Smooth, easy and so much fun! Loved the trip and the pilot was great! We will be back for more experiences.

Awesome it was actually my first time and I did really enjoyed it and the pilot did great

What an awesome experience, will definitely do again! Bought a Groupon and took my Ma up for her birthday with my sister. I've lived in Chicago all my life and have seen everything a million times, but never from this point of view. Ryan, down on the ground, was helpful and nice and reassuring, while John, in the air, was cool and funny and knowledgeable. Great team. The ride itself was amazing. We went out at 7pm and got some pictures that put the expensive skyline shots in stores to shame. I posted some here too, so check them out. Will definitely go back to get the nighttime effect, but daytime views were badass. read more

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I bought a Groupon a few years back for my boyfriend for this and it was the best gift I could have given him - and to myself! The experience was amazing. I recommend it to everyone when ever they ask me about it. The views, the customer service, everything was amazing. I would do this again in the future. I wish I had a better camera because the photos I have do no justice. We went on the night tour and it was just us two and the pilot. Loved it!! read more

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Actual tour and pilot were awesome, check-in process was definitely odd. We walked in and gave our name and the lady seemed surprised that we had a booking for that time as she wasn't expecting anyone. Then had to ask us what time we booked and how we booked it and took 5 minutes for her to find our reservation. Huh? I'm about to ride a fricken helicopter with your company, and paid a pretty penny (150 per person for 15 minutes), it definitely wasn't the best impression when you want to feel comfortable and that they are reliable! We also had to watch the most worthless safety video ever, right after the other front desk guy already very slowly told us what the safety instructions were. So we heard the same thing twice. Slightly brutal but whatever, not a big deal. The pilot was a great guy, made us feel really comfortable as it was both of ours first time in a copter. The tour was quick, but I don't think I could have been stuck in there any longer, it was definitely nerve racking. Amazing experience I absolutely recommend doing a helicopter tour and I do think Rotorzen overall is a great company to go with. read more

Rotorzen Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There are at least a couple of helicopter tours that service Chicago. I researched in depth to find the best one for our needs. This was a surprise booking for my husbands birthday. I called a few times with questions and always received appropriate answers. I booked this reservation directly through the website. The reason this experience was amazing... First we were immediately greeted upon arrival to the vertiport. Our pilot...Ryan B., and the two young men introduced themselves to us. We then got the pre flight briefing. We were advised on what to expect before, during, and after. We took an evening tour. The lights of the city were more than magical. The whole flight was so smooth, from lift off until touch down. Ryan was so knowledge about the city and pointed everything out to us. We flew right next to the Sears Tower! I would recommend this company and experience to anyone interested in a helicopter tour. It was a private tour...just my husband and I, with Ryan as our guide!! Thank you so much for a wonderful experience guys!! You were awesome!! Ryan...your flying skills are perfection!!! read more

Rotorzen Helicopters - Completely satisfied!! - Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Called few times asking about some information about a commercial license. Always get the same answer "someone will call you back soon" and never get any call back. I have been flying for a while and non of the flight school had a customer service this bad. read more

Since I'm running out of crazy things to do for my birthday I decided a helicopter tour of the city would be fun for a Saturday evening birthday celebration. I looked at a few places on line that offer tours of Chicago and Rotorzen beat them all. Flying out of Midway was a lot more convenient and cheaper than the others. It was just the right distance from the city to not be wasting flight time getting there and back but still a cool view from take off. Also, being able to book online was very convenient. I called two other places (that didn't offer booking info on line) and waited 2 days each for them to return my call. We figured the flight at just about sunset would be pretty. The weather was perfect and the sunset was gorgeous. The pilot flew us over US Cellular Field, Soldier Field, Grant Park, around the Loop, then up to Wrigley Field. He was pointing out things to check out the whole time but it was kinda hard to understand or hear him. If/When I do another helicopter tour of Chicago I will definitely be going back to Rotorzen. I think next time I'd rather go after dark though. The city all lit up would be gorgeous from that view. If you can plan it so that you get to see the fireworks that would be pretty amazing too. read more

