Flight Lessons in Chicago
About this experience
Feel the unforgettable thrill of taking the controls and soaring through the sky in an airplane as you Learn to Fly over the Chicago area!
No Expiration
DatesFlexible
BookingFree
ExchangesInstant
Delivery
I flew with Jim at Chicago Executive Flight School, and had an incredible time. This was truly a flying experience, as the student has the controls most of the flight. It was a real introduction and immersion into flight.
What's Included
- 1.5 to 2-hour lessons available
- Fly alongside an FAA-certified instructor
- Take the controls mid-flight
- Bring a friend along for the ride
- Perfect for anyone who has always wanted to learn to fly!
What happens on the day
Upon arrival, you will be assigned your own personal FAA Certified Flight Instructor who will walk you through all the things a real pilot does before, during and after a typical flight.
This lesson is not to be confused with an "airplane ride" where one passively watches someone else do the work. The whole idea of this introductory flight lesson is to get you to do as much as possible.
You'll do all the pre-flight procedures, taxi the aircraft, talk to the control tower to get clearance, learn about the complexity of the take off, and once airborne you'll do many in-flight maneuvers. Your certified instructor will be sitting next to you telling you to "push this" and "pull that", but you will do most of the flying.
You'll receive a Certificate of Completion with the logged hours signed by your flight instructor.
Through this flight you will experience all the different aspects of flight, have a lot of fun, and know enough to decide whether you want to continue the challenge of learning to fly.
Flight Options
Northern Illinois Flight: This package is for a 1.5 hour lesson, with approximately 30 minutes of flight time. You will take off from the Chicago Executive Airport and fly above the surrounding area.
Downtown Adventure Flight: This package is for a 2 hour flight lesson with approximately 1 hour of flight time. You will depart Chicago Executive Airport and initially fly over Glenview, Deerfield, Northbrook, Winnetka and Evanston. Once you cross the shoreline of Lake Michigan, you will proceed southbound and perform a circuit of the Loop, the Sears Tower and the Hancock Building. Returning along the north side, you will fly over Wrigley Field, Skokie and Lincolnwood before returning to the airport.
Location
Locations shown shouldn't be used for route planning
Availability
When Do I Choose A Date?
Either yourself or the lucky recipient can make a booking and select dates once you are in receipt of the voucher. You’ll register the voucher, follow the booking instructions, and your experience with us begins!
Year-Round:
Daily - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Important Details
Essential Information
- Combined weight of the student and passenger cannot exceed 500 pounds
- Price includes any applicable fuel surcharges
- Video packages are available to purchase directly from the flight school on the day of your flight
Duration
Experience Provider Info
Maximum Participants
Spectators
Weather Dependent
What to Wear
FAQs
What about weather?
Can I bring passengers?
Yes, you may bring 1 passenger, but the combined weight of the participant and passenger cannot exceed 500 lbs.
What if I'm interested in continuing to learn to fly and gain certification?
Do I need experience?
No, our hands-on course is geared for beginners.
Is there an age requirement for the participant?
No. If the participant is a minor, he/she will need parental consent. The pilot is able to tailor the experience to participants of any age. Passengers must be old enough to ride without a child seat.
What is the difference between the chief pilot and a normal pilot?
While all of our partners pilots are qualified and certified to fly and instruct flights, their chief pilots do come with more experience and accolades that may provide more comfort during your flight.
Returns, Exchanges & Cancellations
Returns
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be returned hassle-free within 14 days. All refunds will be made to the original purchaser.
Exchanges
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be exchanged for anything else in our marketplace at any time. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs more, you'll simply have to pay the difference. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs less, you'll have a credit towards your next booking with Virgin Gifts.
Cancellation Policy
Once you have scheduled a date and received a booking confirmation, cancellations or rescheduling must be completed directly with the experience provider at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight time and will incur a $10.00 fee. Failure to appear on your booked date or to complete a cancellation or rescheduling at least 48 hours prior to your booked date will result in the loss of the value of your experience.
Customer Reviews
I flew with Jim at Chicago Executive Flight School, and had an incredible time. This was truly a flying experience, as the student has the controls most of the flight. It was a real introduction and immersion into flight.
Flying with our Chief Pilot was a pure joy!!! I would LOVE to go again!!!!! But working with Virgin Experience Gifts was a complete nightmare. It took forever to get my experience finally booked. They asked for preferred dates - I offered several - they said none of those were available and asked me for more - I offered ten more - and THEN they told me that because they don't schedule on Sundays, one-half of my offered dates were not available (why did this not come up at FIRST). I finally said I would take ANY day, ANY time over ANY of the next three months. Then I got scheduled. What a back-and-forth exercise and weeks in-between messages. I was exhausted!!!
The flight was amazing and the instructor was fantastic.
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