October 22, 2026
What Happens If the Weather Is Bad on My Discovery Flight?
If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you. Who makes the call, when it's made, and the Southern California weather that matters.
Departing daily from Van Nuys Airport (VNY) · (818) 683-3404
Our weather policy in plain English: who makes the call, when it's made, and why you never pay for a flight the sky won't allow.
You've booked your discovery flight, told your friends, maybe even bought it as a gift. Then you check the forecast and see clouds, wind or rain. What now?
Here's the short answer: If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you. We make the call the morning of your flight, and we'll let you know the morning of, so you aren't left guessing.
Below is how our discovery flight weather cancellation policy works, what our pilots look at before every flight, and a quick primer on the Southern California weather that matters most for small planes.
Our weather policy at a glance
- Who decides: our instructors, using a full weather and airspace briefing.
- When: the morning of your booked flight.
- What it costs you: nothing. If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you.
- How you hear about it: we'll let you know the morning of. Questions? Call (818) 683-3404.
We would much rather move your flight than fly in conditions that aren't right. Your first time at the controls should be smooth, scenic and fun. It shouldn't be a bumpy hour you spend gripping your seat.
Why we make the call the morning of
Forecasts several days out are educated guesses. A cloudy forecast on Monday can turn into a clear Thursday morning, and a sunny forecast can change overnight. If we canceled based on a long-range forecast, we'd cancel plenty of flights that would have been beautiful.
So we wait for the freshest information. On the morning of your flight we review current conditions and the forecast for your time slot. We'll let you know the morning of. If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you.
What we check before every flight
Weather is only one part of our preflight routine. Every Fly LA flight gets:
- A weather briefing: current conditions, forecasts, winds and visibility along the route.
- An airspace briefing: Los Angeles has some of the busiest airspace in the country, and we plan around it.
- TFR checks: Temporary Flight Restrictions can pop up for events, VIP movements or emergencies. We check for them before every departure.
- Weight and balance: we calculate how the aircraft is loaded so it performs exactly as it should.
Before you climb in, your instructor also gives you a guest briefing of about 5 minutes. It covers what to expect, how the controls work and what you'll see along the way. More on how we fly is on our safety page.
The Southern California weather that matters
LA is famous for sunshine, and most days are great for flying. A few weather patterns still affect small aircraft, and knowing them helps the morning call make sense.
The marine layer and "June Gloom"
The marine layer is a blanket of low cloud that rolls in from the Pacific, often overnight and in the morning. It's most common in late spring and early summer, which is where the nickname "May Gray" and "June Gloom" comes from. It often burns off by late morning or early afternoon, but not always, and not on a schedule.
Low clouds matter because discovery flights are flown under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). That means the pilot navigates by looking outside. VFR flying requires minimum visibility and minimum distance from clouds, set by the FAA. Those minimums vary by airspace and altitude. If the clouds are too low or the visibility too poor, a VFR flight can't go, and it wouldn't be much of a sightseeing flight anyway.
Wind and Santa Ana winds
Wind is the other big factor. Small airplanes handle normal breezes just fine, and your instructor deals with them routinely. Strong, gusty winds or crosswinds make for a rough ride, though, and can push conditions beyond what's sensible for a relaxed first flight.
Santa Ana winds are dry, often strong winds that blow from the inland deserts toward the coast, most often in fall and winter. They can bring crystal-clear skies but also turbulence, especially near the mountains and passes around the San Fernando Valley. Wind also helps explain why air time on a discovery flight varies: the 1-hour experience includes 30–45 minutes in the air, depending on winds and traffic.
Rain and storms
Rain itself isn't the main problem. What usually comes with it is: low clouds, reduced visibility and sometimes thunderstorms. Southern California's rainy season is mostly winter. If a storm system is moving through, the same policy applies. If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you.
Haze and smoke
Haze or wildfire smoke can reduce visibility and hide the views you came for. When visibility drops, the same policy applies. If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you.
Safety is the whole point
A weather call is part of a bigger safety picture at Fly LA Experience:
- Above-standard maintenance: our own team of FAA-certified mechanics maintains our planes above standard.
- Experienced instructors: our instructors have thousands of hours of flight time. Moe Tarakji and Nirvan Raymond are FAA Gold Seal instructors.
- A clean record: 0 incidents since 2017.
A conservative weather policy is one of the reasons that record looks the way it does. When we reschedule, it isn't inconvenience for its own sake. It's the same judgment that keeps every flight safe. Read the full picture on our safety page.
Does weather affect sunset and night flights too?
Yes. Our scenic flights by day, at sunset and at night all follow the same landmark route, and they all get the same weather and airspace briefing. Clouds can block a sunset, and visibility matters at night as much as by day. The same policy applies: If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you.
How to plan around the weather
- Book with flexibility in mind. If you have a few possible dates, mention it when you book.
- Keep an eye on your email. Your booking confirmation comes by email, usually within 4 hours, and it's the easiest way to keep track of your reservation.
- Don't cancel off a long-range forecast. Let us make the call the morning of. Many "cloudy" forecasts clear up, and we'll let you know the morning of.
- Gift cards are covered too. Gift card flights follow the same weather policy. Gift cards.
FAQ
What happens if it rains on my flight day?
If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you. We make that call the morning of your flight, and we'll let you know the morning of.
Who decides if the weather is good enough?
Our instructors, after a weather and airspace briefing. The call is made the morning of your flight, and we'll let you know the morning of.
Will I be charged if my flight is canceled for weather?
No. If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you.
Can I fly if it's a little cloudy?
Often, yes. Discovery flights are flown under Visual Flight Rules, so what matters is whether the clouds are high enough and the visibility good enough to meet FAA minimums and give you a great view.
Does wind change how long I'm in the air?
It can. The experience is 1 hour total, with 30–45 minutes in the air depending on winds and traffic.
What else do you check before a flight?
Every flight gets a weather and airspace briefing, TFR checks, and weight and balance. You'll also get a guest briefing of about 5 minutes before takeoff.
How much is a discovery flight?
$230 for the 1-hour experience.
Book with confidence
The weather risk is ours, not yours. Pick a date. If the weather isn't safe, we cancel or reschedule at no cost to you.
Confirmation comes by email, usually within 4 hours.