Helicopters
Which helicopter flies your Bali charter: 4-seat class (up to 4 guests), 6-seat class and two-helicopter groups, with seat counts for R44, R66, H125, Bell 407.
Home›Flight Log›Weight limits and baggage
Helicopter Weight Limits and Baggage in Bali: What We Ask and Why
Weight, not seat count, sets the limit on a helicopter in Bali. Hot, humid air gives the rotor less lift, so the pilot adds up the guests, the bags, the fuel and the pilot, and a 4-seat helicopter does not always carry four adults with luggage. We ask for approximate weights when you enquire, accept soft bags only, and move a heavy group to the 6-seat class ($3,300 an hour against $2,300 for the 4-seat class) or to two helicopters.
Why weight
Why Weight Is the Limit in Bali's Heat
A helicopter lifts by pushing air down. Hot air is thinner, and humid air thinner still, so on a hot afternoon at sea level the rotor and the engine have less to work with than on a cool morning. Pilots call the effect density altitude. You do not need the maths, only the result: the same aircraft can carry less on a hot afternoon than at 07:00.
Every helicopter has a maximum take-off weight set by its manufacturer and approved for the operator. The pilot, each guest, each bag and the fuel all count towards it. A long flight needs more fuel than a short one, and a water crossing needs extra reserve, so the more minutes and the more sea on the route, the less is left for people and bags.
That is why seats are only half the answer. Light helicopters differ: an R44 seats a pilot and 3 guests, an R66 a pilot and 4, an H125 a pilot and up to 5, and a Bell 407 or an H130 a pilot and up to 6. Our helicopter types guide compares them, and the exact aircraft that flies you is confirmed in the quote.
How we ask
How We Ask for Weights, Step by Step
Weights are asked for in private and used for one thing: the load sheet.
You send an approximate weight for each guest
In kilograms, as a total or one by one. Round up, not down. Children count by their own weight, not by a half seat.
You send the number of bags and a rough weight for each
Include camera cases and a bag you plan to carry on your lap. Soft bags only; the baggage compartment is small.
We pass the load to the operator
The operator chooses the aircraft class for your date, time and route, and the quote says which class it is.
The pilot checks on the pad
The pilot has the final say, may check a bag and may adjust the seating to balance the aircraft. If the load is close, we say so before you pay.
Baggage
Baggage on a Helicopter: What Goes in and What Stays Behind
The baggage compartment is a small hold behind the cabin. It takes soft, squashable bags, and the limit is combined weight, not volume.
| Item | Usually fine? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Soft duffel bag or backpack | Yes | Squashes into the compartment; the best choice |
| Small camera bag | Yes, in the cabin | Keep it zipped, with a strap; see our photography tips |
| Hard-shell suitcase | Usually not | The rigid shape rarely fits; move your things to a soft bag |
| Surfboard, golf bag, large tripod | No | They do not fit inside the aircraft |
| Hat, scarf, loose papers | Leave on the ground | Rotor wash takes loose items on the pad and in the cabin |
| Power bank and spare batteries | Ask us | Carry them in your hand luggage, not in the hold |
If you travel with a lot of luggage, send it ahead by car to the landing site. We can add a private car to the pad for $50 from. More on what to pack: what to wear and bring.
Classes
Which Class Carries Which Group, and What It Costs
Guide prices for the whole helicopter on an hourly charter. Scenic flights and transfers use the same classes at the rates on the price page.
| Class | Guests | Charter per hour | Per person, full seats | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-seat class | Up to 4 | $2,300 | $575 | Normal weights and soft bags |
| 6-seat class | Up to 6 | $3,300 | $550 | 5 to 6 guests, a heavier group, or a long leg with luggage |
| Two helicopters | 7 to 8 | About twice the 4-seat rate | Close to the 4-seat price per person | Any group over six; see groups of 6 to 8 |
The 6-seat class is about 1.4 times the 4-seat rate. Standby on the ground is $300 per hour.
