After a nice EasyJet flight, we are now heading to Monaco with Heli Air Monaco
Flight routing
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Their staff waits for us at the bagage claim.
They take care about the bags and transfers us to their desk located in the arrivals hall:
The luggages and the hand bags are tagged to MCM:
A COVID-form for Monaco needs to be filled out:
airside transfer
The key word here is efficiency. Everything is done to have the transfer as quick and fast as possible. We got our bags at 05:10 and at 05:15 we completed the check in and are already waiting at a dedicated security desk only for helicopter passengers:
Cabin and checked luggage go through X rays but as a passenger, you don't need to take care about that. The handling agents put everything on the belt for you. Quite impressive.
Vans are waiting the passengers to transfer them to their helicopter. Here Monacair:
This one is for us, a bit less luxurious but we didn't really care:
Inside the van:
The transfer is airside and on the tarmac:
We drove next to the EasyJet A320:
Then under the runways:
Speedcheck:
The van driver coordinates his arrival with the helicpter arrival via radio as we arrive to the field:
Not for us:
Ours is about to arrive:
The airport terminal:
Boarding:
During COVID, all flights are operated as full charter, meaning you got one helicopter for yourself or your party. No strangers aboard. That comes to a cost, since you can't just pay for a ticket but you rather book the whole aircraft. However, the prices went fairly low and we got a good deal for both of us at around 400€ total. Still expensive but ways cheaper than the regular price which is between 590€ and 800€
the flight
The pilote gives a quick briefing, while the luggages are loaded.
Safety card:
And off we go:
U-Turn:
Heading towards Monaco:
It is so beautiful, a once in a liftetime experience!
St Jean Cap Ferrat:
Monaco:
Cap d'Ail:
The heliport:
Almost there:
The flight took only 7 minutes and the staff takes already care about our belongings:
This way out:
Our bird left almost immediately back to Nice.
Welcome to Monaco!
monaco heliport
We had to clear police control and hand over our COVID forms, all done in less than two minutes.
This is inside the small terminal building:
Outside, another van awaits us to drive us to our hotel:
The terminal from outside:
We landed in Nice at 04H55, cleared security in NCE for the helicopter at 05:15, took off at 05:25 and it is now 05:40. 45' minutes in total. That is really impressive!
We entered our hotel room exactly 60' after the aircraft landed in NCE. Amazing.
Wow, what a cool experience and something really different! I've always wondered about this scheduled service as I've worked with Heli Air Monaco people in the past (very nice folks) and have always wanted to try these flights myself. There aren't that many scheduled passenger Helicopter flights in the world, most being charter/sightseeing, and this one is a bit of a mix of both with such beautiful views throughout the flight!
Thanks for sharing this unique experience!
Thanks Kévin for the nice comment! It is, indeed, a nice experience, a bit on the expensive side, but I am happy I did it at least once :)
Hi and thank you for this amazing FR !
Thanks for the nice comment!
Hi Esteban,
Back in 2004 I used to take this flight on a weekly basis and I must admit that the helicopter was, door to door, a tad quicker than the taxi but not by much. We bought 100 tickets in one shot and the price was lower than the taxi for one person. Obviously for avgeeks, the flight is far superior. No question asked. So I fully understand your choice here to travel in-style. Unfortunately you were not alone, otherwise you could have asked a special take-off...
Nice view from the Méridien