A year ago (in December) my newlywed husband and I received a Groupon for a 30-minute helicopter ride over Chicago through this company from a couple friends of ours that were unable to make our October wedding. AWESOME GIFT!!!! Since my husband and I worked completely opposite schedules (me on weekdays and him on weekends), we were never able to call for an appointment until this past summer, when he became more available on weekends. Aware that the Groupon was going to expire on October 2nd (2012), we were adamant about making an appointment before then. When we called during the summer to inquire about how to set up an appointment and use our gift, my husband ended up leaving them a voicemail. They called him back three days later and left him a voicemail. This phone tag went on for about a week and a half before my husband was finally able to talk to a person. They explained to him how to set up an appointment and what the trip would be like; my husband said he'd check availability with me and call them back. We picked a few days. We called them back. We left another voicemail. And the phone tag continued. After two weeks, we stopped calling them. Fast-forward to mid-September. We decided to try contacting them again since we had many available days in September, October, and November for a helicopter ride. This time, BOTH my husband and I called..... and left voicemails. Phone tag continued for two weeks. When October 1st rolled around, we BOTH called them three times that day. NO ONE CALLED US BACK. I also want to note that we made sure to call them during regular weekday hours. I finally got through to someone on OCTOBER 3rd during my lunch break. Since I am not usually the person that likes to handle these phone calls (have I mentioned that I'm hard of hearing and sign language is my primary language?), I had a really hard time understanding the guy on the other end of the line. The one thing I did get from the conversation was that since it was past the October 2nd Groupon deadline, we were unable to use the Groupon anymore. The paid value still stood, but the promotional value was done. Over. We missed the boat. I explained to him (in my nicest-but-I'm-so-effing-pissed-at-you-right-now voice) that we've called numerous times in the past few months and the Groupon was a wedding gift and I didn't think it was fair for them to do that to us after we called so many times. He didn't change his mind. I had to hang up and get back to work. I immediately called my husband after this call and told him to call the company since someone was apparently there to answer the phone and he would be better able to handle the call (he's not deaf, like me). He called them and left a voicemail. They didn't call back. UGH. The Groupon still hangs on our wall. We see it every day. A reminder of what could have been a great experience. I am really sad my husband and I had a terrible experience with this company over the phone -- all the reviews for this place sound really good and I was really excited to use the Groupon. I guess whenever we can come up with an extra $300, maybe we'll be able to use it. I'm kind of bitter, though. It seems kind of stupid to pay to use my own wedding gift (at the same time, I don't want my friends' $200 to go to waste)! Le sigh. read more

My boyfriend surprised me for our three year anniversary with a helicopter ride over the city through Rotorzen Helicopters. IT WAS AMAZING. 5 STARS 1. Great service (we were 15 min late but they were more than accommodating and understanding). 2. Great pilot Our pilot, John, was charismatic and talked just the right amount. He's been flying for years and this is his side job (how awesome, i need to find a cool hobby like this). Our flight was smooth and he even did a few tricks for us! 3. Easy reservations and planning The bf said that planning the event was hassle-free and convenient (he was armed with a groupon). He worked with a guy named Ryan. When we arrived, Ryan was very polite and informative (he explains the safety instructions before you board the helicopter). Don't let one person's perspective deter you from trying this place out because I'm glad my bf didn't. Not a lot of ppl can say they have ridden a helicopter over the city at night. IT'S BREATHTAKING and super romantic! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM! Thanks Rotorzen for making our 3 year anniverary so amazing! read more

Just went for a ride over the weekend with 3 others for my boyfriend's birthday... and it was a great experience!! All of us were amazed by the views and we had a pilot who had a great sense of humor. I would definitely recommend this company to others in the future and we want to do it again! read more

