Virgin Balloon Flights vs Fly Away Ballooning
Two balloon operators in Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds, England. Virgin Balloon Flights starts at £169 and Fly Away Ballooning at £180. Here is how their options line up on length, group size, age rules and cancellation.
Virgin Balloon Flights
- Took over flights from Bristol's Bailey Balloons when its owners retired after 27+ years
- Baskets are split into four passenger compartments
- Open vouchers valid 12 months at more than 100 UK launch sites
- Bath back-up launch site is Bath Newbridge
Balloon flight voucher (shared basket)
- From
- £169 per person
- Length
- 3-4 hour experience, about an hour in the air
- Group
- 12 to 16 passengers per basket, depending on launch site
- Min age
- 7+ and at least 4ft 6in tall
- Weight
- Weight supplement may apply above 18 stone
- Cancellation
- Vouchers non-refundable unless stated; weather cancellations rebook free and extend the voucher 6 months. Any Day Plus adds a weather refund option.
Fly Away Ballooning
- Free GoPro footage and a 3D flight track on every flight
- Optional refundable add-on on Anyday vouchers covers weather cancellations only
- Anyday vouchers valid 18 months, weekday vouchers 12 months
- Also flies in Somerset and Devon; vouchers redeemable across locations
Bath Balloon Rides (shared basket)
- From
- £180 per person
- Length
- 3 to 3.5 hours total, 45 to 60 minutes in the air
- Group
- Max 8 passengers per shared basket
- Min age
- 7+
- Weight
- Over 18 stone (115 kg) needs a weight supplement (two vouchers) on shared flights
- Cancellation
- Weather cancellations rebook free; changes free until 5 days out, £25 per person within 5 days, none within 48 hours.
Private Hot Air Balloon Rides
- From
- £900 per group
- Length
- 3 to 3.5 hours total, 45 to 60 minutes in the air
- Group
- up to 8 passengers per balloon
- Min age
- 7+
Both checked against the operators' own pages on 2026-10-21. See every operator in Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds, England.