Helicopter Flights With Kids After the Asian Games

Which flight suits a family

For a first flight with a child under about ten, the 10-minute taster is the sensible choice. It is long enough to see the city from above and short enough that a nervous child is on the ground again before nerves turn into distress. If the child loves it, you know a longer flight will work next time.

Daylight is easier for children than night. They can see the ground, point at things and understand where they are. Night flights are beautiful but abstract, and small children may find the dark cabin and the noise more unsettling.

Ears, noise and nerves

Helicopter cabins are loud. Ask at booking whether hearing protection or headsets are provided for children, and bring a child-sized set of ear defenders if you have them. This is the single most useful thing a parent can do.

Ear pressure is milder than on an airliner because the altitude is lower and the changes are gradual, but a child with a cold or ear infection may still be uncomfortable. Swallowing, yawning or a drink of water helps. If your child is unwell on the day, think hard before flying; a rescheduled flight is better than a miserable one.

Nerves are normal. Explain in advance what will happen: the meeting time, the briefing, the walk to the aircraft, the noise on start-up, the moment of lift-off. Children handle things they have been told about. Sit a nervous child beside the adult they trust most, and let them know the flight is short and ends where it started.

Timing around the Games

The Games close on 4 October. A family could travel Nagoya to Tokyo on 5 October, fly on 6 October and keep 7 October as a spare day before flying home. The spare day matters because late September and October are still typhoon season. If the operator cancels for weather you get a full refund or a free change of date, but you need to be in Tokyo to use the new date.

Book once the family's plans are firm. Voluntary changes are free up to 4 days before the flight, so a 6 October flight can be moved without cost until 2 October.

Choose a morning or early afternoon slot for young children when they are fresh. The times shown are meeting times and the flight begins about 30 minutes later, so a tired child will be waiting for a while before boarding.

Family checklist for the day

• ID for the adult who booked, and the confirmation on your phone.
• Ear defenders for each child, or confirmation that headsets are supplied.
• A small bag only; check baggage guidance on the product page.
• Water and a small snack for the wait before boarding.
• Light layers; autumn is warm and humid but the waterfront can feel cooler.
• A camera with a strap so nobody drops anything in the cabin.
• The plan for after the flight, so the excitement has somewhere to go.

Leave the pushchair and large bags at the hotel. Getting to Shin-Kiba is simpler with a car and driver, especially with children, and the return does not depend on finding a taxi in the evening. Note that the 22-minute Skytree night flight departs from Funabashi Heliport on the Chiba side of Tokyo Bay, not Shin-Kiba; allow time to cross from central Tokyo.

How to book with OlaChill

Count every child as a seat, enter accurate weights for the whole family, pick a daylight slot with a spare day after it and pay online. The taster product page is https://olachill.com/en/japan-helicopter-tours/tokyo-first-flight-10min, the full Tokyo range is at https://olachill.com/en/japan-helicopter-tours/tokyo, and if you want a car to and from the heliport with children, the hourly tariff is on https://olachill.com/en/japan-chauffeur-hourly.

FAQ

Do children fly free or at a discount?

The price is per person, one seat on a shared flight, so there is no child fare. A child occupies a seat and pays the same seat price as an adult; if you book the whole aircraft as a private charter, that price is the same whether the seats hold adults or children.

Is there a minimum age?

Confirm the operator's minimum age and infant policy with OlaChill at the time of booking. Do not assume a baby can be held on a lap.

Is a helicopter safe for a child's ears?

Cabin noise is the main issue rather than pressure, so bring ear defenders or confirm headsets are provided. A child with a cold or ear infection should not fly that day; use the free date change if it is more than 4 days away.

What if my child panics before take-off?

Tell the crew at the briefing if a child is anxious. Choosing the 10-minute taster and a daytime slot reduces the risk. If a child cannot fly on the day for reasons other than weather, the price of the seats you booked does not change, so prepare them in advance.

Can we all fit if we are two adults and two children?

Not in a 3-seat Tokyo cabin. Book two consecutive 3-seat flights, or choose a 4-seat Fuji product. Each seat has a 120 kg limit and the cabin total applies.