The booking form asks for your weight, and at check-in you may be asked to step on a scale. That is normal on a helicopter tour. A helicopter tour weight limit is about how much the aircraft can carry and where that weight sits. It is not a judgement about you.
Here is how it works, with the real numbers from the helicopter tours on Fly Over The World, and what to do if you are close to a limit or travelling as a group. Limits vary by operator and aircraft, so the tour page and your booking confirmation are always the final word.
Why a helicopter tour weight limit exists
A sightseeing helicopter is a small aircraft, and every seat counts. The pilot has to keep the total weight within the aircraft’s limits and spread it so the helicopter is balanced. That is why seats are assigned, why some tours have a limit for the whole group as well as for each person, and why the numbers differ from one operator to the next. There is no single industry figure that applies everywhere.
You will probably be weighed at check-in, dressed
On many of our listings the scale at check-in is part of the routine. At the Grand Canyon, everyone is weighed at check-in and seated for weight and balance, and you do not choose a seat. In Juneau, you are weighed at the hangar dressed, including clothes and boots. In Sydney, everyone is weighed at check-in, and a difference of more than 8 kg or 10% from the weight you gave can mean you cannot fly. San Francisco and Kauai weigh everyone at check-in too.
So give your dressed weight, with the jacket and shoes you will wear on the day.
Per-person limits and when you need an extra seat
When one passenger is above a set weight, many operators ask for an extra or larger seat so the cabin stays balanced. This is what our listings say right now:
- Grand Canyon South Rim: an extra seat if you are 275 lb / 124 kg or more, payable to the operator. West Rim from Las Vegas: an extra seat at 300 lb / 136 kg. See the Grand Canyon 45-Minute South Rim Helicopter Tour for an example.
- Juneau shared flights: a plus seat (about $150 extra) applies around 260–299 lb, and 300 lb and over needs a second seat. On the Juneau Private Helicopter Glacier Landing Tour, capacity can change with weight and balance.
- Oahu: for 260–279 lb, a 50% extra-seat fee is assessed after booking; at 280 lb and over, another full seat.
- Kauai Safari flights: an extra seat for passengers over 250 lb, or when two people together exceed 420 lb.
- Maui doors-on flights: a comfort seat is required for one passenger of 240 lb or more, a couple of 420 lb combined or more, or a group of three or more averaging 200 lb. On the doors-off tour the figures are 230 lb, 400 lb combined and a 190 lb average, and anyone of 250 lb or more must buy a comfort seat.
- Sydney shared flights: an individual limit of 100 kg, with combined limits of 180 kg for two passengers, 240 kg for three and 320 kg for four unless the operator confirms otherwise.
- London: 136 kg (21 st) per seat, plus a combined limit for the group. If anyone weighs over 95 kg (15 st), contact the operator through the booking page before you book.
- Aoraki / Mount Cook: individual weight is generally limited to about 116 kg.
- San Francisco helicopter listings: 220 lb / 99.7 kg per seat, with an extra seat or no flight as shown when you book.
- Miami: limits differ by tour, from 250 lb (113 kg) per person on some tours, with a limit for the whole group as well. Bali: a maximum of 130 kg per passenger.
Notice the combined figures. Two people can each be under the individual limit and still need an extra seat together, as on Kauai and Maui.
Sometimes the answer is a bigger helicopter
Not every operator adds a seat. On the Okavango Delta helicopter tours, guests over 100 kg, or groups of three or more guests who each weigh over 90 kg, may need a larger helicopter, which may cost extra. Every Okavango booking is private with a minimum of two guests, so this is planned around your group. Luggage there is limited to 20 kg per person in soft bags.
There can be minimum weights too
Light passengers matter as well. For doors-off flights on Oahu, the minimum is 80 lb (36 kg) in the Robinson R44 and 100 lb (45 kg) in the Airbus Astar, as listed on tours such as the Waikiki 20-Minute Helicopter (Doors On/Off). A light child or adult may be fine with the doors on but not with them off.
Front seats are about balance, not a perk
Because the pilot seats everyone for balance, you usually cannot pick your seat. At the Grand Canyon you do not choose. In Maui you do not choose either, except for the front pair, which is sold as a pair with a 380 lb combined limit; email us if you want it. In New York City, limits vary by aircraft, and if you are close to the operator’s limit an extra seat may be required.
If you are weighing up shared and private flights for other reasons, our guide on how to compare helicopter tours walks through the differences.
How to answer the weight question when you book
- Use a recent scale reading and add what you will wear on the day.
- Give each passenger’s own weight, not an average for the group.
- If you are near a threshold, email us before you book so the operator can confirm the seating.
- Do not round down. Under-reporting can cancel you with no refund in Juneau, Maui and at the Grand Canyon. In Miami a guest over the limit cannot fly and is not refunded, and on Oahu you may be rescheduled if your weight cannot be accommodated.
Close to a limit, or not sure which tour fits your group? Email us at hello@flyovertheworld.com and we’ll check it with you.