Frequently Asked Questions

This experience is very weather-dependent. If you’re visiting from out of state or internationally, we recommend booking your flight early in your trip to allow flexibility for rescheduling if needed.

What do we see on these tours?

Fuggedaboutit! We see it all on the full day or night tours, including the Verrazano bridge, Upper New York Bay, One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower), Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and more!

Is Azzurra City Tours safe?

Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers is our top priority. Your captain is an FAA-certified commercial pilot, highly experienced in the NYC airspace. Our aircraft undergo regular maintenance checks and are meticulously cleaned and sanitized before and after each flight. Rest assured, you can enjoy your aerial tour knowing your well-being is our utmost concern.

Why do I have to sign a waiver at all?

Great question! Anytime you're heading up into the sky, there's a bit of adventure involved — and we like to be upfront about that rather than gloss over it. The waiver is really just our way of making sure you feel fully informed before you ever step onto the tarmac, in language you can actually understand. We'd much rather you feel confident and in-the-know than hand you a stack of legal pages and hope you don't read them too closely.

Okay, so what are the actual risks?

We fly a well-maintained Piper Cherokee with FAA-certified pilots, and small-aircraft touring has a strong, well-established safety record — flights like ours happen safely every day. At the same time, we want to be honest with you: like anytime you're airborne, there's a small but real chance of injury, and in rare cases, something more serious. We're not telling you this to alarm you — just so you're genuinely informed going in, the same way we'd want to know before trying something new ourselves.

This is actually why we take safety so seriously: certified, experienced pilots, a well-maintained aircraft, and a pilot who always has the final say to delay or cancel a flight for any safety reason — no questions asked.

Are there weight restrictions?

Yes — and it's not about anything other than physics. Small aircraft have hard weight-and-balance limits for safety, so passenger weigh-in is required, and the total weight of all passengers, including clothing and gear, must not exceed 450 lbs. Exceeding this limit may result in denied boarding or additional charges.

What should I bring?

A valid photo ID, camera, your favorite playlist, and the credit card used for the reservation.

What should I wear?

It's simple. Dress for the season and be comfortable! No high heels are permitted onboard.

What happens with photos and video from my flight?

Short version: we love sharing them, and we assume you're okay with that unless you tell us otherwise. Longer version: our photographers and pilots may capture photos or video of your flight, and by flying with us you're giving us permission to use that in our marketing — website, social media, blog, ads, all of it. This is actually baked into how we price your flight, not an add-on we sneak in later.

If you'd rather not appear in anything we publish, just let us know in writing before your flight and we'll leave you out of future posts. (We can't pull back anything already published, but going forward is easy.)

How does seating work?

(Oprah voice) You get a window seat! You get a window seat! Everyone gets a window seat in our 3-seater airplane.

How do I get to the Hangar?

Oh, that's easy! Just type our location into your favorite navigation app. We're located at Linden Airport, New Jersey. For mass transit, take the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor towards Trenton, exiting at Linden (5 stops from NY Penn Station), then take a taxi or Uber to the hangar. Once you arrive, just give us a call or text and we'll greet you!

What time should I arrive?

Please arrive 25 minutes before your scheduled flight for critical onboarding and safety briefings. We have limited lounge space in our private hangar so please do not arrive too early either. If you are an early bird, than there are shops and restaurants near Linden airport that can be accessed by private vehicle. If you are not arriving in a private vehicle than kindly proceed to the main terminal of Linden airport and make contact with us via phone.

What if I'm running late?

Contact us immediately. Guests arriving after their appointed check-in time will incur a $50 late fee. If arrival is more than 30 minutes after scheduled departure, you'll need to reschedule and pay a $100 fee.

What if there is bad weather?

We take your safety seriously. So, while mother nature can be unexpectedly feisty, we'll gladly reschedule your tour due to inclement weather — at no additional cost. (Ex: rain, low cloud layer, high winds, etc.) This isn't just weather, either: sometimes the FAA puts a Temporary Flight Restriction (a "TFR") over an area for reasons that have nothing to do with us — a VIP visit, a security event, an emergency response. TFRs can appear with very little warning, even after your flight is already booked, and we have zero control over them. If one grounds your flight, it's the same deal: we reschedule you, no cost, no hassle. Safety first!

One more thing worth knowing: weather and airspace can also shift your departure earlier or later on the same day, which is why we never guarantee a specific take-off time or a sunset. See the next question.

Can I book a sunset flight, or a specific take-off time?

We'd love to promise you the sun sliding behind the skyline at the exact minute you have in mind. We don't, and here's the honest reason: we can't. Every flight is weather dependent, and the sky over New York is also run by air traffic control and FAA flight restrictions that can appear with little or no notice. Mother Nature or the FAA can move a departure earlier or later on the day of your flight, and sometimes the pilot will hold on the ground for a few minutes so you get a smoother, better ride.

So when you book with us, you're booking a flight, not a guaranteed take-off time or a guaranteed lighting condition. Sunset, golden hour, twilight, and full night skyline are things we aim for on every evening flight, never things we can promise. If your departure shifts within the same day, that's a normal part of flying and your flight is still your flight. If conditions keep us on the ground entirely, we move you to the next suitable date, for your safety and your comfort, at no additional cost.

Can I park at the Hangar?

