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Taquan Air Tours
Taquan Air Tours
4.5
Full view
About
Misty Fjords National Monument Flightseeing, Alaska Bear Viewing and Flightseeing, George Inlet Lodge Crab Feast & Flightseeing, and other amazing flightseeing tours available in Ketchikan, AK.
Tours and Tickets by Taquan Air Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
653 reviews
Excellent
563
Very good
43
Average
18
Poor
9
Terrible
20
Paradise600129
16 contributions
Oct 2021
I took a Float trip to Thorne Bay on Prince of Wales Island for business. Due to poor weather, this was my fourth attempt. Taquan very graciously rescheduled 3-times without charging me. The pilots are experienced, and the de Havilland plane float planes are in great condition. No white knuckles here.
Written October 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gauchojoe
Sacramento86 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
What better way to go view bears feeding than by float plane?!!!
Awesome experience flying in a float plane. We were all very tentative at the experience. Our pilot had a great sense of humor and was very reassuring. The cabin itself is noisy, but the head phones help a lot. The take off and landings are very subtle and better than that of a commercial airliner.
Our pilot was awesome and even circled back when he saw a couple of humpback whales near the surface, giving us a very unique and awesome view of the whales.
The bear excursion to Tongass National Forest was amazing. The bears were in full feeding mode at the man made salmon ladder. There were several eagles around the area. On our walk down the path to the ladder, we spotted a bear on the edge of the path. We cautiously walked around to get to the viewing platform by the salmon ladder. FYI, these are all black bears. In total, there were five bears, and a mom with two cubs. Awesome family experience!
Awesome experience flying in a float plane. We were all very tentative at the experience. Our pilot had a great sense of humor and was very reassuring. The cabin itself is noisy, but the head phones help a lot. The take off and landings are very subtle and better than that of a commercial airliner.
Our pilot was awesome and even circled back when he saw a couple of humpback whales near the surface, giving us a very unique and awesome view of the whales.
The bear excursion to Tongass National Forest was amazing. The bears were in full feeding mode at the man made salmon ladder. There were several eagles around the area. On our walk down the path to the ladder, we spotted a bear on the edge of the path. We cautiously walked around to get to the viewing platform by the salmon ladder. FYI, these are all black bears. In total, there were five bears, and a mom with two cubs. Awesome family experience!
Written August 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VoodooUdo
Jacksonville, FL15 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
I had to temporarily restrain my wife and daughter in order to get load them aboard the small Dehavilland Beaver, I appreciate the pilot and ground crew for their assistance in the matter. Once airborne we were able to remove the straight jackets and I believe they actually had a vey memorable time. I think they where in awe, as was I, by the unbelievable beautifully desolate and cold landscape unfolding before their eyes. There are no words to describe an experience like this. Taquan Air, loved the beautiful Beaver, professional outfit, great well seasoned pilots, no worries. If you can swing it, get off the Boat and bargain hunt, it won't be cheap (it's an airplane......in Alaska) but you can deal a little if your reasonable.
Written December 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Safari478697
2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
July 12, 2024, took a "Misty Fjords Flighseeing". Pilot, Clark, did not have a welcome word when we took off and either a thank you for us when we left. Very little talk about what we were flying over. Clark should have a better personality when dealing with that type of work. I don't recommend a tour with him.
Written August 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eoireitum
scotland340 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
I found this rather expensive for what it was. Yes, it was great taking off and landing on the water.
Once in the air, there was not really that much to see. The pilot gave us some commentary on the history of the area where you get views of the wooded hills and fjords. If you are lucky, you might see some whales.
Once in the air, there was not really that much to see. The pilot gave us some commentary on the history of the area where you get views of the wooded hills and fjords. If you are lucky, you might see some whales.
Written October 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tholmes_10
Seoul5 contributions
Jun 2012 • Solo
The pilot was exceeding the visibility requirements on our tour. I thought this was a safety concern. I probably wouldn't recommend this company.
