Soaring Adventures of America, Inc.

Review: Purchased Hot Air Balloon tickets (for 3 adults) 2 years ago. Every time we try to schedule a ride, we are told that Soaring America has not paid the providers and they will not accept our voucher. We have tried a couple different cities. We actually got one in [redacted] to schedule and were set up for this Friday. We took off work, got a hotel room and then were notified yesterday (10-13-15) that the provider was cancelling our trip because Soaring America owed them money and had not paid them so they were not honoring anymore of their vouchers. We refuse to try and reschedule anywhere else as it would be a 5 hour or more drive, IF they accepted the voucher. I just want my money returned and want no more dealings with this company.Desired Settlement: I just want my money returned and want no more dealings with this company. I have contacted the company and they gave me instructions to return my tickets and they would issue a refund. Of all the reviews I have read I'm doubtful that will happen but am going to try.

Business

Response:

Hi, The owner of Soaring Adventures called [redacted] yesterday and left her a message after we received her email. We will be happy to refund her money, he was calling her to apologize for this matter and to let her know how to receive the refund. She can give us a call if she likes but I'm sure We will try to contact her again by phone today. I just want to make sure we have the same person in question ([redacted] was the person who contacted us) Thank you if I can assist in any other way please let me know. Diane

This company sells balloon rides and gives a list of people in the area who give rides where the balloon ride can be used. However, they people do not give the rides. No matter how many times we have called in three years, we have not been able to get an appointment. Soaring Adventures will not give refunds for services purchased and not received.

Review: No vendors in ** honor this company's vouchers. In addition, no vendors in **, **, or ** honor them. I contacted company in Oct and asked for refund. In addition I sent via certified mail the voucher. It was recieved Oct. 7th. As of this date I have not recieved my refund or any information on it. This company does not handle complaints over the phone, only vi email.Desired Settlement: As stated, no vendors honor this voucher that wothin resonable driving distance.

Business

Response:

Hi, Accounts payable is issuing this customer a refund check today. Thank you for your patience Diane

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Sincerely,

Review: Received gift certificate. When I contacted facility in [redacted] to arrange a ride, I was informed company sold and new owner did not deal with Soaring Adventures. Contacted Soaring Adventures asking for a refund since no facility near me. Was informed to return certificate for refund which I did in Sept. 2015. No response even after two other emails to them. Have called but cannot reach a human.Desired Settlement: Would like a refund of the $99.00 spent since I cannot use the certificate.

Business

Response:

Hi Thank you for your patience, we will get a refund check out to you today Diane

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Sincerely,

Review: I bought a balloon ride ticket for 2 in December of 2012. I have contacted the balloon pilot ([redacted] on at least 7 occasions to reserve a ride and have been unable to reserve a spot with him. He has told me on several occasions to "call me back on the first working day of the month" to book a flight. In December, he told me to send him my tickets to confirm, which I did, and when I called him today, which is the first "working" day of the month, he told me he was unable to locate my ticket and got very rude with me over the phone. After I got off of work today, I found a copy of the tickets he requested and when I called him back today, he told me he "only books flights from 10-2 and I would have to call him back next month. I am tired of having to go through so much trouble to get what I paid over $300.00 for and feel that it should not be such an ordeal to book a flight.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund and I will book my ride through another company who is more accommodating towards their patrons.

Business

Response:

Clay Forrest and I spoke several weeks ago about this situation. We wholeheartedly agreed with his complaint. At that time we sent him a new ticket that gave him an additional year to take his ride. Mr. Forrest was satisfied with this resolution. Subsequently we have spoken with the balloon pilot who has agreed to making some adjustments with his scheduling policies.

Review: I have purchased a hot air balloon flight voucher from Soaring Adventures on 01/11/2016 for my husband's birthday/Valentine's Day. The customer service lady said that with the flight ticket I would receive the list of the local companies in Colorado, who I can make an appointment with. Since then I've been trying to do so with no luck. I called every single phone on the list in Colorado and people either told me that they did not start the flight season yet or that they do not accept the vouchers from Soaring Adventures because they do not see any money from them. I emailed Soaring Adventures on 02/10/2016 and requested a refund. No answer. I called their 800-number on 02/11/2016 and the gentleman on the phone said that all the refunds are handled via email and he said that he will put a note on the desk and that emails are being checked daily. I emailed them again on 02/12/2016 saying that I do not want to waste my time and email and call them daily and I will write a complaint to Revdex.com.Desired Settlement: I need the refund back as soon as possible, I spent $342.90

Business

Response:

Hi we will be happy to give you a refund, what you will need to do is return the flight ticket back to us and please put it to my attention Diane/expedite [redacted] as soon as I receive it here in the office I will issue you a refund check Thank you for your patience Diane

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

I will send the ticket back to the business, but please do not close the complaint till I get the money back, because if the mail get lost I won't get the money back.

