Due to COVID-19, Uber Copter service is suspended for the time being.
The ride options on this page are a sample of Uber’s products, and some might not be available where you use the Uber app. If you check your city’s web page or look in the app, you’ll see what rides you can request.
Introducing Uber Copter
Fly past traffic
Book a seamless 3-part journey with Uber Copter¹—including rides with Uber to or from the downtown Manhattan and JFK heliports—in just a few taps.
Riders can save up to 30 minutes on Uber trips to or from JFK Airport, with only 7 minutes in the air.
Book an Uber Copter trip
Step 1
Enter your destination, select Copter as your ride option, and confirm your pickup location.
Step 2
Select the number of seats you would like to book, and tap Next.
Step 3
Choose your preferred itinerary and tap Next. Then tap Agree and Request to complete the booking.
Where and when Uber Copter is available
Uber Copter is available for booking Monday through Friday from 1pm to 6pm ET, for trips between Manhattan and JFK International Airport. Book a seamless, multimodal journey—including an Uber trip to and from the heliports—with just a few taps.
Get picked up or dropped off anywhere in Manhattan below 110th Street. There are also additional areas in Brooklyn where you may book your ride for pickup or dropoff. Check your app for the latest availability.
If your journey is starting and ending within our designated zones in Manhattan and at JFK, you’ll see Copter as an option in your Uber app. Simply set your pickup and dropoff locations—one in Manhattan and the other at JFK Airport—to see Uber Copter’s windows of availability and pricing. Only available on iOS.
The benefits of Uber Copter
Time-saving
Take the stress out of airport travel when you fly with Uber Copter. Riders can save up to 30 minutes on Uber trips to or from JFK Airport, with only 7 minutes in the air².
Safe and seamless
Safety is a top priority. All flights are operated by our partner HeliFlite, a licensed FAA/DOT direct air carrier. HeliFlite has earned ARGUS Platinum rating and Wyvern Wingman certification, both of which are awarded after an audit of an operator’s safety programs. HeliFlite operates twin-engine dual-piloted aircraft, and all of its pilots are instrument-rated.
Reliable
Book a seamless 3-part journey as easily as you order a ride with Uber. Just tell us when you want to arrive, and we’ll help you plan the rest.
Ready for takeoff?
One baggage item, one personal item
Baggage must not exceed 62 inches (157 centimeters) when you total length, height, and width, and it must weigh 50 pounds (22 kilograms) or less. The personal item can include a purse, a briefcase, or a laptop bag (or comparable) and must fit in your lap or by your feet. Extra luggage or luggage that doesn’t meet these requirements might not be allowed on the helicopter and/or may lead to changes to the flight schedule due to aircraft weight/balance.
Bring your ID
In order to board your Copter flight, you must present a government-issued ID with a name that matches the name on your Uber account. For your safety and security, every passenger’s government-issued ID is checked at check-in. See the frequently asked questions section for a list of valid IDs.
Weight and balance
To comply with safety regulations and to verify operations within aircraft performance characteristics, the weight of passengers and their luggage is collected before the flight.
Prohibited items
The following items may not be carried onboard the aircraft at any time: aerosol cans, corrosives, e-cigarettes, explosives, flammables, lithium batteries, oxidizers, radioactive materials, toxins, and weapons. For a complete list of prohibited items and our policy on pets, see our full terms and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
- When and where is Uber Copter available?
Uber Copter is available for booking Monday through Friday from 1pm to 6pm ET, for trips between Manhattan and JFK International Airport. Book a seamless, multimodal journey—including an Uber trip to and from the heliports—with just a few taps. Get picked up or dropped off anywhere in Manhattan below 110th Street. There are also additional areas in Brooklyn where you may book your ride for pickup or dropoff. Simply set your pickup and dropoff locations—one in Manhattan and the other at JFK Airport—to see Copter’s windows of availability and pricing. Uber Copter is currently available only on iOS.
- How does Uber Copter work?
Flights are operated by our direct air carrier partner, HeliFlite Shares LLC. Uber is not a direct air carrier and does not operate flights¹. You can find more about HeliFlite at www.heliflite.com. Uber Copter is a multimodal travel experience. When you book through the app, your trips to and from the heliport are included and are arranged through the Uber app. Trips can be requested up to 5 days in advance. Uber Copter is currently available for booking Monday-Friday, 1pm – 6pm ET.
