New York City Travel Forum

Which NYC helicopter tours company is better, Liberty Helicopters or New York Helicopter Tours? For the record I would like to take the most complete/longest tour available.

Thanks in advance for your answers!

I took the NYNY tour with Liberty a few years back and it was very good. The tour actually took us across Central Park and up to Yankee Stadium which was terrific to see--we also flew down the Hudson and it was advertised as going over all of the 5 boroughs. Very good value.

Hi Karen, was the flight over Central Park the only time you flew over Manhattan? Is it right that they're not allowed over the buildings anymore since 9/11?

The tour I took was in July 2002 and the pilot did say that they weren't able to get too close to the SOL or fly over the buildings in midtown for security. Maybe that's changed now? On the way up to Yankee Stadium we flew up the Hudson, crossed the bottom of the park, then used the east river as a route. On the way back we flew over the UWS..fabulous views.

Thanks, Karen. I think they are allowed to get a bit closer to the SOL these days. I was amazed in May as to just how close the helicopters were able to get to the statue although I think the ban on overflying midtown (and the financial district) is probably still in place. They were also adding $40 to the price as a "fuel surcharge" when we enquired so I bought a book "Above New York" by Robert Cameron instead! The photos were taken pre 9/11 but they're stunning!