Get a free helicopter transfer when you book a British Airways short break in Monaco

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If you’re looking for something different for a weekend break this Spring, British Airways Holidays is offering free helicopter transfers if you book a break in Monaco.

If you’ve never been on a helicopter, it is a very cool thing to do.

I think I’ve only been in a helicopter three times, and one of those times was to transfer from Nice Airport to Monaco. (This was a corporate jolly, I wasn’t spending my own money.) It isn’t a long flight at just 7 minutes, but skimming along the sea with the French coast off to your side makes it a very impressive one.

British Airways has teamed up with the Monaco Government Tourist & Convention Authority to offer free return helicopter transfers with a ‘flight and hotel’ booking of just three nights.

This offer is, unsurprisingly, only valid during the low season. The smart thing may be to book as near to the end (or, in Autumn, the start) of the offer as possible to guarantee the best weather.

The dates are:

Now to 31st March

1st October to 31st December (exc Christmas Day)

You need to book seven days in advance. All bookings must be made by 31st January.

There is small print re the operating hours of the helicopter which you can easily miss as it is only available during the booking process:

“to qualify for the free helicopter transfer, flights must arrive into Nice between 08:00 and 16:45, and depart from Nice between 10:00 and 16:45, flights outside of these times will not receive the free helicopter transfer”

There is also a 23kg luggage limit per person.

You also receive “entrance to museums and attractions in the principality of Monaco”. Whilst it isn’t mentioned on the main page, you also get “shared shuttle bus transfer from/to the Heliport and your chosen hotel”.

This is a really good deal in March. I found three nights at Columbus Monte Carlo plus BA economy flights plus helicopter transfers for just £532 for two people (ie £266 each) for the last weekend in March.

Remember that the usual BA Holidays benefits apply. You earn 1 bonus Avios for every £1 you spend, and if you pay on a British Airways Premium Plus American Express card you will receive double Avios (3 per £1) from Amex. If your booking is large enough, you can just pay a deposit now with the balance due seven weeks before departure.

Your flights will earn Avios and tier points, but BA Holidays bookings do not qualify for On Business points in the BA small business scheme.

Full details can be found on ba.com here.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points, such as:

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus:

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for our latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios this month from offers and promotions.)

Category

British Airways and Avios

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Gidon says:

9 Jan9 January 06:02

What happens when half the flight are doing the same thing? Especially on that last weekend in March.
- @mkcol says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 06:16
  
  They put on another helicopter or you wait the ~30 for the round trip to be completed & get the next.
Jon says:

9 Jan9 January 07:38

I did this for my birthday in December a couple of years back – it was great!

And don’t ignore the value of the vouchers, we spent next to nothing whilst there with free visits to the Aquarium, Motor museum, etc.

That said, everything else is pricey – when we turned down a second 15E cocktail, we were told “It’s Monaco, everthing is expensive”!
- Michael C says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 08:45
  
  Maybe I had been living in London too long but I didn’t find Monaco all that expensive!
  Flashbacks to some beginner’s luck at the Casino and cocktails in the Hermitage. It’s a fun place to feel like a celebrity.
  - Anna says:
    
    9 Jan9 January 09:13
    
    Lol we went to Monte Carlo for the day during a holiday in the south of France. We ate in McDonald’s overlooking some superyachts 😂
    - Darren says:
      
      9 Jan9 January 10:16
      
      What did you have? Le Big Mac or a Royale with Cheese?
      - Anna says:
        
        9 Jan9 January 11:38
        
        I can’t remember, we were distracted by a £330 million Russian oligarch’s yacht anchored off shore 😱
      - Darren says:
        
        9 Jan9 January 12:22
        
        That’ll be Rob’s 🙂
- the_real_a says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 12:39
  
  There is a kebab shop just near the start/finish line if you are feeling tight and peckish 🙂
Pawel says:

9 Jan9 January 07:52

£958
For 2 plus 2 kids at Novotel
3-6oct
Kids birthday suprise sorted….
James says:

9 Jan9 January 08:12

I have a BA Amex 241 voucher expiring in April that I’m running out of time to use. Is there any way to incorporate it into a BA deal like this?
- Jonathan says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 08:35
  
  Short answer: no.
  - Stu N says:
    
    9 Jan9 January 08:40
    
    You can only use a 241 on a flight only redemption booking. The free transfer is for a BA Holidays booking so you can’t combine them.
JRC says:

9 Jan9 January 08:40

I would love to do this but my wife is paranoid about crashing in a helicopter and even sent me an article about a Monaco crash in 2004. Does anyone have experience of the company running the helicopters/ flights?
- Peter K says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 08:47
  
  To be fair, I’d not risk it, same as I’d not go in a 737 MAX.
  - Anna says:
    
    9 Jan9 January 09:15
    
    We spent an afternoon on the beach near the Monaco helipad once, they were taking off literally every 5 minutes so I guess they know what they’re doing and it would be reported if it was particularly risky.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 08:49
  
  Your odds of being killed on the road between Nice and Monaco are probably similar.
- Stu N says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 08:52
  
  She’s vastly more likely to be killed on a surface transfer than in a helicopter crash.
  
  Helicopter accident rate is slightly higher than fixed wing aircraft (1.04 vs .8 accidents per 100,000 flight hours).
  
