. Our very own Flight Director Clive Bailey (of Bailey Balloons) and Luc Trullemans, maintained communications with the British team at regular intervals throughout the flight, from the HQ in Bristol at the Bristol Hotel.

Clive commented;

“We are especially proud of David and Simon given the competition they faced. They have had an exciting and stunning flight which was much shorter than last year’s flight due to the high altitudes that they had to fly at and bad weather but it was a flight that was hard work but ended with a perfect stand up landing.”

Upon landing Hempleman-Adams phoned to say;

“We had to land as there were thunder storms all around. We had a truly spectacular flight with amazing views over the Alps, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn…incredible. Nige and Bob, the retrieve crew turned up within a few minutes of us landing and we all then had to sort out the balloon after which they celebrated with some whisky and then retired to a local restaurant to savour some hot food.”

Maybe it’s about time you saw the world from a different perspective. At Balloons Over Britain we specialise at giving you just that! Since 1991 we have been the UK’s largest and longest established balloon flight operators and have provided a nationwide ballooning network covering areas across Scotland, England and Wales. In fact, we have over 70 different launch site locations across the UK! With over 40 balloons spread out across our member companies, we are able to offer a continuous service right across the season which is normally from March to the end of October. However some companies offer flights over extended periods. With dawn and dusk flights, seven days a week, Balloons Over Britain proudly fly over one-third of all balloon flight passengers across the United Kingdom.

All of our member companies offer a breathtaking experience and each holds Civil Aviation Authority licensing. Our member companies include the following:

Adventure Balloons – Adventure balloons covers areas across Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, South Oxfordshire, London and Surrey and have been operating since 1985! Adventure Balloons even offer a dedicated birthday balloon service which is complemented with its own ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ birthday!

Aerosaurus Balloons – Aerosaurus Balloons offer flights across locations Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, South Somerset and Wiltshire. The company have been operating for 23 years!

Airborne Balloon Flights – Airborne Balloon Flights cover the Kent and Sussex areas and have been in flight for 18 years.

Alba Ballooning – Alba Ballooning covers Edinburgh, Kinross, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland and have been flying since 2000.

Anglian Countryside Balloons – Anglian Countryside Balloons proudly covers the Essex area and began ballooning in the early 1990’s.

Balloon Rides – Balloon Rides fly over the beautiful Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, their founder having over 30 years experience in flying and manufacturing balloons.

Bailey Balloons – Bailey Balloons has locations across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Wales and offer a wealth of experience, untouchable safety record and clear passion for ballooning.

The Ballooning Business – The Ballooning Business has launch sites in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and began flying in 1989.

Broadland Balloons – Broadland Balloons cover Norfolk and Suffolk and have nearly 20 years experience in passenger ballooning.

Wickers World – Wickers World have sites in Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire and have been a passenger balloons flights company for 22 years!

To book a flight with one of the above balloon flights operators, simply call on 0845 071 6388 or book online.

Balloons Over Britain are the UK’s leading balloon flights co-ordinator managing balloon operators right across the UK. Most of our members companies have been operating passenger balloon rides for over ten years and some hold experience for twice as long as that! It’s no wonder that Balloons Over Britain are the UK’s number one choice for passenger balloon rides!

Considering our extensive list of member companies along with the many years experience held by all, Balloons Over Britain hold an unparalleled wealth of operational experience combined with the highest operating standards. However more impressively, from our endless experience has come many of the procedures that have now been incorporated into the industries standards via our regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)! And to clarify, all Balloons Over Britain members hold Air Operators Certificates issued by the CAA. Please note that this certification is only granted to fare-paying-passenger carrying companies who satisfy the organisational and safety requirements required by the CAA.

You can experience an intimate balloon ride for two or even make a booking for a party of 16, that’s the beauty of Balloons Over Britain, with all our member companies, we have a choice of so many balloons! Take a look at our map of the UK for an idea of the areas we cover, or alternatively view our list of balloon ride operators.

However many of our customers are not looking for a standard passenger balloon ride, instead they turn to us for help with Corporate entertainment as incentives for their customers and clients or even their staff and often people come to us regarding Commercial opportunities for balloon operation and advertising. Whatever it is you’re looking for, simply visit our site or call us on 0845 071 6388 for more information.

Hot air ballooning began as a crazy hobby entertained by the wealthy (or the slightly insane) and for many years ballooning over certain distances and oceans became an ambition of many. It has now established itself as a highly beneficial medium for advertising, as a popular corporate entertainment activity or incentive, and at the top of many people’s ‘Top Ten Things to Do Before They Die’.

In terms of corporate entertainment, what better way to treat potential clients and respected clients than a hot air balloon ride, particularly a ride which ends where the balloons lands within the grounds of a conference venue and is summed up with chilled champagne! When launching new products and campaigns hot air ballooning has taken its crowd by storm launching balloons of almost any shape into the sky. The company brand or product can be seen by thousands over a massive area.

In 1991, 6 of the UK’s largest and longest running balloon flight operators created the nationwide flight network which today we know as Balloons Over Britain. However the popularity of hot air ballooning only grew, as did their network; Balloons Over Britain now has 12 member companies who cover pretty much every flyable area in the UK. With locations dotted around London, the Lake District, Scotland, the South West of England, Wales and more, Balloons over Britain are proud of their achievement as the only comprehensive national balloon flight network throughout Britain.

Ballooning itself is a treat for anyone of any age who seeks any kind of thrill. A weather dependant activity it can often be a case of third time lucky, which just adds to the adventure! When the conditions are right, you’ll get that call and before you know it you’ll have helped set up the balloon and will be waiting with anticipation in the basket itself – that’s right – you, in the basket of a hot air balloon, your dream being realised. Imagine the butterflies in your tummy when it dawns on you that you’ve actually started rising, when you realise the basket is no longer on the ground, your airborne!

This could be you with just one phone call, or a couple of clicks. You can book online, read more about Balloons Over Britain and our member companies on our site, call us for a chat, or even book it with us over the phone; it’s simple, just call 0845 071 6388 or visit us at www.balloonsoverbritain.co.uk.