Kenmore Air
Kenmore Air
4.5
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About
Taking a seaplane flight is a quintessential Pacific Northwest experience & Kenmore Air makes it easy to enjoy the unique thrill of flying off Lake Union & soaring over one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Our 20-minute narrated Seattle Scenic Flight Tour leaves several times a day. Or take an incredible 90-minute scenic flight Volcano Tour from Seattle's Boeing Field that flies you around Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens 2-mile wide crater getting you up close and personal. And our full day whale watching tour (March-October) from Seattle to the San Juan Islands is unforgettable: hop on a seaplane from downtown Seattle in the morning, take a 3-hour naturalist-led boat tour looking for whales, sea lions & bald eagles, then return to Seattle in the late afternoon. Kenmore Air also has daily scheduled flights between downtown Seattle & the San Juan Islands, Victoria BC, or Vancouver BC. We also have seasonal flights to the BC Inside Passage fishing & boating!
Seattle, United States
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4.5
568 reviews
Excellent
488
Very good
43
Average
11
Poor
4
Terrible
22
Christine T
Thornton, CO203 contributions
Jun 2021
What a fun way to start our sea kayaking adventure in Friday Harbor, WA. We took a single prop plane out of the Boeing location directly into Friday Harbor.
The pilots made us feel very comfortable and the flights were on time in both directions.
The views over the islands outside of Seattle are stunning. It was fun to fly back into Seattle and see the Space Needle and city so close.
The pilots made us feel very comfortable and the flights were on time in both directions.
The views over the islands outside of Seattle are stunning. It was fun to fly back into Seattle and see the Space Needle and city so close.
Written 15 June 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.
thefuzzy
United States62 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Kenmore got us from Lake Washington to Dent Island and back.
We had a lot of weight of baggage and while I didn’t like paying extra for it, they worked with us and were reasonable about how much they charged us for it. I am thankful on how they handled it and a grateful that they got us and all our stuff to the destination and back.
Moreover I am extremely grateful that they did not cancel our flight. Given the poor weather conditions, they chose to wait it out instead of cancelling. I wasn’t happy about a 2 hour delay but I am extremely thankful that they did not cancel and ultimately got us to our destination.
Kenmore treated us. Helped us with all our bags on and off the flight and got us to the destination safely.
We had a great experience with Kenmore.
We had a lot of weight of baggage and while I didn’t like paying extra for it, they worked with us and were reasonable about how much they charged us for it. I am thankful on how they handled it and a grateful that they got us and all our stuff to the destination and back.
Moreover I am extremely grateful that they did not cancel our flight. Given the poor weather conditions, they chose to wait it out instead of cancelling. I wasn’t happy about a 2 hour delay but I am extremely thankful that they did not cancel and ultimately got us to our destination.
Kenmore treated us. Helped us with all our bags on and off the flight and got us to the destination safely.
We had a great experience with Kenmore.
Written 2 July 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.
Glenna
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
Oh what a day….thank heavens for Kenmore Airlines and their excellent employees. Major carriers changed my flights causing trickle down chaos. The customer service agents at Kenmore were kind, patient and helped me keep my sanity. They were professional and courteous - thanks Kenmore! We use their services many times yearly …. And appreciate the crew and customer agents always!
Written 1 June 2022
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.
Colin N
Vancouver, Canada16 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
BEWARE OF LOW CLOUD AND FOG..my first time flying in a sea plane, and the views were spectacular!! However, half way down to Seattle from Vancouver/Coal Harbour, the pilot informed us we had to turn back to Vancouver due to limited visibility. I understand that weather conditions are out of the control of airlines, but it was still frustrating! I ended up having to book a last minute Bolt Bus to get down to SEA. My advice would be to drive, take the bus, or fly out of YVR on larger plane during low cloud days as Kenmore/Harbour Air May very well have to cancel or delay flying.
Written 12 February 2020
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.
Bruce C
Friday Harbor, WA1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Solo
You should consider that this airline does NOT put the passenger first by any stretch. On my outbound, they made me miss my connection at Seattle airport (SEA) due to some clouds someplace. Some clouds in Friday Harbor, clear in Seattle so no believable explanation for the delay. Today on the return to FH, there was fog in FH at the time of departure from Boeing Field so they delayed us 2 hours. Half an hour after announcing the delay, the fog had lifted and weather was above minimums. They could have flown but chose to "cancel" our early departure and combine it with their next departure. This stranded nearly a plane-load of passengers unnecessarily at Boeing Field (and of course delayed all those passengers trying to leave FH).
