Virgin Balloon Flights vs First Flight
Two balloon operators in Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds, England. Virgin Balloon Flights starts at £169 and First Flight 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.
First Flight
- Flying passengers since 1990
- Never more than eight guests per basket
- Based in Langford, Somerset; launch sites run from Keynsham and Chew Valley to Wells, Glastonbury and Taunton
- Group flight vouchers not valid 12 to 16 August 2027 (Balloon Fiesta)
Group Flights
- From
- £180 per person
- Length
- 2.5 to 3 hours total, around an hour in the air
- Group
- Max 8 passengers
- Cancellation
- All flights subject to the weather on the day; vouchers valid 12 months from purchase. No refund terms on the page.
Balloon Fiesta 2027
- From
- £300 per person
Premier Flights
- From
- £900 per group
- Length
- 2.5 to 3 hours total, around an hour in the air
- Group
- Private sport balloon for a couple
- Cancellation
- Subject to the weather on the day; vouchers valid 12 months from purchase.
Private Groups
- From
- £2,000 per group
- Length
- 2.5 to 3 hours total, around an hour in the air
- Group
- Group of 8
- Cancellation
- Subject to the weather on the day; vouchers valid 12 months from purchase.
Both checked against the operators' own pages on 2026-10-21. See every operator in Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds, England.