- How much does Uber Copter cost?
The price of an Uber Copter trip can vary depending on demand for the service, rider promotions, geography, traffic delays, or other factors. Refer to your app for the most up-to-date prices. Prices are indicated per person and agreed to up front. When requesting a trip with Uber Copter, your booking will also include an Uber trip from your point of origin to the heliport, as well as a ride to your terminal if you’re heading to JFK, or a ride to your final destination if you’re heading to Manhattan.
- How is safety and security managed?
By using Uber Copter, you agree to follow all safety instructions provided by Uber, our direct air carrier partners, and third-party contractors at all times, including in the event of an emergency or an evacuation. You will be shown a safety video and/or receive safety instructions before boarding. Passengers who don’t pass screening checks won’t be able to board.
- What identification do I need to bring?
Each passenger must present valid photo identification at the heliport. Failure to do so will result in the inability to fly.
Proof of identity may be demonstrated through one of the following forms of government-issued photo ID, and the name on that ID must match the name on the passenger’s Uber account:
- US passport or US passport card
- DHS Trusted Traveler cards (FAST, Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI)
- US Military ID
- Permanent Resident Card
- Border Crossing Card
- DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license
- Driver’s license or other state photo identity card issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
- Native American tribal photo ID
- Airline- or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
- Registered Traveler card (containing name, date of birth, gender, expiration date, and a tamper-resistant feature)
- Foreign-government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Parents or guardians can identify children under the age of 16.
- Can I book Uber Copter for a guest?
The trip must be booked and completed by the eligible account owner. If an eligible rider books a seat for a guest, the guest rider must be accompanied by and on the same flight as the eligible rider who booked.
- How much luggage is allowed on the aircraft?
You’re permitted to bring one item of baggage and one personal item aboard Uber Copter. Approved personal items include a purse, briefcase, laptop bag, or similarly sized item. The personal item must fit in your lap or by your feet without obstructing any other passenger or your ability to fasten your safety belt.
Baggage will be placed in the cargo hold and must not exceed 62 inches (157 centimeters) when you add up length, width, and height. It must weigh 50 pounds (22 kilograms) or less.
Please note that additional luggage or luggage that does not meet these requirements may not be allowed on the helicopter and/or lead to changes to the flight schedule due to aircraft weight/balance.
Luggage allowance policies are subject to change. Check back here for the latest policy.
Please note that the following items may not be carried onboard the aircraft: firearms, weapons, lithium batteries (including “smart bags” with non-removable lithium batteries), explosives, aerosol cans, flammables, oxidizers, toxins, radioactive materials, corrosives, e-cigarettes, hazardous materials, and any item included on the federal TSA prohibited items list. Smoking is prohibited in any form while onboard the aircraft.
- Can I bring my pet?
Dogs and cats under 20 pounds (9 kilograms) that are placed in a carrier are permitted on flights.
Service animals are permitted on the helicopter regardless of weight. Please note that Uber’s policies on pets apply for the ground portion of your Uber Copter trip. See the Pets section of our terms and conditions for full guidelines regarding riding with pets.
- Can I cancel my Uber Copter request?
You may cancel your seat reservation(s) for a preexisting flight by providing notice to Uber before the flight’s scheduled departure time. Cancellation may be done through the app. Frequent cancellation of flights or other abusive practices as determined by Uber may result in the suspension of your eligibility for Uber Copter services.
From Uber Copter to Uber Air
Uber’s power of the platform
Uber Copter is Uber’s first multimodal experience leveraging the power of the platform, where booking a flight—including ground trips using the Uber app to get to and from the heliports—is as simple as ordering a ride.
Uber Copter is the first step toward transforming urban aviation and building our future urban air mobility product: Uber Air.
Only available on iOS.
¹Uber is an indirect air carrier serving as a Part 295 air charter broker. Uber is not a direct air carrier and does not operate flights. All flights are operated by HeliFlite Shares LLC or by other FAA/DOT-licensed direct air carriers. See full terms and conditions.
²Estimated average flight time is based on actual ride data from 2019. Actual trip length and time savings may vary. The time savings estimate is based on data from October 28, 2019 – November 20, 2019, and on comparison between the average duration of Uber Copter trips and average duration of completed Uber trips (excluding UberPool) to and from JFK that were requested during the same times and in the same areas in which Uber Copter trips are available for booking.