Transparency (noun):
The quality of allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.
Example: "The transparency of ice."The quality of being easy to perceive or detect.
Example: "The transparency of their predatory motives."The quality of being open to public scrutiny.
Example: "The majority of the funds disappeared without any transparency regarding the recipients."
It’s my favourite time of year—The Canberra Balloon Festival!
Last year, I booked a balloon ride during the festival. It was a splurge for a full-time student, but I’d dreamt of floating among 30 other balloons. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be due to unfavourable conditions. However, the company does its best to get people up whenever possible, so I flew from Hawker Oval to Whitlam. It was my first ballooning experience, and while I was grateful, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that I wasn’t flying over the lake.
Determined to experience the full festival, I emailed the company expressing my desire to try again “next year.” They advised me to get in touch 1–2 weeks prior, and they’d try to book me into a smaller balloon. So, I followed their advice and reached out. The response? “Please call us so you can pay, and we’ll book you in.”
I hesitated. I expected more guidance and some insight into which day to book based on forecasts. After all, I’d been through this before and wanted to ensure I was flying as part of the festival, not separately. A week later, I followed up, asking for advice on the best day given the weather. Their response? A flat “We can’t predict the weather. Let us know if you want to book.”
I understand that the weather changes. But Balloon Aloft has a strict cancellation policy:
More than 7 days notice: Full refund
Less than 7 days (but more than 72 hours): Refund minus $50
Less than 72 hours: No refund unless covered by insurance
If they cancel: A full refund
So, if I booked and ended up on a day when they launched from another site (with passengers who had also paid for the festival experience), I wouldn’t have the option to wait and try another day.
With only one booking day left, I sought a second opinion from a contact with a balloon pilot friend. I asked if Thursday looked good. The response? “Thursday probably wouldn’t be a good day based on the wind direction.” That was enough for me—I decided to leave it until next year… maybe.
Yesterday, I chased the balloons from the ground. Watching a social media influencer post her experiences (every flying day so far) in collaboration with Balloon Aloft was tough (I’m a little bitter about it). Meanwhile, I’m struggling to get just one flight.
My biggest frustration is the lack of transparency from Balloon Aloft. Maybe I’m naive to expect others to be transparent just because I am, especially after practising transparency when I ran my business. I found transparency increased the quality of my therapeutic relationships with mutual trust and respect.
Even though the weather changes, Balloon Aloft must have a rough idea of which days offer the best chance of flying. I wasn’t asking for a guarantee—just the option to wait for the right experience. I’m left feeling that they only care about making money rather than satisfied customers who will recommend the experience (thus bringing revenue).
I’ve been ballooning in Spain, so a repeat of last year’s substitute route over Belconnen wouldn’t cut it. And since Balloon Aloft is the only company offering flights in Canberra, my options are limited.
If anyone knows a balloon pilot who flies during the festival, please send them my way. I’m happy to use my hard-earned savings to purchase the experience I’ve longed for.