đ This fact may be outdated
Flamingo Air in Cincinnati, Ohio did offer this service starting in 1991. The price increased from $425 to $495 by 2016. While articles from 2021-2023 confirm the business was still operating then, I cannot verify current operations as of December 2025. The fact uses present tense but should be updated to past tense given uncertainty about current status.
Thereâs a company that provides private flights for individuals who want to join the âmile high clubâ. For $425.00 you get a 1 hour flight, chocolates, champagne, and a curtain.
The Airline That Turned Romance Into a Mile-High Business
For over two decades, a small flight school in Cincinnati, Ohio ran one of America's most unique aviation businesses. Flamingo Air, founded by pilot David MacDonald in 1991, didn't just teach people to flyâit helped couples join the exclusive "mile high club" in the most legitimate way possible.
The service was brilliantly simple. For $425 (later increased to $495), couples booked a private one-hour flight in a single-engine Piper Cherokee 6. But this wasn't your standard sightseeing tour.
Romance at 5,280 Feet
MacDonald retrofitted the aircraft specifically for romantic encounters. The center row of seats was removed and replaced with plush cushions and bedding. A curtain separated the cockpit from the cabin, giving couples complete privacy. Each flight included champagne and chocolates to set the mood.
The pilot would don headphones, take the plane to exactly one mile above southern Ohio, and essentially ignore whatever was happening behind the curtain. It was perfectly legalâno laws prohibit consensual activities on private charter flights.
A Surprisingly Successful Business Model
What started as an unconventional idea became remarkably profitable. Flamingo Air averaged 2-3 "romantic flights" per week, with Valentine's Day bringing 8-10 bookings in a single day. Over the years, thousands of couples from around the world flew to Cincinnati specifically for this airborne experience.
MacDonald was careful about branding. The company's website never mentioned the "mile high club" directly, instead using euphemisms like "romantic flights" or "flights of fancy." This tasteful approach helped the business maintain legitimacy while attracting customers who knew exactly what they were booking.
The Competition
Flamingo Air wasn't alone in this niche market. Love Cloud in Las Vegas launched a similar service in 2014, charging $800-$1,400 for flights in a twin-engine Cessna equipped with a custom mattress, mood lighting, and a sound system. The higher prices reflected the upgraded amenities and Nevada's tourism-friendly location.
But Flamingo Air's blue-collar Cincinnati operation had its own charmâand a two-decade head start on building a reputation.
The Reality of Airborne Romance
While the concept sounds glamorous, the physics were less than ideal. Small aircraft experience turbulence, engine noise is constant, and the cabin space in a Piper Cherokee is cramped. The cushioned floor helped, but this was far from a luxury hotel suite.
Still, customers kept coming. The appeal wasn't just about the act itselfâit was about the story, the adventure, and claiming membership in one of travel's most infamous clubs with a certificate to prove it.
As of 2023, articles confirmed Flamingo Air was still operating, though current status is uncertain. What remains certain is that for years, a small Ohio flight school proved that with creativity and zero shame, almost any business idea can take off.