Rotorzen Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have purchased 5 tickets for helicopter rides in December through Living Social. I have had multiple (5 to be exact) times rescheduled. Please understand I have been very flexible and understanding but this is getting ridiculous. First time we rescheduled I understood you can not control the weather. So I rescheduled. Second time, the vice president was flying. So I rescheduled. Third time, someone put us down for the wrong time! Fourth time, oddly enough (lucky us) lighting had hit the helicopter and the radios were out. FIFTH time, no reason was given just a scheduling problem. Well, there seems to be a lot of those. I do not mean to be rude but I am frustrated. This is unacceptable. ---This is the email I sent 8/9/2011 and they have never responded. I am glad for those who got to ride but caution those who have been rescheduled repeatedly. Or is it just us? read more

WOW! I'm from California and saw a Groupon for Rotorzen and bought one to take my daughter who lives in Chicago, on a surprise Dad-Daughter date. This was a fantastic trip. Ryan and our pilot John were great! The tour was absolutely breathtaking and these two guys were amazing. John was calm (what I needed) and funny (what my daughter needed). If you want a great date idea or just want to see the city from a phenomenal perspective, Rotorzen is your flight team to give you the ride of your life. I will do it again, and my daughter can't wait to get her friends to go for a flight. This is a fun and easily romantic trip for those special moments. Enjoy. read more

WHAT FUN! This was my time in a helicopter and it was a great experience. John conducted our safety instructions pre flight and Ryan was our pilot. Ryan was a great pilot and our flight was smooth. I was a little nervous as I can get air sick and I didn't want the ride to turn into the "vomit comet." We flew around the city and saw the lakefront, downtown, us cellular field, wrigleyville, etc. I am a Chicago native and this was a fun, new way to see the city. Highly recommended. read more

Rotorzen Helicopters - Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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By far, one of the coolest experiences of my life. I didn't get the Groupon and paid full price. Totally worth every penny. The whole process was seamless. From the appointment, to the orientation, to the flight. I highly recommend to everyone. Ryan and John are just awesome and make it just a wonderful experience read more

Truly a terrible waiting experience. We had a departure time scheduled for 1:00 pm and weren't called in until 2:45, how I didn't loose my patience goes to show that my meditation is finally working! The pilot was super friendly and gave us an amazing overlook of Chicago. Overall I'd recommend this trip, so long as they fix the wait time issues. read more

Not a word I use often, but our pilot Ryan Gutz was awesome. Just back from a 90-minute charter with some very specific objectives, and accomplished all of them. Highly recommend Rotorzen and Ryan. read more

Bought the Groupon deal for this. The actual helicopter ride was AWESOME. Our Pilot was absolutely great and so much fun, I don't remember his name but I know he's been flying airplanes since '93 and helicopters for about 10 years. The problem I had with this company was the guy working the front and doing the safety explanation (Ryan). The safety explanation was well done and covered everything that needed to be covered..no problems there. I had originally scheduled a flight for 7:30pm (perfect time for sunset). I got a call at 6pm telling me they were running about 1 hour behind. I said that's fine (thinking I'd still have some daylight left). We got there at 8:15. They did the safety lecture, and 8:45 rolls around. The couple that was up when we got there, came back and unloaded. They had to refuel the helo. We were under the impression that we were next. At 9:05 another couple walks into the lobby, out the door, onto the tarmac and hops in the helo. They take off. When Ryan gets back I confront him and he tells me they were ahead of me. When I told him "you said you were running an hour behind, and now it's 1 hour and 35minutes past our original lift off time" he said "sometimes we run behind and that just happens" he didn't seem apologetic at all. Didn't seem to care, which pissed me off even more. I wasn't so mad that we were late (I was frustrated with that but that wasn't the main reason,) I was pissed because Ryan wasn't up front about it. He didn't tell me that "oh btw, we're running 2 hours behind and there's one more group ahead of you." I couldn't get a straight answer out of him. We didn't take off until about 9:45pm. Also, the helo is NOT made for tall people. I'm 6'3" and I BARELY fit. I had to squeeze my legs into the space. The biggest problem I had with getting in was my feet didn't quite fit, I had to move them sideways to get in and out. Overall, if it were based solely on the flight, I'd give them a 5 star rating and 100% recommend them. If it were based on their customer service and the ability to be straight with their customers about the status' of their flights, I'd give them a 1.5 star. The most I can give them here is 2.5 stars. read more