If the group is heavy
What Happens if Your Group Is Heavy
It is a routine question, and the answer is practical. If your combined weight and bags are over what a 4-seat helicopter can lift on your route, we offer one of these:
- Move to the 6-seat class. A larger aircraft has more power and more payload margin, and it costs about 1.4 times as much.
- Split into two helicopters. Each helicopter flies lighter, each cabin has fewer people in it and the group flies together or in turn.
- Shorten the flight or change the route. A shorter flight needs less fuel, which leaves more room for people. A short loop over the Bukit carries far less fuel than an hour-long circuit of the island.
- Send bags by road. A car carries the luggage to the landing site, and the aircraft carries people only.
- Fly early. The cool air at 07:00 gives the best lift of the day.
Do not squeeze the numbers
Giving a low weight to fit a cheaper class does not help. The pilot works from the real load on the day, and an over-weight aircraft does not fly. If the pilot cannot take the load, the flight is rebooked or the part not flown is refunded, but the slot is gone.
Booking an aircraft that is slightly larger than you need costs more but gives margin for a hot day, a headwind or a late change of plan. For island and long legs, such as Bali to Lombok, ask for the 6-seat class even with four guests if you carry several bags.
Before you write
What to Send With Your Enquiry
- Approximate weight of every guest in kg. A total is fine; rounding up is better than rounding down.
- Number of bags and what they are. Soft duffel, backpack, camera case. Say if anything is bulky.
- Date and time of the flight. Cool mornings carry more than hot afternoons; see the best time to fly.
- The route. A longer route or a water crossing needs more fuel and leaves less payload.
- Anyone with special needs. A guest who needs help to board, or a child seat question. We ask the operator before you pay.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the weight limit for a helicopter ride in Bali?
There is no single number. The limit depends on the aircraft, the fuel for your route, the temperature and the weight of the pilot, the guests and the bags. We ask for approximate weights and tell you the class that fits before you pay.
Do you weigh passengers?
We collect approximate weights in private on WhatsApp. On the pad the pilot may check a bag or ask a guest to confirm a number, and the pilot has the final say on the load.
How much luggage can I take on a helicopter?
A few soft bags, depending on how much weight the guests use up. The compartment is small, so the number of bags matters less than their combined weight. Send the count and rough weights with your enquiry.
What if our group is over the limit?
We move you to the 6-seat class, at about 1.4 times the 4-seat rate, or to two helicopters. See the group flight guide. We would rather tell you before you pay than at the pad.
Does the heat really change how much a helicopter can lift?
Yes. Hot, humid air is thinner, so rotor and engine produce less lift at the same weight. The effect is largest in the afternoon, which is why early flights have the most margin.
Can I bring a suitcase, surfboard or golf clubs?
A soft suitcase that squashes may fit. A hard-shell suitcase usually does not, and a surfboard or golf bag does not. Send those by car; we can arrange a private car to the pad from $50.
Send Your Weights and Bags, Get a Fixed Price Today
Tell us the date, the flight, each guest's approximate weight and the bags. We reply the same day with the aircraft class, the pad and a fixed price. Nothing is paid on this site.
Get My Quote on WhatsAppRelated
Read next
R44 vs R66 vs H125 vs Bell 407
Seats, speed, cabin, pros and cons of the helicopters you may fly in Bali, and which class fits which group.
Group Helicopter Flight for 6 to 8 People
One 6-seat helicopter or two together: how to split a group, what it costs per person, weights, formation and who flies first.
What to Wear on a Helicopter Flight in Bali
A short packing list: clothes, shoes, hats, bags, phone straps, kids, nervous flyers and what is not allowed in the cabin.
Helicopter Charter by the Hour
From $2,300 per hour · whole helicopter
Hire a private helicopter by the hour. You choose the route and the stops. 4-seat and 6-seat classes, pilot and fuel included.
Bali to Lombok by Helicopter
Across the Lombok Strait in about 35–50 min instead of a half-day by boat or ferry.