Virgin Balloon Flights Reviews 

5,741
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.6

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 566 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the incredibly friendly staff and deeply informative pilots who consistently make everyone feel completely safe and welcome throughout the entire flight. Travelers also truly enjoy getting hands-on by actively helping prepare and pack away the balloon, which makes the entire journey exceptionally engaging and memorable. However, some people mentioned that securing a suitable booking date can take considerable time and much perseverance due to unexpected scheduling challenges. Consumers also noted that frequent weather cancellations and subsequent rescheduling efforts require a lot of patience to finally get airborne.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers mention positive feedback about staff, highlighting that pilots and ground crews are consistently... See more

User experience

Customers had positive experiences with user experience, consistently describing the adventure as magical and... See more

Service

Users describe positive interactions with service, highlighting slick operations, friendly crews, and... See more

Booking process

Consumers find booking_process to be ambiguous, with highly mixed experiences reported. Many reviewers praise... See more

Customer service

People report positive experiences with customer service, highlighting helpful and professional staff.... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Worth getting up at 4.15 for. Flying from Welford Christmas Tree farm at 6.30 AM, on a sunny Sunday morning. The team were great. Friendly and helpful, giving us a pre-flight safety talk, and p... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Had a virgin balloon ride on Friday 7/8/26 with my best friends as a belated birthday present. Took off in Northamptonshire. The pilot was very informative and friendly. We had a perfect landin... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The weather was perfect. Blue sky not a cloud in sight , and absolutely no wind ! It was truly magical , we floated upwards effortlessly and drifted majestically through the Sussex / Kent countrysi... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great experience. Pilot very friendly and informative, didn't go above 500 feet, so had a fantastic view. Downside. Would be better if the directions to the field were more accurate as the given p... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Gift Shop
  2. Balloon Ride Tour Agency

Written by the company

Virgin Balloon Flights is the largest commercial hot air balloon rides company in the UK and has been taking passengers up, up and away on the airborne experience of a lifetime since 1994.


Contact info

4.6

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

6K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 96% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

How this company uses Trustpilot

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4.6

All reviews

(5,741)

542 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Well worth the wait!

Lots of cancellations due to the weather but well worth the wait! Loved every minute!

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

And THAT'S why we wait for the right weather! We're so pleased that when your flying day finally arrived, you loved every single minute of it.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My Virgin balloon experience

Great, friendly and knowledgable crew (Moira, Caroline, James, Steve and Mike the pilot). Mike was a very experienced and entertaining pilot!
I will definately fly Virgin again

August 8, 2026
Unprompted review
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Safe hands and good entertainment at altitude – Mike clearly knows how to multitask! We'll make sure the whole crew gets their shout-out, and we particularly like the sound of “I'll definitely fly Virgin again”. We'll hold you to that!

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent flight this morning

Excellent flight this morning as part of Bristol balloon fiesta’s mass assent. Moira, Caroline, James Steve and Mike were so knowledgeable ,very helpful and friendly ensuring the best possible experience for us. Incredible experience.

August 8, 2026
Unprompted review
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

A Bristol Balloon Fiesta mass ascent... now THAT'S a morning to remember! What an incredible setting to take to the skies. We'll make sure Moira, Caroline, James, Steve and Mike all see your fantastic comments – it sounds like the whole team did us proud.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing experience today with my 13…

Amazing experience today with my 13 year old son. The flying team were first class and everything about the experience was five star. I can not recommend this enough: it’s just amazing.

August 8, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Now that's a pretty epic day out for a 13-year-old... and not a bad one for the grown-up either! We're delighted you both had such a brilliant time and that the flying team delivered the full five-star treatment.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The flight was excellent

The flight was excellent. Peter, our pilot was great, as were the ground crew Stephen and Luke. The flight went really well, Peter showed us where we were and pointed out local landmarks. Everybody seemed to enjoy it, even the setting up and putting away of the balloon itself. Thoroughly enjoyable i would do it again anytime.

August 8, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Peter, Stephen and Luke clearly make quite the team! From pointing out the landmarks above to getting everyone stuck in back on the ground, it sounds like they gave you the full ballooning experience. And if you'd do it again anytime, we'll take that as a job well done!

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The pilot was very courteous and…

The pilot was very courteous and informative

August 8, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Sounds like our pilot struck just the right balance! We'll make sure your kind words are passed along. Thanks for flying with us.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2026

Helpful all over the experience. From the meet and greet to the landing and packing away. Mike was a great pilot who made all of us feel at ease

August 8, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Taking to the skies at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta is quite an adventure, and it sounds like Mike was exactly the person you wanted at the helm! We'll make sure he knows just how much his calm and friendly approach was appreciated.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

we had to wait a very long time for our…

we had to wait a very long time for our flight but l have to say it was well worth the wait it was very well organised and the ground crew and pilot were very professional and a pleasure to be with , a great experience and a great memory to have .

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Our balloons might get most of the attention, but it's the people in and around the basket who really make the day! We're delighted the pilot and crew looked after you so well and gave you an experience you'll look back on fondly.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic experience.

Adrian, Ian and Lucy were incredible! Talked us through the whole experience.
The balloon ride itself was faultless :)

Booking process is really easy and extend your dates if they cant go ahead with the booked dates.
Well worth the wait :)

August 8, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Adrian, Ian and Lucy... sounds like you've got yourselves a fan club! We'll make sure all three see your fantastic comments. A faultless flight and a crew who kept you in the know throughout – we'll happily take that!