  Road transport is, depending on how you cut it, 50-500 times more dangerous than flying.
  - RussellH says:
    
    9 Jan9 January 10:10
    
    This is a VERY out-of-date story, dating as it does from 1971 or 1972…
    
    I was on the train from Edinburgh to London, had a first class compartment to myself until Newcastle. Three men got in, all knew each other. One told me that he was a helicopter engineer, and went on to say that the only circumstances in which he would get on board one was if the alternative was certain death, which was more than a bit alarming.
    He explained that the rotor was the only thing that kept it up in the air, and that the rotor was held in place by, effectively, one very large nut (no doubt carefully torqued).
    I am sure that a) technology has moved on a lot since then b) the statistics show a much better safety record than he implied.
    He might even have been just spinning a yarn.
    But it is a story that has stayed with me ever since, and inevitably comes to mind anyone suggests travel by helicopter!
    - Lady London says:
      
      9 Jan9 January 16:48
      
      It’s true. That nut breaking is what led to a helicopter going into the North Sea around 2008-09. I worked for the oil company they lost everyone. Apparently it was poor maintenance. I saw awhile later the company providing the heli service had been taken over. I should think they lost all their contracts.
      
      I’ve been in a cropdusting helicopter when I was too young to know better but otherwise wouldnt go in one now.
      .
- Graeme says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 08:53
  
  Yes. It was fine. Very professional.
David says:

9 Jan9 January 09:09

i also did this trip a few years back and the helicopter trips were fab, the transfer to the Columbus takes about 5 mins. Just make sure you don’t arrive too late for the helicopter transfer.
i did find Monaco fairly quiet in November though
Christian Harris says:

9 Jan9 January 09:20

Any idea if small kids are allowed in the helicopter (5 and 2)?
- Mr M says:
  
  9 Jan9 January 09:31
  
  I was about to ask a similar question, but in my case my son is only 1 year old.
  
  Anyone knows?
  - Rob says:
    
    9 Jan9 January 10:14
    
    All of the small print comes up during the booking process.
    - Pawel says:
      
      9 Jan9 January 10:54
      
      Essential Information
      PASSPORT TO MONTE CARLO: Eligible bookings receive round trip helicopter transfers operated by Monacair, shared shuttle bus transfer from/to the Heliport and your chosen hotel, and free entrance couponsto many museums and attractions. In order for us to provide the helicopter transfer, the Monaco authorities require us to obtain each customer’s date of birth and city of birth. Please email this information to bahonline@holidays.ba.com within10 days from booking confirmation for this offer to be valid. VALIDITY: To qualify, book between 28November 2019 to 31 January 2020 . Forround-trip helicopter transfers, travel must be started and completed between 07 January 2020 to 31 March 2020 or 01 October 2020 to 31 December 2020 Inclusive. Where your outbound flight is within the travel window but your return flight fallsoutside of this – only an arrival transfer will be provided. Helicopter transfers are not available on 25 December. Bookings must include a flight + hotel for a minimum 3 night stay in a Monte Carlohotel, your hotel arrival/departure dates must match your flights, UK residents only. Max 8 people per booking. Not valid for bookings made within 7 days of departure. Flying restrictions apply; to qualifyfor the free helicopter transfer, flights must arrive into Nice between 08:00 and 16:45, and depart from Nice between 10:00 and 16:45, flights outside of these times will not receive the free helicopter transfer, only attraction coupons. HOW DO I RECEIVE MY PASSPORT TO MONTE CARLO? you will receive your Passport to Monte Carlo containing your coupons in the post (which you must take with you). OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS: On arrival into Niceairport, go to the Monacair desk situated in the arrivals hall and present your helicopter coupon to the representative. Where a departure helicopter is applicable; please reconfirm your pick-up time by contacting Monacair 24 hours prior on 377 9797 3900 ,and on collection present your coupon to the representative. If due to weather conditions or technical issues your helicopter transfer cannot be provided, Monacair will provide a private mini-van transfer instead. Luggage allowance for the helicopter is 1suitcase per person weighing no more than 23kg. Luggage in excess of this amount has to travel by road which is subject to an additional cost. No refunds available, coupons cannot be transferred and are only valid for the duration of your trip. Should younot wish to redeem the helicopter transfers please call us to discuss alternative transfer arrangements which will be subject to an additional cost. USEFUL INFORMATION: Monaco Tourist Office address; 2a, Boulevard des Moulins, MC98 030 Monaco. Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 9am – 7pm. Sundays & Bank Holidays 11am – 1pm. Monaco Tourist Board Tel: 377 92 166116. Monacair Tel: 377 9797 3900.01 November 2019 – 31 December 2020
      
      A land reclamation project is taking place in the Bay of Monaco. Guests in hotels in the sea front areas may be aware of the work which will entail the use of cranes at times. The construction site area is not permanent and the work schedule is subject to change. Hotels do not have any control over the work which is a development by the Government of the Principality of Monaco.04 June 2018 – 31 December 2021
      
      Hotels with outdoor swimming pools may close seasonally, usually from late autumn through to late spring, dependent on local weather conditions. Opening/closing dates may vary at the discretion of the hotel.
  - Pawel says:
    
    9 Jan9 January 11:21
    
    at https://www.monacair.mc/en/airport-transfer/
    which is provider for this transfer you can book with kids and Infants….
Dan says:

9 Jan9 January 09:25

Booked first weekend in October for £658. This site is amazing! Thank you Rob – see you at the party.