This is not my first experience with this kind of delay. If you do insist on using Kenmore, be very careful to build a very large buffer into your itinerary for any connections; at least 5-6 hours and realize even this might not be enough. In my case, my planned 3 hour layover at SEA was not sufficient so finally arrived in Chicago at 4:30am. Thanks Kenmore!
With the ferries as unreliable as they are, at least they run in all sorts of weather. The slightest hint of anything other than clear skies seems to delay Kenmore Air. Be forewarned!
This is not my first experience with this kind of delay. If you do insist on using Kenmore, be very careful to build a very large buffer into your itinerary for any connections; at least 5-6 hours and realize even this might not be enough. In my case, my planned 3 hour layover at SEA was not sufficient so finally arrived in Chicago at 4:30am. Thanks Kenmore!
With the ferries as unreliable as they are, at least they run in all sorts of weather. The slightest hint of anything other than clear skies seems to delay Kenmore Air. Be forewarned!
Written 19 September 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.
Bradon R
1 contribution
Jun 2023
Booked flights for a weekend trip from Seattle to Victoria. First, just days before the trip they change the return flight location from Lake Union to Lake Washington without explanation. We had planned to drive to the Lake Union terminal and leave our car there for the weekend so that we would have it easily accessible when we get back. We don't have access to anything at the Lake Washington terminal so we request they help by providing transport to our car at Lake Union (our departing terminal). They say no and offer run-around excuses as to why they couldn't. Next they cancel our outbound flight 15 minutes before closing the day before. We call immediately to try to change our plans, maybe a different flight or cancel our booking and take the Clipper instead. We sit on hold for 10 minutes before they pick up the phone, mutter "Jesus Christ" and hang up. At that point, the office is closed so we can't get ahold of anyone anymore. Now we have a canceled outbound flight, non-refundable $1,300 hotel booking, and can't get ahold of anyone. They do not give one fart about their customers. Never again.
Written 17 June 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.
Mikael P
9 contributions
Apr 2022
Unreliable flight service which cancelled 2 out of 2 flights and ruined our vacation, without providing any form of compensation. We were promised a full refund but have not seen any money! I have contacted the company regarding the missing refund but NO response from the company. I will NOT recommend anyone to fly with Kenmore, unless you want your vacation ruined and loose your money
Written 22 April 2022
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.
Mikael — On behalf of everyone here, please accept our deepest apologies. We were undergoing some internal updates to ultimately better serve our passengers. Unfortunately, we experienced some growing pains and your refund wasn’t processed as promptly as it should have been.
While canceling flights is never something we like to do, passenger safety is always our top priority. That’s why all flights are weather-permitting. In the case of our entire seaplane fleet, we fly VFR, which stands for Visual Flight Regulations. So if there’s not enough visibility to fly, we are forced to cancel.
It's our goal to provide the best possible experience and we appreciate that you brought this mistake to our attention.
Written 8 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CHIA
5 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I had a great and fantastic first discovery flight with kenmore air harbor during my first layover in Seattle! Being an airline cabin crew myself, it is certainly a pleasant experience to spend some exciting layover itinerary to try out sea plane flying! The passion for aviation is in my blood and It is indeed my honor to have the first seaplane experience with Kenmore air! The place is superb, professional flight instructors and great wonderful customer service! Definitely would love to be back for more! I enjoyed the instruction and facilitation given to me by my instructor Mr Ryan Anderson. Do keep a look out for him if you have any intention of learning how to fly a seaplane! Thank you Kenmore air harbor and a professional great knowledgeable and friendly instructor Mr Ryan Anderson!
Written 1 November 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.
So great to have you out with flight instruction duing your layover. We're incredibly blessed to have such a talented crew. Hope to see you again during your next Seattle visit!
Written 2 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AndreaUbok
Florida4,126 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
We flew from Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands to Seattle. A $10 taxi ride brought us to a small lovely airport. There was We get a shot of our plane do you want to stand in front forplenty of parking and one terminal. Lots of seating & reading material. We were practically seated on the runway. There is no food served here but they have coffee & water. Flight with 8 passengers was :30? Comfortable, quick & easy. The most stressful part was weighing our luggage.
