Southwest Circle Pricing, Terms, & Conditions

This page includes important information about pricing, availability, reservation policies, weight restrictions, and other considerations for our Southwest Circle Helicopter Adventure.

Excursion Cost

We have two pricing structures for our Southwest Circle Helicopter Adventure. Full Excursion Pricing includes helicopter transportation, pilot overnight fees, lodging, and tours. A la Carte Pricing includes just helicopter transportation and pilot overnight fees. Details that describe exactly what is included can be found farther down on this page. We encourage you to read this page carefully before deciding whether you want to book this excursion.

The following prices cover both passengers; they are not applied to each passenger. These prices are guaranteed for all excursions booked through 2011:

• Full Excursion Pricing:
  $6,990 for up to 2 people, double occupancy
  $7,990 for 2 people, single occupancy
• A la carte Pricing:
  Helicopter Flight time on specified route: $3,600/trip
  Pilot Waiting/Overnight Fee: $350/night

What the Price Includes

Both the full excursion price and the a la carte price include:

• Helicopter transportation from Phoenix to Phoenix with stops at Sedona Airport, Grand Canyon Airport, Page Municipal Airport, Gouldings Lodge Airstrip, and Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. The excursion can start and end at any of the following airports, as selected by the lead passenger: Phoenix Sky Harbor, Phoenix Deer Valley, or Scottsdale. An additional fee may apply if the passengers request departure from or landing at any other airport or approved landing zone.
• One piece of luggage designed to fit our luggage compartments for each passenger.

What the Full Excursion Price Also Includes

The full excursion price also includes:

• The following tours, provided by third party tour operators:
• At Sedona: a 2-hour Jeep tour among Sedona’s red rocks.
• At the Grand Canyon: a 45-50 minute helicopter tour over the canyon.
• At Page/Lake Powell: a 3-hour boat tour on Lake Powell and a 90-minute walking tour of Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ.
• At Monument Valley: a 3-1/2 hour ground tour of Monument Valley.
• At Flagstaff: a visit to one of the following: Walnut Canyon National Monument, Lowell Observatory, or Riorden Mansion.
• Overnight lodging (with view rooms whenever available) at each destination:
• In Sedona: The Orchard Inn.
• At Grand Canyon, one of the following: Thunderbird Lodge, Kachina Lodge, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, or Yavapai Lodge.
• At Lake Powell, at the Lake Powell Resort.
• At Monument Valley, at Goulding’s Lodge.
• At Flagstaff, at one of the following: The Inn at 410, England House B & B, Hotel Weatherford, or Monte Vista Hotel.
• Round trip ground transportation between destination airports, lodging and tours.
• One Flying M Air logo baseball cap for each passenger.
• One copy of Robbie: The Robinson Helicopter Experience coffee table book by noted aviation photographer Jon Davison, which features Flying M Air among about a dozen other helicopter operators worldwide. This book, which retails for $55, will be distributed while supplies last. You can learn more about the book here.
• Any applicable sales taxes.

Flying M Air reserves the right to change hotel accommodations and some services from what may be listed here in the event of unavailability. In all instances, substituted accommodations and services will meet or exceed those listed here.

What the A la Carte Price Also Includes

The Pilot Waiting/Overnight Fee component of the a la carte price covers lodging and meals for the pilot and overnight fees for the helicopter for each night of the trip. Although the trip can be done in one day, we do not recommend it.

What the Price Does NOT Include

The prices do not include the following:

• Transportation between your home and departure airport in the Phoenix area.
• Meals.
• Ground transportation other than what is specified as included.
• Lodging before or after the excursion dates.
• Substituted tours or accommodations made at the lead passenger’s request.
• Gratuities for tour guides, restaurant servers, hotel staff, or the pilot.

Availability is Limited

Because of the multiple-hotel coordination required for this excursion, the full excursion price option is offered on specific dates only. If you have other dates in mind, please contact us with requested dates as far in advance as possible to see if we can accommodate you.

A la carte price excursions are customizable and may be available at other times.

We do not normally conduct this excursion during summer or winter months.

Reservations

Reservations are required at least 30 days in advance. A $250 deposit is required at the time of reservation.

A 50% deposit is required 30 days before the departure date.

Full payment must be received at least 3 days before departure.

We accept payment of deposits by MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or check. The final payment must be by credit card unless submitted far enough in advance for the check to clear.

We reserve the right to cancel a reservation if payments are not made on time.

Cancellation Policy

We have a 30-day cancellation policy. We give full refunds for cancellations made more than 30 days before the departure date.

All deposits are forfeited for cancellations made fewer than 30 days before the departure date.

Weight Restrictions

Due to fuel requirements and weight constraints, we cannot accommodate more than 2 people for this excursion.

Total passenger and luggage weight is limited to 550 lbs. Luggage size is limited by stowage space constraints; we will provide luggage for each passenger. Each passenger will also be allowed a small carry-on bag, such as a camera bag, “daypack,” or purse.

Photography

Video and still photography is allowed — and encouraged! — throughout the flight and on all tours. Be advised that helicopter doors cannot be removed for point-to-point travel. If you’re interested in aerial photography at one or more of the destinations, we can conduct doors-off aerial photography flights from the local airport at an additional fee.

Flying M Air is not permitted to overfly the Grand Canyon’s restricted airspace.

Other Considerations

Trip itineraries for full excursion pricing are designed to include a considerable amount of unscheduled time for participants to enjoy the destinations on their own. Although this trip includes tours, Flying M Air does not provide a tour guide to accompany participants throughout the excursion. Hotel accommodations are often not available until after 4 PM on the date of arrival. Walking distances of up to 1/4 mile, long flights of stairs, and walking in hilly terrain is required at several stops. This trip is not recommended for people with health problems or special dietary needs, or people who have difficulty getting around. Trip starts and ends in Phoenix, AZ.

Please contact us before booking your trip if you don’t understand the implications of this. We cannot make alternate arrangements for passengers with special physical needs.

Passenger Responsibility for Adhering to Travel and Tour Schedules

Although most of the full excursion itinerary is flexible, allowing for a great deal of passenger free time at each destination, there are several instances where timeliness is vital for travel or tour purposes. These will be clearly indicated on the passenger’s itinerary. The passenger is responsible for adhering to these times.

If the passenger’s tardiness results in a missed tour, there will be no refund for the cost of that tour. In addition, if tardiness results in any situation that requires additional out-of-pocket expenses to Flying M Air, the passenger will be charged for those expenses.

Flying M Air’s Responsibility in the Event of Problems Related to the Weather or Helicopter

Flying M Air will make every effort to conduct the excursion as outlined here, in its marketing material, and in the finalized itinerary provided to passengers before the start of the excursion. We cannot, however, be held responsible for changes in the itinerary due to weather or aircraft equipment problems.

Flying M Air’s pilot has final say over whether a flight can be completed in any condition. If a flight is cancelled or postponed due to weather or mechanical problems, Flying M Air will cover the additional cost of any lodging or alternative transportation. In the event that tours are missed due to itinerary changes made by Flying M Air, Flying M Air will refund the cost of said tours.

In all instances where itinerary changes are required, Flying M Air will attempt to meet or exceed the quality of services it normally offers.

Important Note

This trip is not being offered as a guided tour. Instead, it is a series of charter helicopter flights, for transportation purposes only, packaged with lodging and tours offered by licensed tour operators at destination locations. Although the helicopter flights pass over and through some of the most incredible scenery the southwest has to offer, Flying M Air is not a tour operator in these areas and is not conducting the flights as tours.