Disappointing Helicopter Tour Experience - Changed Itinerary Without Compensation and Limited Scenic Views
I originally booked the Hana Rainforest Experience with landing, a 75‑minute tour. However, due to weather conditions, the company switched us to the Molokai Voyage, which is only 55 minutes. Despite the significant reduction in tour duration and a completely different route, no price adjustment or discount was offered. When customers choose a specific experience, it is for a reason, and if the company changes that experience for any reason, they should take responsibility and offer an appropriate price reduction for the alternate tour. Additionally, the seating arrangement was disappointing. There were two parties onboard - six passengers and one pilot. The helicopter has three front seats: one for the pilot and two for passengers. Since there were two separate parties, the front seats should have been shared or rotated so both groups could enjoy the front‑seat scenic views. The front view offers a completely different experience compared to the side seats, and it is one of the main reasons people choose helicopter tours over small plane tours. Even considering weight distribution, a fairer seating arrangement could have been implemented. We also expected to see multiple waterfalls up close, but we only saw one during the entire tour. This was far below our expectations and did not match the experience described. When filling out the booking form, there was a question asking whether the tour was for a special event. I clearly mentioned that this was our anniversary tour. Unfortunately, there was no acknowledgment or special experience provided, which was disappointing given that the company specifically asks for this information. Overall, the tour felt overpriced for what we received, and the alternate route, reduced duration, seating arrangement, and limited sightseeing made the experience disappointing. I do not feel that it was worth the money we spent.