Flying Experience Gifts in Santa Barbara

Scenic Flights, Helicopter Tours, Flight Lessons, Hot Air Balloon Rides, Skydiving, Hang Gliding, Biplane Rides and More

Airborne experience gifts are the perfect way to elevate gift-giving to new heights—literally! These gifts offer a unique and unforgettable adventure that goes beyond the ordinary. Whether it's a hot air balloon ride, helicopter tour, or even a daredevil aerobatic flight, the thrill of being airborne adds an extra dimension to the gift-giving experience. It's not just a present; it's an opportunity for the recipient to soar above the mundane and create memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.

What sets airborne experience gifts apart is their ability to cater to a diverse range of interests and preferences. For the nature lover, a hot air balloon ride provides a serene and majestic view of landscapes below. Adrenaline junkies can opt for aerobatic flights, experiencing heart-pounding maneuvers in the sky. Meanwhile, a scenic helicopter tour offers a unique perspective of both urban and natural wonders. The variety ensures that there's an airborne adventure for everyone, making these gifts a versatile choice for any occasion. Beyond the sheer excitement, airborne experience gifts showcase a thoughtful and personalized touch. They demonstrate a level of consideration that goes beyond traditional gifts, showing that you've not only chosen a present but curated an entire experience.

The anticipation leading up to the flight, the exhilaration during, and the memories afterward make airborne experience gifts a standout choice that resonates long after the adventure concludes.

How safe are these airborne experiences?

All airborne adventures offered by Xperience Days are operated by commercial pilots, flight instructors and companies which adhere to the strictest standards set by the FAA. Since 2004, our partners offering flight lessons, helicopter rides, scenic flights, sky diving, hot air balloon rides, hang gliding, paragliding, biplane rides and air combat experiences have had an impeccable safety record. This is because Xperience Days only works with companies that put the utmost importance on equipment maintenance and following all regulations and best practices.

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Are there any age, health restrictions or physical requirements for participating?

Yes. Nearly all airborne experience gifts have restrictions for participation. Why do participants need to meet specific physical requirements? For safety reasons. Light aircraft such as a Cessna 172 plane or Robinson R44 helicopter have specific weight and balance requirements which need to be met for the aircraft to properly function. The weight requirements and restrictions, height limitations, maximum and minimum ages permitted along with any other physical limitations are published in the 'Additional Information' section of each airborne experience offered. If you are unsure whether or not you or a gift recipient meets the requirements, we recommended reading these details prior to purchasing a gift. The restrictions published are to ensure your safety and the safety of the pilot and others. They are not a suggestion, they cannot be changed, exceptions cannot be made. For example, if the weight limit published for a flight lesson is 220lbs, then the participant cannot weight more than this limit fully dress with their shoes on. How will the flight instructor or pilot know if you the participant meets the weight limit? They will need to get on the scale before they are able to get into the aircraft. That's how serious our partners are about safety.

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How far in advance do I need to book the experience?

Yes, there are specific days or times available for the airborne activities featured. Each experience gift includes a 'When It Is Offered' section which details information about when the activity can be scheduled. Many airborne experiences, such as hot air balloon rides, are seasonal and can only be scheduled during specific months of the year and at specific times of the day. This section provides information about available dates and times during which the activity takes place. Dates on the calendar shown in green are the dates we are currently taking reservation requests for; however, they aren't guaranteed to be available. Due to the popularity of these unique gifts, we suggest making reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance. You do not need to make reservations when purchasing a gift certificate. Experience Gifts are delivered in the form of an open-dated Gift Certificate redeemable at the recipient’s convenience, making it easy for them to book the date that works best for them. All gifts include instructions on how to make reservations.

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Where do these experiences take place, is transportation provided?

'Where It's Located' is the section of each featured experience gift which highlights where the airborne adventure begins. You may use the zoom function on the map to get more details on the meeting point or airport location. Due to the nature of many aerial activities offered, the route taken for a hot air balloon ride or scenic flight may change due to winds and other weather conditions or FAA restrictions. Can you fly over your house or a proposal sign? Maybe, but that cannot be guaranteed unfortunately. For specific requests such as these, you will need to speak with the Pilot or Certified Flight Instructor once the reservation is confirmed. They will then be able to assist you with all options to make your experience as memorable as possible. With regards to getting to the meeting location, this is generally up to the participant. Unless otherwise stated, transportation to the meeting location for the airport, skydive center or hot air balloon launch site is not included.

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How does the gift voucher work, can the recipient choose a specific date for the experience?

Experience Gifts are delivered in the form of an open-dated Gift Certificate redeemable at the recipient’s convenience, making it easy for them to book the date that works best for them. Gifts can be printed out upon purchase; or, delivered instantly via eMail to you or to the recipient. Plus, certificates can be personalized with a message and include a full description of the gift purchased. Certificates are valid for one year from the date of purchase. After 12 months from the date of issue, the redeemer will be responsible for any price increase for the activity (if there is one at the time of redemption). Worried about selecting the perfect gift? No need to! Certificates valid for a specific activity can be exchanged at any time prior to redemption.

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What is the cancellation policy in case of unforeseen circumstances or bad weather?

All airborne activity gifts include a 'Reservation Information' section which can be found towards the bottom of the experience details page. This section outlines the rescheduling policy for that specific activity once a reservation has been made. Nearly all airborne activities require appropriate weather conditions on the day of the reservation in order to take place. The appropriate weather conditions include having the necessary visibility, a lack of rain or strong winds, and other safety considerations required for an enjoyable experience. In the case of weather or mandatory equipment maintenance, the flight instructor or pilot will be in contact with the participant to advise if the date needs to be rescheduled for safety reasons. Reservations cancelled due to weather or equipment maintenance are rescheduled for a new mutually convenient date.

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How long do these airborne experiences typically last, is there a briefing or training session before the actual activity?

Many of the airborne experience gifts featured have multiple duration options. Each activity gift page includes a 'How Long Is It' section which outlines the duration of each activity, including flight briefings, pre-flight instruction and time in the air. This section also highlights whether or not there is an option for purchasing an extended adventure. Options offered for a specific airborne adventure are shown above the Add to Cart button. You may choose an option from the dropdown menu if you wish to purchase an enhanced adventure. If you would like to learn more about the options available, simply press the letter i next to the options dropdown menu for more information. If the gift you are interested in does not have an extended option shown, then unfortunately it is not possible to purchase that activity for a different duration.

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Can participants bring cameras or smartphones for pictures, are there any souvenirs included with the experience?

Yes, participants can bring cameras and smartphones to capture memories during the experience as long as they meet all safety restrictions and requirements. Pictures can be taken, and your pilot will be happy to capture a few moments for you providing it is safe to do so. If you want to wear a GoPro or other hands-free recording device, this is typically fine as well, but you will need to confirm all requirements and regulations with the operator of the activity on the day. Unless otherwise stated, the experience gift does not include or come with photos and video. However, many activity providers offer media packages which can be purchased on the day of the reservation.

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Are these experiences done solo, or are they group activities?

Who is included? This is a great question. The information about how many people can take part in a flight lesson, balloon ride, scenic flight or skydiving experience is shown on each experience gift page within the 'Who Is Included' section located just below the map of where it takes place. This section details the number of active participants included as well as whether or not guests and spectators can join in the fun. Many airborne activities offer the opportunity for spectators to join at the airfield but not in the aircraft for safety reasons and regulations. If the information published states: This experience is not suitable for guests, then unfortunately guests may not ride along in the aircraft. If guests are not permitted to ride along, they can still spectate and take pictures of the participant prior to take-off.