I had the EXACT SAME experience as Laura N below. I tried for 3 straight months to schedule an appointment with them without success. They will not get back to you for minimum 3-5 days. At one point, I called everyday, 6 times a day for one week straight. I even emailed them. I did get a reply back through an email...one week later. And do you know what they replied? "Call us to schedule an appointment.". Are you effing kidding me?!?! I specifically wrote in the email that I was having trouble reaching them too. How dense can you be? Too bad yelp doesn't allow for zero stars. Think twice before you decide to give this company your business. It seems like a one or two person operation (not that there's anything wrong with that; I'm all for small businesses). But if they don't even have time to call back their customers trying to schedule an appointment, how much bandwidth do you think they have to ensure the safety of their helicopters? THINK ABOUT THAT. read more

This was an incredible time! Pilot John and Ryan host were nice and friendly. Helicopters blow planes out of the water. Imagine hovering right next to Willis tower buckingham fountain and navy pier. We didn't get wrigley bc of no fly zone. This is a once in a lifetime event. I'll never forget! read more

Awesome, just awesome. Don't mess around with another company. They make you feel at ease, top notch equipment and know their stuff. Early morning ride was amazing! read more

Awesome tour, asked if i could see Wrigley and we flew right over it! John did a great job calming down my nervous date and made the whole experience fun. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see the city in a different way! read more

My boyfriend and I went this past weekend on a helicopter ride. We were originally scheduled for Friday night at sunset, but because of mechanical errors we had to reschedule. Luckily, they were able to fit us in Sunday morning (which turned out wonderful due to weather). The experience itself was wonderful. We got there (easy to find), had a quick safety chat, then walked right out to the helicopter. The helo is nice and clean inside and very comfortable. Take off is definitely the best part. Our pilot went anywhere we requested and the ride was very smooth. He knew all of the landmarks as well. Not only would I recommend definitely checking this life bucket list-- but Rotorzen helicopters was no hassle and a wonderful experience! If you're thinking about taking a helo ride, I'd definitely recommend Rotorzen! read more

A lot of fun... I wish we could have taken one more lap through the city, But definitely worth it..

We just had a great time. We weren't sure it was worth the logistical issues, but the whole family found it to be a highlight of our Chicago visit. read more

The absolute coolest thing we did while in Chicago. I recommend this tour to EVERYONE. You get the best views of the city, and the experience of flying in a helicopter on top of that. Don't forget your camera! read more

Surprised my fiancé yesterday with a helicopter tour with Rotorzen! We were both born and raised in the beautiful city of Chicago, but I guarantee you can never truly appreciate the beauty of the city until you've done so from the seat of Rotorzen's helicopter! Ryan and John were absolutely the best! My fiancé is terrified of flying, but along with John's skillful flying and knowledge of the city, she was absolutely comfortable and enjoyed every minute of the ride. Thanks a lot John and Ryan! read more

Husband surprised me w a helicopter ride at night w a view of the fireworks for my birthday at the end of May. It was a unique and amazing adventure. The staff was amazing, prompt and more than helpful! I would def use this company in the future. read more

Well done guys. Had to schedule with 5 days notice, over the holidays, scheduled without a hitch. Imagine my surprise with how simple this was, drive up, show the voucher to the guard, and into the terminal we went. Met Ryan, and then the Pilot, John. Very friendly, helpful, personable and knowledgeable fellows. John was an absolute pleasure in the air, even reminded me of the Docents of the Chicago Historical Society's boat tours. The ride was comfortable, and over way too soon. Will go again, and am telling all my friends... read more

I had a great experience with Rotorzen & Ryan. I was just going through my vacation pics from a few weeks ago and the helicopter tour was the highlight of my trip. The pilot was calm, friendly and made sure we saw everything I had in mind. I don't have any tips other than be prepared to wait in a private airport setting - not sure why that didn't occur to me before I got there. The building you wait in is a little hidden but Uber was able to drop off & pick up without any problems. Highly recommend! read more

My wife and I took a tour for our 30th wedding anniversary. It was amazing, a wonderful way to see our home town. Well worth it.