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Virgin Balloon Flight from Rutland Water.

The Virgin balloon flight from Rutland Water with Matt Rate was awesome! Ably supported by Andy and Martin, the stunning views over Rutland Water, soon after dawn, were beautiful. The calm and quite enabled listening to the birds below, punctuated with the occasional noise of the burn for more hot air. I was amazed by the control that Matt had of the balloon with a very smooth takeoff and landing. The only hiccup was a lack of time for the briefing in the original recorded message. Matt corrected that by contacting the guests but, unfortunately, I had missed the final digit from my phone number so I arrived late, but in time for the flight. Thanks for a great flight Matt and team!

August 4, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Hearing the birds below while floating over Rutland Water at dawn... that's a pretty special way to start the day! We're glad everything came together despite the little hiccup beforehand, and we'll make sure Matt, Andy and Martin see your fantastic comments.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fun experience but would have loved a longer flight.

Hot air balloon flying is a great experience. The weather was beautiful and visibility amazing. The whole team were very friendly and approachable. The pilot was lovely and informative. Up in the air it was calm and serene.
True flight time was only 30 minutes, whole experience took roughly 4 hours as you need to help a lot with setting and putting away the balloon.
Booking this takes some serious perseverance, we re looking at years for most people.

August 8, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

There's nothing quite like that calm and quiet once you're in the air, so we're really pleased you enjoyed the flight and were looked after so well by the pilot and crew.

We appreciate your comments about the flight duration and the overall time involved too. Ballooning is an adventure with plenty happening on the ground as well as in the sky, but we understand that the time airborne is the part everyone looks forward to most.

Thanks for sticking with it and for sharing such balanced feedback.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great location at Rutland Water

Great location at Rutland Water. Matt and the crew looked after us extremely well. Would recommend for all ages. Great shared experience.

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

That's one of our favourite things about ballooning – seeing different generations sharing the same adventure together. Throw in Rutland Water as the backdrop and Matt and the crew looking after you, and it sounds like a pretty good day in the skies!

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It was really great

It was really great! My twins had a great time. All very well managed and smiles all round.

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Two happy twins and smiles all round... we'd call that a successful flight! We're so pleased you all had such a great time with us.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

What an amazing experience.

What an amazing experience.
Our pilot Russell Collins was very knowledgeable about the area, pointing out all of the landmarks. We took off from Evesham on the 6am flight 07/08/26. The only thing we were a bit scared about was the landing, but we had nothing to worry about because it was really smooth. To see the sunrise whilst up in the sky was something else. Very peaceful ,felt like you were floating in the air.
Helping set up the balloon and putting it away was really quite fun, the glass of Prosecco with orange juice after it was all packed away was much appreciated. Would highly recommended this experience, one for the bucket list. Just talking to friends about booking another flight. We booked the flight last year, but it was cancelled a few times, also cancelled a few times this year due to the winds, we were booking evening flight, this was the first flight we booked for a morning and I’m really glad we did go on the morning, it was well worth the wait. You are told in plenty of time when flights are cancelled, and really easy to rebook. Thank you Virgin for a wonderful, unforgettable experience and thank you to Russell our pilot for a wonderful flight.

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

All that worry about the landing... and Russell goes and makes it look easy! We're so pleased your first morning booking rewarded you with a sunrise like that, and we'll make sure Russell sees your fantastic comments.

The fact you're already talking about another flight might just mean you've caught the ballooning bug!

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It was worth the wait

I had waited 8 years for lift off and it was one of the best experiences of my life, especially as part of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. The Virgin team were helpful and reassuring making sure my experience was one to be remembered always. Tp

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Eight years waiting for lift-off... and then you get to do it at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta! That's quite a way to finally take to the skies. We're delighted the team looked after you so well and helped make such a long-awaited flight everything it deserved to be.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The wait for the balloon ride was…

The wait for the balloon ride was absolutely worth it! The pilot Gary was amazing pointing out all the different places around that we could see and what different buildings are/were. The journey was really lovely with a lovely celebratory end to the journey. It was like celebrating all our birthdays again (it was a birthday present for a few of us given a little while ago) the views were amazing and it was so clear you could see anything completely different to being able to see out of a tiny window plane. I loved learning a little bit about how the balloon works as well. Would really recommend!

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

Any birthday present that lets you celebrate all over again gets our vote! It sounds like Gary gave you the full guided tour from the sky too. We'll make sure he sees your lovely comments, and thanks for such a fantastic recommendation.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

perfectly managed and a wonderful…

perfectly managed and a wonderful experience

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

“Perfectly managed”... we'll happily take that! Thanks for flying with us and for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant morning

Absolutely brilliant morning. A gorgeous day meant that we could see for miles. We were pleasantly surprised by how smooth the flight was. Great fun and a glass of fizz at the end.
The team were great; big thanks to Gary, Rob and Lucas.

August 7, 2026
Unprompted review
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

It's amazing how something involving a giant balloon and a roaring burner can feel quite so peaceful once you're up there! Sounds like the weather really showed off for you too. We'll make sure Gary, Rob and Lucas get their very well-deserved thanks.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Booked 2 weeks ago,1st try and enjoyed…

Booked 2 weeks ago,1st try and enjoyed the exsperience! Adrian tge pilot was also great

August 7, 2026
Virgin Balloon Flights logo

Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights

Hi,

First attempt?! The weather gods were definitely on your side! We're glad you made the most of your good fortune, and we'll make sure Adrian gets his well earned shout out too.

Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team

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