Sincerely,

Review: In December, 2013, I purchased 2 tickets (#[redacted]) for my son for his birthday through Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. -- approximately 2 -3 weeks ago, my son who now lives in [redacted] booked his balloon ride with [redacted] Balloon Service only to be told that they would not honor his tickets as his company has been burned by Soaring Adventures of America for over $21,000. Apparently, Soaring Adventures hasn't made good on their end of the deal (paying the fee) to whichever balloon company people have picked. When I went on your website to check out this company, it was with great disappointment that I found several similar complaints about this company --where others had gone to cash in their balloon ride tickets only to be told that they wouldn't honor them as this company is basically not holding up their end of the agreement and paying these different hot air balloon ride companies the money they have coming to them. And even though many had tried to call Soaring Adventures without any luck of getting someone to contact them back, I thought I would try and contact them as well. I had no better luck -- can't even talk to anyone. Needless-to-say, I'm a little infuriated by this whole scenario as now I've paid twice for 2 hot air balloon rides as I didn't want to see my son and his girlfriend miss out on a lovely opportunity to take in the sights from the skies. I will say that Mike, from [redacted] balloon flights was nice and let me pay the child's fee even though my son is nowhere neither that age, just to save me a little bit of money this time around.Desired Settlement: I want my money back from Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. in the amount of $379.90 (189.95 per ticket)

Business

Response:

Dear Mr and Mrs [redacted]:

It was a pleasure

speaking with you on the phone earlier today. I called because I wanted to

apologize in person about the mixup your son had in using his tickets

for his balloon ride. Check #[redacted], for $379.90, has been written and

will go in the mail to you today.

We have been dealing

with Mike for a number of years. He is a fine pilot and businessman. The fault

in this matter is entirely ours.

Ballooning is lots of

fun. I am glad your son and his girlfriend had a good time.

Regards, Rob W[redacted]

Review: I purchased tickets to go glider rides and Hot Air Balloon rides for my grandkids and myself on Dec 22, 2010 for $169.95 each plus $3 shipping through 1-800-SOARING. They sent me the tickets and gave me info to call the pilot to schedule the flight. I have been trying to schedule this and have been cancel over and over again. I have call 800-SOARING and told then the problem and they tell me no refund and they did call him [redacted] the pilot and he called me back to schedule a flight and then it would get cancel. Sometimes I do not even get a call back to reschedule it. I ask for a refund and was told "No" I called back to ask for refund and was told "no"that it wasn't his fault because of the weather I told him I understood being cancel due to weather, but if I could reschedule when he cancel me. He told me no that I have to call back.But, if I pay reg price another $200 each, I could schedule anytime. Because I got at a discount price, I could only call on the 1st and he only has a few spaces and his full pay customer come 1st. I told him that then, it is possible that I never get to go. He said oh well, and then he asked me if I want to pay full price. I told him that I would just keep trying. I was schedule again and then cancel again. Now he will not even return my calls. Still no ride and no refund. At this point I just want my money back. I will use another company.

Product_Or_Service: Dec 22 2010Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Refund

I would like to have my flight for my granddaughter and my self. If I can not get a flight I just want my money back and I will use another company.

Consumer

Response:

Consumer indicated they have not heard from the company

Business

Response:

We will issue customer a refund check for $339.90. Please confirm that address is as follows: [redacted] TX [redacted]

Review: A purchase was made online at [redacted] approximately (2) years ago as a gift . We attempted to contact the hot air balloon operator in our area near [redacted]. the gift recipient, [redacted], flew from [redacted] to [redacted] on numerous occasions to take the flight. Numerous attempts to schedule the flights were to no avail after (2) years of time. We even contacted Soaring Adventures for an extension on the original time expiration of the certificate to attempt to take the flights to no avail. We requested a refund from Soaring Adventures by phone and were told several days ago to contact them by e-mail only which we did. They indicated that we were in the refund window with them which runs starting October 1st. Then we were told we needed to present the certificate to them. We do not want to use the certificate , we simply want a refund for services not rendered for (2) years. Please asssist us with this matter.Desired Settlement: Refund by check or to credit card used for purchase

Business

Response:

We mailed a refund check (No. [redacted]) to [redacted] on October 16, 2014 for $339.90. The check was already cleared by our bank on October 24, 2014.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Sincerely,

Do NOT buy this ticket for a AIR BALLOON ride from Soaring Adventures. Same company that filed bankruptcy and many people lost their invested money. We were one of those. Tried for 3 years to get a ride. Always told to high winds even when the weather said less the 5 mph. Their standard is less then 6 mph. No money back. said paid all their bills after so called liquidating all their assets. Same company so. DO NOT BUY, WARNING!

Review: After many failed attempts to use the voucher for the 2 person hot air balloon ride that I purchased for a total of $296 I contact this company and was told to send back the voucher and they would issue a refund. I sent back the voucher certified mail on September 2, 2015. After several emails and messages left I have not received any answers regarding the status of my refund. I put a complaint in through [redacted] and was responded to by a "Rob" and was told to email again with the subject line "refund per Rob" I did this on September 30, again I emailed and asked about the refund and status and still have not heard a word. I tried faxing over a request and their fax machine number that is listed on the website did not workDesired Settlement: $296. back to me ASAP

Business

Response:

Hi We are issuing you a refund check today, check #93279 When we checked on your order we were confused because you are asking for a refund of $296.00 When you paid 339.90. We will make the refund check out to the higher amount. Thank you