Written 30 June 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.
Anna R
West Lafayette, IN358 contributions
Jul 2022
My husband and I flew roundtrip from Seattle to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. We were picked up at the Seattle International Airport and transferred via shuttle to the Seattle Boeing Airport. There were weighed our luggage and were seated in a very comfortable lounge while awaiting our flight. Flights to and from the San Juan Island was spectacular. All staff and pilots were competent and friendly. The views from the airplane were amazing. The walk from the airport in Friday Harbor is 15-20 minutes if you choose to walk. Overall very impressed with the service received and will seek out future trips with Kenmore Air.
Written 20 July 2022
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.
Is there only 1 flight per day from Seattle to Lopez Island? We are flying into Seattle on 9/11 and prefer not have to book a hotel room.
Thank you!!!!!
Written 6 September 2021
Sorry, I have no idea. You will have to reach out to Kenmore Air directly
Written 8 September 2021
Frequent flyers can buy a block of 10 tickets through their Quicktix program. Comes out to be a 17% discount.
Written 24 February 2020
Hi. I'm flying from Friday Harbor to SeaTac shuttle. Do I need to make a reservation with that shuttle company or is it part of my booked flight? And can you tell me how long it takes from from the shuttle area to SeaTac proper? Thanks!
Written 31 July 2019
The reservation with Kenmore included the shuttle to SeaTac, it only takes about 10 minutes to go from one place to another. You do have to be careful that you next flight is not too close to when the Kenmore air flight lands as you have to go through security again.
Written 1 August 2019
I’m nervous about flying on any plane. Is this going to be scarier?
Written 26 June 2019
As Rocky M stated,its one of the most spectacular flying experiences and the scenery is beautiful...flight was not scary at all,and except for the louder engines,if you just enjoy the scenery,before you know it you will be landing and wish you could stay up longer...Of course "scary" is in the mind of the beholder... :-) I've done small "Bush" planes on dirt runways in Africa....that was scary.....Flight on Kenmore....not scary at all.
Written 26 June 2019
I had a horrible experience! Would never fly back on this airline! It’s Better to take the Ferry! The employees were also very rude and did not want to answer any of our questions. They just cancelled our flight without any accommodations to help us. We had four kids with us and this was a horrible experience that I will make sure no one experiences again.
Written 17 June 2019
LOL...would you of rather they took off in bad weather and you arrived sick,scared to death,or not at all......We had a similar experience,it was touch and go due to weather,but they did finally decide to take off.....They have signs up and disclaimer on site that flights CAN and WILL be canceled due to weather or mechanical problems.....so as I see it,EVERY flight is a crap shoot with our crazy weather,but sure they dont want to cancel and lose money just like the customer doesnt want a canceled trip...its a bummer for sure when that happens...But its really not Kenmore Air's fault...
Written 26 June 2019
Is it safe? I read about a crash not that long ago in the San Juan Islands, which is exactly where we're going. I'm a very nervous flier.
Written 22 July 2018
it is extremely safe and professional company and the flying goes very smooth...I am.not familiar with the crash you are referring to but the company portrays a highly skilled team. I am in aviation myself and must say I felt safe at all times.
Written 23 July 2018
I was unable to find the info on their website, so you might want to call them. I suspect that a seaplane will be the only option.
Written 28 June 2018
Flying Kenmore Air from Seattle to Victoria in August. Wondering how big the plane will be - how many does it sit?
Written 5 April 2018
Great question! We'll either fly the de Havilland Beaver (seats up to 6 passengers) or the de Havilland Otter (seats up to 10 passengers). Which plane is determined by need (how many tickets are booked), so it's not determined in advance.
Written 6 April 2018
is it best to take an early morning or later flight for weather conditions? in April?
Written 18 March 2018
While fog isn't as common in April as it is in January or February, an afternoon flight gives you the best chance for any potential early morning fog to have burnt off.
Written 6 April 2018
is parking at the Lake Union location safe to leave your car? what is the availability?
Also how far in advance should you buy your tickets for an April flight to Victoria?
Written 31 January 2018
You can do it on the day of
Written 2 February 2018
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