Happy New Chinese Year of the Dragon from us all here at Alba Balloons where we are also celebrating 12 years of operations! In the spirit of our celebrations we are offering you a £30 discount per person! This discount is available on the following vouchers;

• Freedom Flight Voucher – Normally £169, now just £139 per person! This voucher enables you to book onto any of our scheduled flights, including weekends at any location; full flexibility!
• Weekday Flight Voucher - Normally £155, now just £125 per person! This voucher enables you to book onto any of our weekday scheduled flights, at any location; you are not pinpointed to a particular session (morning/evening).
• Weekday Morning Voucher – Normally £139, now just £109 per person! This voucher entitles you to book onto any of our weekday morning scheduled flights in Scotland!
• Premium Flight Voucher – Normally £199, now just £169 per person! This luxurious voucher gives the customer the option to book onto any of our scheduled flights, including weekends at any location of their choice! The voucher also includes an ‘in flight’ photo and is fully refundable.

Our locations include Lothians & Peeblesshire (near Edinburgh), Perth & Kinrosshire, Fife & Clackmannanshire, Scottish Borders (St Boswells & Kelso) and Northumberland (Longhorsley & Morpeth).  However, at Alba Balloons we understand how important it is that you have exactly the ballooning experience you’ve dreamed of, so all our vouchers can be transferred to be used with England based balloon operators too! All hot air balloon operators that are part of the Balloons over Britain group will also accept Alba Balloons Vouchers.

What we pride ourselves on most at Alba balloons is our strong reputation for customer service. We offer you a range of options and services which are unique only to us enabling you various advantages such as; the option to telephone our offices to speak directly with your pilot, the ability to see our flight availability before you buy, the option to purchase on line 24/7 and so on. We strive to schedule enough flights so that you can always book a short time ahead and never under any circumstances sell more vouchers than British weather could ever enable us to fly! What’s more, we notify you as early as possible of flight cancellations due to poor weather and promise to never make last minute changes to your booked flight meeting point.

For more information or to book your flight simply visit the site or call us on 01875 830 709.

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.

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.

Many people like to choose a specific date for their hot air ballooning adventure. This could be for a loved ones birthday present, an anniversary surprise, or maybe purely because you have a hectic work schedule and you’ll be booking a holiday day in advance. At Alba Balloons we understand this and the importance of sticking to schedules and so do everything we can to help our customers get exactly what they need and want from the experience.

In order to request a particular flight date, you will firstly need either an Alba Ballooning voucher (take a look at our variety of Flight Vouchers) or an affiliated Agency voucher (e.g. Balloons over Britain, Acorne Sports, Virgin Experience Days, Buy a Gift, Exhilaration, LastMinute.com, Flights4All etc.). When registering your voucher with us, you will then be able to book a flight date.

You will find a list of available dates on our flight bookings page where you can select the appropriate date and book direct from there. However please be aware that flights can be cancelled due to poor weather conditions, unfortunately this is out of our control! Always check flight online, if your date is ‘cancelled’ you will need to rebook as soon as possible. However it is imperative that you call the office to check even where bookings are NOT listed as cancelled, better to be on the safe side.

Alba Ballooning covers areas across Scotland’s including its capital city of Edinburgh and the surrounding picturesque Lothian and Peeblesshire countryside. Alba also covers the scenic region of Perth & Kinrosshire and Fife, plus from 2011, Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders and also over Northumberland from near Morpeth have been added to the list!

For more information visit our website www.albaballooning.co.uk, or alternatively call us on 01875 830709.

Considering hot air ballooning as a Christmas present for your loved one? Maybe you’ve decided to present your best friend, your partner, your parent or sibling with a magical hot air balloon ride voucher for their Christmas present this year, an original idea with sentiment! The joy of giving a hot air balloon ride as a present is the knowing the great reaction it will receive. Just imagine yourself on the receiving end, opening your gift box to reveal a helium balloon gently raising out of the box with colourful vouchers tied to the ribbon. Can you imagine the pure excitement you would feel knowing that at a date of your choice during the following 12 months, you would be floating 3,000 feet in the air, gracefully drifting over the rolling countryside, panoramic 360 degree views with a glass of champagne? It doesn’t get more blissful, yet more exhilarating than this!

Many people question whether ballooning is suitable for them, or the recipient; this is fairly simple. Our FAQ’s should give you a clear idea of whether hot air ballooning is the right choice. Also, our member facts may help;

• The youngest passenger was just 7 years old.
• 50% of their passengers bought the flight as a 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th Birthday present.
• 17% of their passengers were over 70 years old.
• The oldest passenger was 100 years and 4 days old.
• 22% of the business came from personal recommendation.
• The most frequent passenger has flown with them 12 times!!

So if you’re concerned that you or your intended recipient are too large, small, old, young or immobile, think again; read our FAQ’s, you may be pleasantly surprised! For enquiries, get in touch with us a Balloons Over Britain on 0845 071 6388, or alternatively take a look at our locations, select the appropriate member company and then e-mail them or call them direct.

Is it time you re-invented your business? Maybe with 2012 fast approaching it high time you gave your company a new face? Are you launching a new product, have you changed your company logo, maybe you’re offering an additional service? On the other hand, maybe despite this overly drawn out recession you’ve found the funds (or a banker who is an exception to the rule and is actually lending during our current crisis) to start up the business you’ve always dreamed of. If any of these are you, then here at Balloons Over Britain we have just the thing for you!

When you’re driving along in your car and you see a hot air balloon in the sky no one can resist the temptation of a good luck. If you’re lucky you even get to catch a glimpse of the burners going or the passengers and pilot themselves. Myself I’ve seen many special shaped balloons, or balloons with messages printed on them. I’ve seen balloons with advertising banners across their baskets or trailing along behind in the wind. Without fail, every single time, I’ve squinted to read the print, despite to find out what it says before it’s out of sight! And it appears I’m not alone, we’re all the same, strangely drawn in by hot air balloons and their messages, so why not use this as a base for your new advertising campaign?

At Balloons Over Britain we have our own design specialists who can individually tailor special shaped balloons to cater for most designs. With a wealth of experience, we pride ourselves in making balloons which are sure to be the centre of attention in most marketing forums!

Hot air balloons are also used to generate publicity at events such as balloon fiestas, major sporting occasions, outdoor shows and events that attract television coverage. Proven to generate desire and action in most any target audience, balloons develop awareness and interest. In fact, research suggests that the cost of balloon advertising ‘per thousand opportunities to see’ is by far lower than the figure for newspaper, posters, radio or television advertising. When you consider then that the balloon will also be seen on television coverage of the events, or in editorial press of the events, the audience is them increased greatly!

A hot air balloon will always draw in an audience, so if you’d like to discuss how we could help your business find new customers and expand, simply contact us on 0845 071 6388 or get in touch via the website.

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.