Bought a Living Social Deal for this - it was amazing and definitely worth it (would even be worth full price). We went at 630pm, and had an amazing view just before sunset. It would be awesome at night too. read more

This was an experience I am not soon to forget. I set up a helicopter tour for me and my wife's 10-year anniversary. Neither of us had ever been in a helicopter before. After a quick safety check inside, we waited about ten minutes while the pilot prepared for the flight and then we were escorted out to the helicopter. It didn't take long after we lifted off to feel the effects of the turbulence. It was a very windy day and of course the helicopter heads toward the lake. It was only during the ride there, and getting high enough so where the wind wouldn't push the helicopter around made the situation much much better. But before we got to 1200 feet, my stomach wasn't agreeing with me. My wife was like "Woooo!!" and having a great time, and of course our pilot John was super calm and relaxed, so that helped me not to worry about anything too much. Once at 1200 feet, we were treated to exceptional views of the loop, Navy Pier, Grant Park, Washington Park, Douglas Park, The United Center, Soldier Field, several historic buildings, and of course the lake, which was beautiful, and across from which Michigan was visible. The pilot told us a little about what was below us and what to look for without being too talkative, it was great. We took a bunch of pictures, and they came out really good because Rotorzen makes sure their windows stay very clean. The ride is so fun that it seemed to end too soon. However, the ride does make you hungry, so as we approached Midway I began to crave pizza or something since I hadn't eaten much before the flight (probably why I was a little ugh). The whole experience was unforgettable, exciting, and definitely a highlight of me and my wife's relationship. We are sure to return sometime in the future for a night flight as I hear those are breathtaking. read more

This is a fantastic experience, and one I would repeat. I did my ride via Groupon, called before the expiration date and they honored the Groupon even though the ride itself couldn't be scheduled until after the expiration date. Always clear communication in scheduling, including a reminder call. They were courteous, professional, laid-back, and the ride itself is a must-do. I would highly recommend a night flight. Easy reservation process. Went off without a hitch. read more

This is the best way to see all of Chicago, in a short amount of time with the best views. We had dinner at the Signature Room and went to the Skydeck, but nothing came close to the helicopter views. First class business with excellent pilots and staff. Would recommend it to all those adventurous couples out there!! read more

I never would have done this if not for Groupon, but I'm so glad I did! I took my sister and 4 year-old niece up yesterday and it was fantastic. Our little passenger squealed with delight as soon as she saw the helicopter waiting for us, and she didn't stop smiling until long after dinner. Our pilot Ryan was cool and professional and made sure we had a smooth ride -- with, of course, a few big turns, which our little one loved. Ryan pointed out landmarks and gave us some photo tips but never came close to being too chatty. Now I want to do it again with my nephew and other niece. The views are fantastic, so grab your camera and book your flight. Don't even think twice, especially if you can get your hands on a Groupon special -- you will not regret it. read more

It was so much fun!! I didn't want to come down lol. We went at night so the view was amazing and the ride was very smooth, not bumpy at all. My mom, who at first was a little worried and hesitant, ended up coming and really enjoying the experience as well. read more

The best ride in Chicago, pilots are polite very informative and fun. This was a very exciting experience. What a thrill. Would love to do it again, this time with a good camera and binos. Great time. read more

The pilot, Francisca was amazing ! This helicopter tour was amazing ! Would love to do it again!