Written June 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HoosierInAZ
Kingman, AZ1 contribution
We booked tour months ago for our first Alaskan Cruise. Had been told seaplane tour was incredible and not to be missed. We arrived dockside at meeting place. Had to wait 15 minutes past scheduled pick up. Then when bus didn't arrive, operator liasion asked us to sit down it would be another 10 minutes. Then they asked us to walk to to different cruise terminal as the bus was still on way and it would be easier for driver to pick us up there. Someone asked about what if couldn't walk that far. Said could make the driver come, but would take longer. We got to the next cruise ship and bus wasn't there yet. When it arrived, the bus unloaded some passengers. Driver was talkative but not about Ketchikan or Alaska. He said we were lucky because he had left passengers at station to come get us. Laughed about it and said they'd have to wait. Arrived at station to find out that one plane was taken to the hangar due to mechanical issues. Asked for six volunteers. After rearranging dinners for some passengers, we were told they would go on 5:30 flight. Okay, then we were told by Tiger that he needed two more volunteers because if weight limitations. We volunteered as other remaining passengers were celebrating or had second tours. We were told we would go at 3:30. After group was called for boarding, Tiger said it was the 4:00 departure. Why he lied inexplainable. When I asked him why he lied, he said that was "tour" time. He said he couldn't control the planes and he couldn't control the FAA safety regulations. Said if we had booked directly, he would be able to do something, but since we booked with cruise line, he couldn't compensate us for the wasted day. Still waiting for the tour. Will post if we ever make it to the seaplane.
Written August 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue L
Los Angeles, CA7 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
When we arrived in Ketchikan on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, it was a beautiful day so we decided to book a seaplane excursion of the Misty Fjords. We ended up at Taquan Air and everyone was friendly and they showed us a safety video and told us that Taquan Air had a 100% safety rating. This eased my nerves. Due to the company overbooking, our group of 7 people had to go on the Cessna Caravan, a very nice plane, a little bigger than the DeHavilland Beaver (my husband was disappointed we didn't fly the Beaver but loved the Caravan), and our pilot, Kevin, was wonderful and gave us an amazing tour of the Misty Fjords and landed on a beautiful lake where we were able to get out on the pontoons. This excursion was a highlight of our trip to Alaska until two days later when we heard about the tragic crash of a seaplane doing the exact same excursion where all 9 people on board perished. I reassured myself that Taquan Air had a better safety record than ProMech Air, until I came across the below article.
The article made me feel betrayed by Taquan Air, and stupid for not doing more of my own research. The Cruise Lines and the tour companies seem to be too driven by profits that they may not cancel flights when necessary due to bad weather and are enticed into telling customers lies about their safety records so people won't back out of excursions. I still would've taken the flight had Taquan told me about the 2007 incident, but now I'll never fly with them again.
I'm giving a rating of 3 (wish it could be 2 1/2) because the Pilot, Kevin, was amazing and he seemed like an excellent pilot and made everyone feel very comfortable and deserves 5 stars, but the companies dishonestly about the crash in 2007 deserves ZERO stars.
Alaska News
As Southeast Alaska plane crash victims' life stories emerge, so do echoes of 2007 accident
Nathaniel Herz
June 27, 2015
He cited the 2007 crash that also happened during a tour of Misty Fjords, which an NTSB report a year later blamed on pilot error and inadequate supervision of the Southeast Alaska tour industry by the Federal Aviation Administration. Subsequent recommendations by the NTSB included the installation of webcams in the area and special weather training for tour pilots.
2007 Misty Fjords crash
Weather in Ketchikan the day of the crash was unsettled, with scattered showers and wind gusts hitting 26 mph.
“Equally impressive are the flight challenges posed by such dramatic terrain and volatile weather conditions,” the filing said.
In the 2007 crash, Ketchikan’s Taquan Air Service had sent three planes on Misty Fjords flight tours.
All three planes were flying through a shallow mountain pass known as “the cut.” The first plane made it through and the third plane’s pilot turned around and took a different route after running into what he described as a “wall of weather” — rain, fog and low clouds — according to news reports.
The second plane, a de Havilland Beaver, crashed in a box canyon and slid 250 feet down an embankment. All five people aboard were killed.
The pilot, 56-year-old Joseph Campbell, had 25 years of commercial aviation experience, but only seven hours of flying experience in Alaska when he was hired by Taquan to fly that summer.
The article made me feel betrayed by Taquan Air, and stupid for not doing more of my own research. The Cruise Lines and the tour companies seem to be too driven by profits that they may not cancel flights when necessary due to bad weather and are enticed into telling customers lies about their safety records so people won't back out of excursions. I still would've taken the flight had Taquan told me about the 2007 incident, but now I'll never fly with them again.
I'm giving a rating of 3 (wish it could be 2 1/2) because the Pilot, Kevin, was amazing and he seemed like an excellent pilot and made everyone feel very comfortable and deserves 5 stars, but the companies dishonestly about the crash in 2007 deserves ZERO stars.
