Alaska - Juneau Helicopter - > 250 lb. 1/2 seat surcharge?

[bbaltes]

Hey all -

I'm looking for confirmation that the Juneau Glacier Walkabout helicopters actually check weight and do a surcharge for over 250 pounds.

I check with DCL on the phone, and they said that it is an extra 1/2 seat surcharge and that I should send an email to dcl.shore.excursions@disney.com with the words "helicopter surcharge" in the Subject field.

On the other hand, I've seen posts on the excursions thread that say they don't check weight at all.

Should I pay for the extra half seat or chance it when I get there?

Thanks.

Ben

 

[erionm]

I've been weighed before every helicopter ride I've been on. They weigh everyone and then assign seating to balance weight distribution.

 

[bbaltes]

Thanks, Michael - a couple of followup questions:

1) Are you talking about your experience with the Juneau helicopter ride or others? I know they have to distribute the weight...

2) If you are talking about the Juneau ride, did you hear or witness anything about the surcharge.

Ben

 

[Padres19]

Ben,

I was in your same position a few weeks ago on the July 5th sailing. I hover around 250 and did what I could to "make weight" before the cruise, only to succumb to the temptations of a Palo Brunch AND Palo Dinner prior to my helicopter dogsledding excursion in Juneau. I just figured if they weighed me and I was over, I would just pay it. Much to my delight, and surprise, they simply ASKED all of us our weight and NO ONE ever got on a scale. NO ONE. There were 6 helicopters, each with 6 passengers and NONE of the 36 passengers were weighed. There were some people who were clearly over 250, and I honestly do NOT know if they had previously agreed to pay the surcharge. I should also point out that my wife (a spectacularly beautiful 115) and my twin 8 year old daughters (about 50 pounds each) were with me. It did seem that what they are concerned with is the CUMMULATIVE weight of the passengers on each helicopter, as the pilot had a sheet of paper with the estimated weights that we had provided and the TOTAL was all that was highlighted.

So I would "GO FOR IT". As the likelihood of their charging you is slim.

 

[neoavatara]

When I was there, they didn't weigh us specifically, but did ask in general, and then spaced people out to get the weight distribution right. I think if you are close to the limit, they will let you get away with it...if you are way over, then you likely will have to pay.

 

[myfairygodmother]

I flew with Temsco in Skagway on the glacier/dogsledding adventure in May. They asked everyone's weight and those who stated weights within 25 pounds of the cutoff were weighed and charged the surcharge if their scales indicated such. I will say that it appeared that their scales were off by about 5 pounds in their favor. There were some unhappy people who had to pay the surcharge or not go and lose the money they had already paid.

I would be prepared to pay the extra if necessary and consider it a bonus if they don't actually put people on the scales.

 

[erionm]

Thanks, Michael - a couple of followup questions:

1) Are you talking about your experience with the Juneau helicopter ride or others? I know they have to distribute the weight...

2) If you are talking about the Juneau ride, did you hear or witness anything about the surcharge.

Ben

Juneau (but different cruise line) and the Grand Canyon. Both times I was over 250 pounds and not charged. At the most, I may have been around 25 over the limit.

 

[bbaltes]

Thanks for all your responses, everyone. I think we will just chance it, expect to pay for the surcharge, and then be happy if/when we don't.

Always great to have these boards!

Ben

 

[erionm]

Thanks for all your responses, everyone. I think we will just chance it, expect to pay for the surcharge, and then be happy if/when we don't.

Always great to have these boards!

Ben

That's what I did. I wasn't going to pay the extra unless I absolutely had to.