Each of the companies that we have talked to for Hot air balloon rides have said you pay for it in advance, then if there is bad weather, you don’t get your money back. You just have to reschedule for another day. We have a friend who had to make many many many trips an hour and a half each way and each time on the way there, they would get a call to say sorry it’s too windy or some other item. It took a long time before they actually got there actual ride.
So what I’m wondering is, is there any company out there that actually just gives a refund if you can’t take the ride because of inclement weather.? This is in the United States.
There may be, though I would be surprised if anyone does. You are at the mercy of the weather, winds too high? Nope. Looks perfect but there is a nasty windshear at 1000m? Nope.
You still have to have your crew ready even when you call it off. They need to be paid. There are exceptions with crew where you might barter training against pay if someone wants to become a pilot. Still there is work to be done even if you don’t fly. I haven’t been involved for awhile, when I was, any no fly day cut into profit even if there was a reschedule. I doubt that has changed.
I still hold my Lighter Than Air license, I never had a Commericial Pilots License ( you need that for paying passengers) but haven’t flown in a bit.
That’s interesting, glad you brought extra context. Wouldn’t a better option be to factor the losses from bad weather into the price instead?
It would probably make the price prohibitive.
You can make some educated guesses like Michigan in August, mornings are probably a safer bet than afternoons when you have a greater chance of thunderstorms. It’s still trying to predict the weather though.
No one would pay in that scenario…what if the average is 5 reschedules? You going to pay for 6 foights upfront and only get 1? No…