Mountain Flying Services

Based in Haines, Alaska, Mountain Flying Services operates as a highly specialized tour operator, focusing on aerial sightseeing experiences rather than conventional travel arrangements. This isn't a typical travel agency where you'd book a hotel and rental car; it is a dedicated air-tour service run by the husband-and-wife team of Paul and Amy Swanstrom. The business centers around a single, meticulously maintained aircraft and the extensive local expertise of its owner-pilot, offering charter flights and its signature Glacier Bay flightseeing tours departing from Haines and nearby Skagway.

The Core Offering: A Deep Dive into Alaskan Wilderness

The primary appeal of Mountain Flying Services is the immersive access it provides to remote Alaskan landscapes. Customer testimonials consistently highlight the quality of the flights over Glacier Bay National Park, an area known for its dramatic ice formations and rugged terrain. Paul, the pilot, has been flying commercially in the region since 1992, and his deep knowledge is a cornerstone of the experience. Unlike a simple scenic flight, passengers report that Paul provides detailed narration, identifying glaciers, mountains, and geological features by name. This transforms the flight from a passive viewing into an educational journey, a significant value-add for those looking to understand the unique environment they are seeing.

The tours are designed to be comprehensive, covering various types of glacial formations, from tidewater and valley glaciers to cirque glaciers. The flights are often conducted at low altitudes to allow for detailed observation of the ice and potential wildlife sightings, with bears and mountain goats being frequently mentioned by past clients. Some tour options, such as the "Grand Flight," even include the possibility of a remote beach landing on the Pacific Coast, adding an element of adventure travel to the sightseeing. This ability to land in an otherwise inaccessible area allows for a unique, ground-level perspective of the wilderness, a feature not offered by all Alaska flightseeing tours.

The Aircraft: The DeHavilland Beaver

A significant factor in the company's operation and reputation is its choice of aircraft: a single DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver. This iconic Canadian-designed bush plane is legendary in remote aviation circles, often dubbed a "half-ton flying pickup truck" for its reliability and Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capabilities. Mountain Flying Services states that their Beaver has been extensively rebuilt, featuring the most new components available in Alaska, large windows for better viewing, and modern safety systems like ADS-B for traffic awareness. The decision to operate and invest heavily in a single aircraft ensures it receives the full attention of the owners, a point of reassurance for safety-conscious travelers. The reputation of the Beaver, combined with glowing reviews about its meticulous maintenance, directly addresses one of the primary concerns for potential customers of small aircraft tours.

The Service Experience: Personal and Professional

As a family-run business, the service is consistently described as personal and friendly. Amy Swanstrom typically handles the ground logistics, including coordinating pick-ups and drop-offs for passengers, often directly from cruise ships. This end-to-end service is a notable convenience, particularly for travelers on a tight schedule. The overwhelmingly positive reviews, which have resulted in a 5-star aggregate rating, frequently use words like "sweet," "friendly," and "caring" to describe the couple, suggesting a customer service ethos that goes beyond a simple transaction. This personalized approach is a key differentiator from larger, multi-pilot, multi-aircraft operations where the experience can be more standardized and less intimate.

Potential Downsides and Considerations

Despite the stellar reviews, potential customers should be aware of several factors inherent to this type of specialized tour.

1. Cost and Value Proposition

An aerial tour of this nature is a significant expense. Reviewers often use the word "splurge" to describe the cost. For example, their "Grand Flight" is listed at $500 per person from Haines for a 2-hour flight. While clients almost universally conclude that the experience is worth the price—one even stated it was "worth twice the price"—it remains a premium-priced excursion. This positions Mountain Flying Services at the higher end of the market for Alaska excursions. The price reflects not just the flight time but the pilot's extensive experience, the high maintenance costs of the aircraft, and the personalized nature of the tour. Budget-conscious travelers may find the cost prohibitive.

2. Weather Dependency and Itinerary Flexibility

The single most significant operational risk for any Alaska flightseeing tours is the weather. Alaskan weather is notoriously unpredictable, and safety is paramount. Flights require good visibility and safe flying conditions, which means cancellations and delays are a real possibility. This can be a major issue for cruise ship passengers on a strict port schedule or for travelers with an inflexible itinerary. While the company will work to reschedule, a tour cancellation can be a major disappointment. It is crucial for customers to have a flexible mindset and perhaps a backup plan. The pilot retains full discretion on flight paths and landings based on daily conditions, so a specific route or a planned beach landing is never guaranteed.

3. Booking and Availability

With only one aircraft, availability is inherently limited. The plane can reportedly accommodate up to eight passengers, but this means only one group can fly at a time. During peak season, booking well in advance is essential. While bookings can be made directly, some customers have booked through third-party excursion companies in Skagway, which adds another layer to the communication process but also shows flexibility in their sales channels.

4. Inherent Risks of Small Aircraft Aviation

While Mountain Flying Services has a strong implied safety record based on reviews and company statements about pilot experience, aviation in remote, mountainous terrain carries inherent risks. The DeHavilland Beaver is a reliable aircraft, but the challenging Alaskan environment is a factor in any flight. The company's focus on a single, well-maintained plane and a highly experienced owner-pilot is a significant mitigating factor, and a point that customers themselves have highlighted as a reason for choosing them over less reputable operators.

Conclusion

Mountain Flying Services is not a conventional travel agency but a premier tour operator for those seeking an in-depth aerial exploration of Glacier Bay and the surrounding Alaskan wilderness. Its strengths lie in the profound expertise and narrative skill of its pilot, the reliability and excellent condition of its iconic aircraft, and a highly personalized, friendly service model. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prioritize experience and expertise and are willing to invest in a premium tour. However, prospective clients must weigh this against the high cost and the significant potential for weather-related disruptions. It is best suited for those with some flexibility in their schedules and who understand that in Alaska, nature ultimately dictates the itinerary for any true adventure travel experience.