1. what do I have to wear?
It is about as warm in the air as it is on the ground, as some of the warm air from the balloon can be felt in the basket. Put on sporty clothes (hiking), strap a sweater around your waist and take a thin jacket with you. You should also wear flat, sturdy shoes.
2. how long is a voucher valid for?
Our vouchers are valid for 2 years. Do not wait until the end of the validity period to redeem the voucher, bear in mind that the sun does not shine every day and that the balloon flights can only be carried out in good weather and you will have to reckon with postponement dates. In exceptional cases, we will extend the voucher for a further year, but this will incur costs.
3. may children travel with me?
All children aged 7 and over are welcome to join us. The basket edge has a height of 1.20m. Children who cannot see over the edge of the basket cannot take a balloon ride, as it is too dangerous and not permitted to lift the children in the balloon. It is also boring if you can't see anything.
4. how do I reserve a place if I have a voucher?
There are 2 ways for voucher holders to reserve a place in the sky with us.
- You can contact us by telephone Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00 on 056 667 27 08 or
- You can use our electronic reservation form, which you can find here.
5. Wie reserviere ich einen Platz, wenn ich keinen Gutschein habe?
Für die vorgängige Information über die Ballonfahrt und die Möglichkeiten, sowie den Ablauf empfehlen wir Ihnen den telefonischen Weg zu wählen. Die Reservation selbst ist ebenfalls auf 2 Wegen machbar:
- Sie können sich telefonisch Mo-Fr 09.00-17.00 Uhr unter 056 667 27 08 oder
- Sie nutzen unser elektronisches Reservationsformular, welches Sie hier finden.
6. why do you have to pay the costs if you cancel at short notice or do not show up?
We offer you the option of canceling your balloon flight without consequences 48 hours before it takes place. However, if you cancel later or do not show up at all, the seats usually remain empty and unused. Only in a few cases and with great effort on our part is it possible to find replacement guests. In the worst case, the entire balloon flight is canceled because we cannot find replacement passengers and a certain minimum weight must be in the basket. However, the costs of CHF 200/guest remain and we reserve the right to charge you for them.
7. How many people can fit in a hot air balloon basket?
There are hot air balloons that have room for 2 people and also those that have room for a maximum of 30 people. In Switzerland, balloons with 5-6 seats are the most common. Holly Ballon AG has various hot air balloons. For daily balloon flights we use the 6-seater balloons, for groups and company outings we also have 3 balloons that can accommodate 12 people. If you are planning an event with more people, it is of course also possible to launch several balloons at the same time.
8. where is the meeting point?
Our meeting points, including directions, are described here.
9. is a gift voucher valid for all starting locations?
If you have a voucher for an adventure balloon flight, you can choose freely between our 24 launch locations.
10. is Holly Ballon AG a licensed aviation company?
Holly Ballon AG is an aviation company licensed by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). We are therefore obliged to carry out annual safety checks on balloons and pilots.
11. are the passengers in the basket insured?
Our guests are automatically insured by Holly Ballon AG. The federal government has stipulated exactly how the insurance conditions must be in order to be able to carry out balloon flights.
12. Why do hot-air balloons “fly”?
In 1789, the first hot-air balloon took off into the sky. At that time, only birds were known to fly, which is why the balloon was compared to a sailing ship and was referred to as “sailing in the sea of sky”. Nowadays, all aircraft that move with the help of buoyancy, such as zeppelins, airships and hot-air balloons, “fly”. All other aircraft “fly”, such as airplanes and paragliders.
13. Why do balloons only fly in the morning and evening?
Thermals prevail at temperatures above 20 degrees during the day. This occurs when the sun warms the ground and the warm air rises. The rising air “sucks in” air, which then creates winds on the ground. These winds are dangerous for a hot air balloon as they make it uncontrollable. In the mornings and evenings, the thermals are very weak due to the low or lack of sunlight and can no longer be dangerous for a hot-air balloon.
14. Can you determine the landing site?
No, as we travel with the wind, we have no way of steering the balloon in a particular direction. The balloon never lands at the launch site. The pilot finds out about the wind direction and speed before the balloon flight and chooses the launch site based on this, so that he does not float into a prohibited area and have to abort the balloon flight early.
15. How do we get back from the landing site to the meeting point?
After the balloon has taken off, our comfortable Holly Balloon vehicle will follow the balloon on its journey through the air and will be there when it lands. After the balloon has been packed up and you have been accepted into the circle of balloonists through the baptism, our Holly luxury bus will take you back to the meeting point.
16. Are pregnant or infirm people allowed to fly in hot-air balloons?
During a hot-air balloon ride, there are no vibrations either during take-off or during the flight. In most cases, the landing is also gentle. There is no seating in the balloon, but you can lean on the edge of the basket. If you suffer from cardiovascular or other illnesses, please consult your doctor. For pregnant women, we recommend consulting your doctor, we recommend a balloon ride up to the 5th month yes, then postpone the balloon ride.
17. Can you film and photograph in a balloon?
Photography and filming is permitted without restriction during the balloon flight. However, no liability is accepted for photographic and filming equipment. The passenger is responsible for the shockproof storage of the equipment during the entire flight.
18. How long does a balloon ride last?
Depending on the offer you choose, a balloon flight has different durations in the air. However, the procedure BEFORE and AFTER the balloon ride is always the same.
- Drive from the meeting point to the launch site (approx. 0.5 h)
- Assembly of the balloon before launch (approx. 0.5 h)
- Hot air balloon ride (depending on your choice of balloon ride)
- Packing of the balloon after landing and balloonist christening with champagne and personal certificate (approx. 0.5 h)
- Free return trip from the landing site to the starting point (approx. 0.5 h)
19. Can I travel in a hot-air balloon despite vertigo?
Yes, because vertigo only occurs when you remain firmly attached to the ground at altitude, for example on mountains, towers and balconies. As the balloon moves freely in the air and only floats gently over forests and villages driven by the wind, you will not suffer from vertigo.
20. What do I do if I arrive late for a balloon flight?
In any case, let us know by phone! Unfortunately, we are bound to certain starting times due to sunrise and sunset, so we can wait for you for a maximum of 10 minutes. Please understand this! (see point 6.)