I have been flying passengers for thirty years and I am amazed at the number of people willing to put their lives in the hands of someone they know little, if not nothing, about! You would not believe how often the very first time I am questioned about my experience, by a passenger, occurs after the balloon garlands  is already off the ground and hundreds of feet in the air! I have seen this so many times that I have begun to provide humorous answers, in the hope that it will alleviate some of the nervous energy that prompted them to ask the question in the first place. My favorites to "how long have you been doing this?" are "this is my first flight, I'm gonna read that chapter on landing tonight!" Or "this is my third flight and on the advice of my attorney, I can't talk about the first two." A little gallows humor for sure, but it does seem to lighten the mood and reduce the first few moments of anxiety that every first time passenger feels. The fact of the matter is once you're aloft, you have no place to go but along for the ride. You are probably better off to not to ask any questions; you may not like what you hear and the answer won't affect the outcome. That is unless you have chosen a rookie pilot and you distract him or her from flying the balloon garlands  with your questions - now that could affect the outcome! I hope you will find this article informative and use the knowledge to find a safe and confident pilot flying for a reputable company to provide your adventure.

This is the third and final article in a series to educate the consumer on how to choose an experienced hot air balloon ride company. This part will provide you with the questions to ask before you purchase a ride and before you climb aboard for a flight. More importantly, it will provide you with the tools necessary to interpret the answers that you receive; permitting you to make an informed purchase.

In the first article, How to Choose an Experienced Hot Air balloon garlands Ride Company and Not Just a Broker, I explained the difference between a hot air balloon "operator" and a hot air balloon ride "broker." To quickly recap, a balloon garlands ride operator owns and operates the balloon that you will actually fly in. They are in business to both sell and provide the ride. A balloon ride broker does not own any balloons and is in business to sell you only a gift certificate or flight voucher. In Part 2, Operator or Broker, the reader was given information on how to quickly tell the difference between an operator and a broker in a web search. If the differences are unclear to you or if you are uncertain why you should deal directly with an operator vs. a broker, I suggest you spend a few minutes reading about it here, in ezine or you may find the articles in their entirety on my website by clicking the link located in the biography at the end of this article.

After Choosing a Company to Call or Book with, Here are the Questions to Ask:

1. How long have you been in business?

How long a company has been in business is usually a good indicator of how well the business is run. Companies that have been in business a long time must be paying attention to detail and providing good customer service. The market will generally weed out companies that treat their customers with indifference, provide a shoddy product, or are in it for the fast buck. Excellent companies persevere, are in it for the long haul, and realize that trust and making a name for themselves is something that takes time and effort.

2. What is your physical address in my area and what kind of legal entity is the company?

If the company does not have a physical address or location in your area or even in your state where you may meet with them or to obtain a certificate and the only option is by mail, it is a broker. Locally owned and operated means that the company should have a vested interest in how you are treated as a customer. A satisfied customer will tell 5 - 10 people about their experience, a dissatisfied customer will tell hundreds. Out of town ride companies base their sales on volume nationally and are not that worried about the level of service that you may receive. There are many legal forms that a business may elect but a corporation is, by far, the best indicator of a legitimate business entity. How many locations do you have? If there is more than one or the answer is "you may redeem certificates at multiple locations" you are dealing with a broker. This is not to be confused with the number of launch sites that a company may have. Many ride operators take off from multiple locations but have only one office.