Is a Flight Simulator Experience Worth it?
In short, yes, for the right person. A flight simulator experience sits in the same bracket as a helicopter lesson or a track day: a proper one-off adventure, priced accordingly. Whether it's worth it to you comes down to what you actually get for that price and what you're hoping to get out of the day, so here's a straightforward, honest look to help you decide.
What Does a Flight Simulator Experience Cost?
At 744 Experience, a Short Haul session costs £279 for 90 minutes or £379 for 150 minutes. That's a helpful bracket to compare it to if you're trying to work out whether a price you've seen elsewhere is reasonable: think helicopter lesson or track day, rather than cinema ticket.
What Do You Actually Get for That Price?
The price covers a welcome and introduction, a full pre-flight briefing, and your full session at the controls of a genuine British Airways 747-400 flight deck, with an instructor by your side the whole way through. It also includes up to 3 non-flying guests completely free of charge, with no extras added on the day, so the cost is shared across everyone who comes along, not just the person flying.
You can read more about why 744 Experience is the UK’s most authentic 747 flight simulator experience here.
Who Gets the Most Out of it?
Aviation enthusiasts who've thought about this for years tend to love it, as do former pilots or cabin crew wanting to sit at the controls again, and anyone after a genuinely memorable gift rather than another material present. Corporate groups looking for a team day with a real talking point also do well here, since the free guest places mean the whole group can be part of it, not just watch one person fly.
A Couple of Things Worth Knowing First
You'll be the one flying, guided by your instructor throughout, so it's worth knowing this is hands on rather than a passive, sit-back experience. It's also best suited to ages 12 and over, simply because of the height needed to reach some of the flight controls. And if you're comparing prices across different providers, it's worth knowing that a genuine aircraft cockpit costs more to build and maintain than a themed simulator rig, which is usually reflected in the price. None of that makes it any less worth it, just useful to know before you book.
You can read more about why 744 Experience is the UK’s most authentic 7474 flight simulator experience here.
How to Compare Value, Not Just Price
If you're weighing up a few different flight simulator experiences, price alone won't tell you much. A cheaper option is often built from replica panels and a generic simulator rig rather than a real aircraft, so it's worth asking what's actually behind the panel. At 744 Experience, every switch, instrument and system in the cockpit is original equipment from a retired British Airways 747-400, preserved after three years of restoration rather than reproduced.
See for Yourself
The clearest way to know if this is worth it to you is to see what's actually included. Short Haul sessions are the best starting point, and non-flying guests are welcome to join for free.