Alaska News
As Southeast Alaska plane crash victims' life stories emerge, so do echoes of 2007 accident
Nathaniel Herz
June 27, 2015
He cited the 2007 crash that also happened during a tour of Misty Fjords, which an NTSB report a year later blamed on pilot error and inadequate supervision of the Southeast Alaska tour industry by the Federal Aviation Administration. Subsequent recommendations by the NTSB included the installation of webcams in the area and special weather training for tour pilots.
2007 Misty Fjords crash
Weather in Ketchikan the day of the crash was unsettled, with scattered showers and wind gusts hitting 26 mph.
“Equally impressive are the flight challenges posed by such dramatic terrain and volatile weather conditions,” the filing said.
In the 2007 crash, Ketchikan’s Taquan Air Service had sent three planes on Misty Fjords flight tours.
All three planes were flying through a shallow mountain pass known as “the cut.” The first plane made it through and the third plane’s pilot turned around and took a different route after running into what he described as a “wall of weather” — rain, fog and low clouds — according to news reports.
The second plane, a de Havilland Beaver, crashed in a box canyon and slid 250 feet down an embankment. All five people aboard were killed.
The pilot, 56-year-old Joseph Campbell, had 25 years of commercial aviation experience, but only seven hours of flying experience in Alaska when he was hired by Taquan to fly that summer.
Written June 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avnish K
Denver, CO2 contributions
Jun 2013 • Solo
I did this excursion today on 06/20/2013 and I had a bad experience on this ride which I would like to share especially from the pilot of of our float plane. First of all he tried to accommodate 6 people on the plane and I was asked to sit all the way in the back where there was no cushion for your back. My back is still hurting. Taquan air says guaranteed window seats but they do not tell you that their back seats do not have cushions on it. The reason I did not create a fuss on the spot was because that was the last tour and my ship was leaving in 1 hour and there was no other tour available so us it as an advice and if you book it through Taquan air make sure to ask at the counter that they are not asking you to sit in the back. I forgot the name of the pilot but he was the oldest pilot in their team and it was my bad luck that I had to fly with him.
Written June 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MabsEngland
England17 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Not a very extensive tour. Dreadful loud tinny music through the headphones.
Definitely don’t buy the photographs - what a rip-off.
In fact, save your money. Very poor value.
Definitely don’t buy the photographs - what a rip-off.
In fact, save your money. Very poor value.
Written November 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, kato69. I must take exception to your post. I realize that it was some time ago but you have your facts wrong. The crash that you refer to was NOT Taquan Air. They purchase the company that crashed AFTER the crash and thus cannot be blamed for having a poor safety record. It was not their crash and thus they would not have to report it as such. Kato
Written August 6, 2018
This is not a question Trip Advisor,...best to review a little closer.
Written August 7, 2018
July 10, 2018 crash of a Taquan Air charter flight on Prince of Wales Island near the southern tip of the Alaska Panhandle. Six people suffered serious injuries.
Is this crash the same airline that you wrote about?
Written July 18, 2018
We did fly on Taquan Air. I didn’t hear, and probably would never have any reason to hear about this crash.
Written July 19, 2018
Will you get a full refund if it’s raining on day of arrival?
Written May 14, 2018
A Tripadvisor member
Charlottesville, Virginia
If they cannot fly for that pre-paid itinerary, I believe they will give you a full refund.
Written August 7, 2018
What's the difference between the Misty Fjords Seaplane Tour and the Misty Fjords Floatplane Tour? Thank you!
Written February 7, 2017
Probably the same. The misty fjords are the main thing. Highly recommend taquan.
Written February 8, 2017
Which would be a better float plane tour for first timers to Alaska: Ketchikan Misty Fjords or Juneau ice fields? We'll be in Ketchikan this Tuesday, June 7 and I see the weather is suppose to be clear. Thanks for your thoughts!
Written June 4, 2016
Juneau is more glacier and typical of ice fields for Alaska. We did the dog sledding there and the other couple we were with just did a landing on the ice.
Ketchikan sea plane takes you over the fjords and have one choice of three landing areas.
Both are wonderful.
Written June 6, 2016
rltrace
Louisville, Kentucky
I will be in a group of 4 seniors are their any discounts?
Written February 28, 2015
Thanks for your inquiry! We do not offer senior discounts per se, but do have web specials going for most dates this summer if you check online. Thanks,
Taquan Air
Written March 1, 2015
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