Overview
iFLY puts kids (and adults) in a vertical wind tunnel — a column of air moving fast enough to make a person float. An instructor is in the tunnel with your child the entire time, controlling body position and managing height. The actual flight time per person is about 60 seconds per turn, with two turns included in the standard package. The experience lasts 90 minutes total including training, gear-up, flights, and debrief. It's genuinely one of the more novel physical experiences available to kids in the Bay Area — the sensation of floating in air is hard to replicate elsewhere and tends to land as an exceptional memory. Minimum age is 3, and kids under 40 lbs require a conversation with staff before booking.
How to Do It
The Bay Area iFLY location is at 31310 Alvarado-Niles Road in Union City, just west of Interstate 880. Take I-880 to the Alvarado-Niles exit and follow signs; the facility is easy to find with a large parking lot that's free and typically uncrowded. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled session — the training portion is mandatory and the session will not wait. After check-in, you'll watch a brief training video and get a flight suit, helmet, goggles, and earplugs. The instructor runs a pre-flight orientation explaining body position: arms slightly bent, chin up, hips forward. Kids are outfitted and staged in a holding area outside the tunnel, then brought in one at a time. The instructor enters the tunnel first, your child follows, and the wind kicks up. Most kids need one turn to get comfortable; the second turn is usually where they start smiling.
Tips & Tricks
Dress your kid in form-fitting clothes — loose shirts and baggy pants create drag and can be uncomfortable in the tunnel. Lace-up sneakers are required; no sandals, no slip-ons. Remove all jewelry, hair accessories, and items from pockets before arriving. Kids who are hesitant or anxious generally do better when a parent goes first — it normalizes the experience and demonstrates that nothing bad happens. If a child freezes at the tunnel entrance, instructors are skilled at de-escalating without pressure, but a dry run watching a sibling or parent helps. The video and photo packages are an upsell at checkout — the footage is good and genuinely captures something that's hard to photograph from outside the tunnel, but it's not cheap. Decide before you go whether it's worth it rather than deciding under pressure at the counter. Booking directly through iFLY's website is reliable; third-party discount sites like Tripster occasionally offer meaningfully lower prices for the same session, so it's worth a quick check. Sessions for birthdays can be customized with group packages and the facility has party space — it works well as a birthday experience for kids 5 and up.
Planning
Tickets start at approximately $85–$125 per person for the standard two-flight package, depending on date and booking source. The full experience is 90 minutes. The facility is open year-round, seven days a week; hours vary so check the website or call ahead. Reserve in advance, especially for weekend sessions and birthday groups — walk-in availability is limited. What to bring: form-fitting clothes, lace-up shoes, and nothing in pockets. Spectating is free and the viewing area is comfortable, so a non-flying parent or sibling can watch without issue. The age minimum is 3, and participants must weigh between 40 and 300 lbs; kids under 40 lbs may still be eligible with instructor clearance — call to discuss before booking if your child is borderline. This activity pays off most for kids 5 and up who can follow instructions and process what's happening; 3- and 4-year-olds can participate but the experience is shorter and less nuanced for them. Weather is irrelevant — this is fully indoors with climate control.