Absolutely! Tons of free parking available onsite (in your face, Newark airport!).

How is flight time calculated?

Your flight time starts at your appointed check-in time. But don’t worry—we're not stingy ;-)

Do you fly in the winter?

Yes, we fly all year round, weather permitting.

Should I book early?

Yes, and there are two good reasons.

Better fares and more choice. Our pricing is dynamic, so fares tend to rise over time, and last-minute flights usually cost more. A short-notice flight takes extra work: we have to line up a pilot and crew, fit the aircraft into its schedule, and find room in the windows that fill fastest. Weather plays a part too, because when Mother Nature moves flights, those guests fill the last open slots quickly. Booking early gets you a better fare and a wider choice of dates and times.

Peace of mind with Trip Protection. Our fares are non-refundable, although our flight credit policy is flexible and easy to use (see "Do you offer refunds?"). If you're traveling to see us, especially from far away, we highly recommend adding Trip Protection at checkout. With Trip Protection, if your travel plans change you can cancel for any reason up to 12 hours before your flight. And if weather, winds, or flight restrictions keep us on the ground, you can choose a refund instead of a new date. Either way, you receive what you paid, minus the Trip Protection fee.

Do you offer refunds?

Refunds are a no-no. All of our flights are 100% non-refundable. The one exception is Trip Protection, which you can add at checkout, or purchase separately if you're flying on a voucher (see the next question). Here's why: the moment your flight is booked, real costs are already set in motion on our end — administrative fees, pilot and crew scheduling, aircraft lease and equipment costs, insurance, and fuel, among others. Those costs don't undo themselves when plans change.

What we do instead is generous. If your plans change, you don't lose your flight, you keep it as a flight credit for the full value of your booking. Your flight credit:

• is good for 12 months from your original flight date;
• can be used toward any Azzurra flight or experience (just pay the difference if you choose something bigger);
• is transferable: gift it to a friend, a family member, a colleague, anyone you like, by telling us in writing who it should go to.

To turn a booking into a credit, contact us at least 48 hours before your flight. Inside 48 hours the booking can no longer be converted to a credit, and the flight is forfeited unless you added Trip Protection at checkout. Flight credits have no cash value and are subject to availability and weather like every flight we fly.

What is Trip Protection?

Trip Protection is an optional add-on for guests whose plans might change. If you book directly, add it at checkout. With it, you can cancel for any reason up to 12 hours before your flight. And if weather, winds, or flight restrictions keep us on the ground, you can choose a refund instead of a new date. In both cases you receive the amount you paid, minus the protection fee. If you're flying on a voucher, you can buy Voucher Trip Protection when you schedule: it lets you move or cancel your scheduled date for any reason up to 12 hours before your flight without forfeiting your voucher. Outside these cases, our standard policy applies. If you're visiting on a tight schedule, we highly recommend it.

If I book a flight for just one person, is it still private or will I be flying with others?

Booking a flight for one person does not automatically guarantee a private flight. To ensure a private experience, you’ll need to select the Private Flight (1–2 Guests) option during booking. This ensures that no other passengers will be added to your flight.

If you’d like the aircraft to yourself or for a special guest, we recommend choosing the private option at checkout.

How do I redeem a voucher purchased through a third party?

Got a voucher? Sweet—you’re halfway to flying over the greatest skyline in the world.

Here’s the deal: when you email us your voucher info, please also give us your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd date choices. We’ll check our flight schedule and often present options like “July 19th, 20th or 22nd—we’ll confirm which one.”

A few things to know:

• As stated on your voucher, additional fees apply—this includes the airport fee per person.
• Vouchers are always subject to our availability in flight schedules.
• All flights are weather dependent and subject to air traffic control changes (we fly safe, or we don’t fly).
• Must be 13 or older to fly.
• Weight limits: up to 275 lbs for one person or 425 lbs total for two.
• Booking requires 48-hour advance notice; promotional value generally expires 120 days from purchase.
• Vouchers cannot be combined with promo codes or other discounts.

Traveling from out of town?

If you’re visiting NYC on a tight schedule, keep in mind that weather and air traffic conditions can change quickly—sometimes with little notice. Because vouchers are not tied to a specific guaranteed date, this can make scheduling tricky if you have limited availability. If your trip is time-sensitive, we highly recommend booking directly instead and adding trip protection for maximum flexibility and peace of mind.

Once we’ve confirmed your slot, we’ll send you a reservation link to complete your booking. From there, you’re officially on the books and just counting down the days until takeoff.

Additional Information:

• All flights subject to weather, winds, FAA flight restrictions, and crew scheduling changes.
• Night flights (after sunset) incur a $70 evening operations surcharge.
• Same-day flight requests, if accommodated, incur a $99 rush fee.
• The airport fee is $35 per person when prepaid at booking, or $45 per person if paid on the day. It is collected by us and paid directly to the airport. Cash or card accepted for in-person payments.
• Guests must sign a digital waiver and present a valid government-issued ID (driver’s license or passport). To speed up check-in, upload a photo ID for each passenger when you sign your waiver online.
• For safety, no high heels, flash photography, weapons, or intoxicated passengers allowed onboard. Passengers on federal or airline no-fly lists are prohibited.
• Gratuities for your flight crew are customary and greatly appreciated. Prepaid gratuities available upon request.

We look forward to seeing you soon!