Frankfurt: “Ready for take off” – Flight Simulator B737

The most exciting part of this Frankfurt experience is simple: you sit in a Boeing 737 cockpit and take the controls. The simulator gives you working controls, cockpit sounds, and changing views through the windows, while a commercial pilot guides you through takeoffs and landings.

I like the serious briefing before the flight, since it turns a quick thrill into a useful lesson. I also like the private format, with no other participants sharing your cockpit time, plus warm and cold drinks and a debrief afterward.

The main thing to consider is the price. At about $116 per person, it is a special-occasion activity rather than a casual airport attraction. You should also check the physical restrictions carefully, especially the 200-centimeter height limit and the ban on wheelchair access.

Key points before you book

• You fly a Boeing 737 simulator: Take charge of the controls during takeoffs and landings under professional pilot supervision.
• The briefing matters: About 30 minutes of instruction explains cockpit instruments and basic flight operations before you sit at the controls.
• Your flight time depends on the package: Economy includes 30 minutes, Business includes 60 minutes, and First Class offers two 60-minute sessions for two people.
• You get a private cockpit session: Other participants do not share the simulator flight, though included spectator access varies by package.
• The setting feels more than a video game: Functional controls, sound effects, and cockpit views create a convincing sense of flight.
• You need to meet firm restrictions: The experience is not suitable for children under 12, wheelchair users, people with vertigo or claustrophobia, or anyone over 200 centimeters or 110 kilograms.

Taking the captain’s seat near Frankfurt

This is not a quick button-pushing arcade ride. The point is to give you a taste of the work involved in handling a commercial jet, with a professional pilot nearby to explain what you are doing and why.

You begin at the AiRail Check In, arriving 10 minutes before your scheduled start. Bring your event ticket, identification, and a phone or camera if you want photos or video. The activity takes place in Hessen, near Frankfurt, and the listed duration is one to two hours, depending on the package you choose.

The private group format is important. You are not waiting for a large group to take turns at one control panel. Your booked cockpit time belongs to you or your party, which makes the experience feel more personal and gives you room to ask questions.

The simulator is designed around a Boeing 737. That gives the session a clear focus: you are not simply pretending to fly an unnamed aircraft. You are learning the layout and feel of one of the most common commercial jet types.

The 30-minute briefing sets the tone

The activity starts with about 30 minutes of instruction. This is one of the strongest parts of the experience because the cockpit can look intimidating at first. A modern airliner has a great many switches, screens, instruments, and controls. Without an introduction, you would spend much of your flight simply trying to work out what does what.

The briefing uses visual material to explain the main instruments and the basics of flight. You should come away with a better idea of what you are looking at before you take the controls. That helps beginners enjoy the simulator instead of feeling lost in a room full of equipment.

This part also gives the professional pilot a chance to match the session to your experience. Complete beginners can get the basic explanation they need, while people who already know something about aviation can ask more specific questions.

The reviews of this activity place strong emphasis on the warm welcome and the quality of the briefing. That makes sense. A friendly, patient start matters here because the experience is meant to be educational as well as exciting. You are not expected to arrive knowing how to read a cockpit.

What the Boeing 737 cockpit feels like

Once the briefing is over, you take the pilot’s seat. The simulator has functional controls and cockpit sound effects, with virtual views outside the windows. These features help create the sensation that you are operating a real aircraft from the ground.

You will handle the technology and electronics under supervision. The instructor remains with you, explaining what to do and helping you respond to the aircraft. The aim is not to leave you alone with a complicated machine. It is to let you make decisions and feel the effect of those decisions while a professional pilot keeps the session moving.

The sense of realism comes from several parts working together. You have the shape and equipment of a commercial cockpit in front of you. You hear the aircraft environment through the sound system. You see virtual scenery through the cockpit windows. Then your control inputs produce a response on screen.

One useful point from a previous session is that the flight controls may pull slightly to the right. That means you may need to make small corrections, especially on approach. It is a helpful reminder that the simulator is not just an on-screen game. You have to pay attention to the aircraft’s response and adjust your handling.

Takeoffs and landings are the main event

The activity highlights takeoffs and landings, the parts of flight most people want to try first. You get to feel the contrast between leaving the ground and bringing the aircraft back toward the runway, with the instructor explaining the steps as you go.

For a first-time pilot, the approach and landing are likely to be the most demanding parts. You need to manage the aircraft while watching the instruments and the view ahead. The instructor’s role is especially useful here, since a small correction at the right moment can make the difference between a smooth approach and a rough one.

You should not expect the freedom of a full professional training session. This is an experience activity, not a commercial pilot qualification course. Still, you get a useful taste of the workload and concentration involved in flying a large passenger aircraft.

The session can also be fun for someone who already flies smaller aircraft or enjoys aviation. You may already understand some basic principles, but the 737’s cockpit systems and airliner scale give you a different challenge.

Choosing between Economy, Business, and First Class

The package choice changes the amount of time you spend flying:

• Economy: 30 minutes of simulator flight, with one accompanying person included.
• Business: 60 minutes of simulator flight, with two accompanying people included.
• First Class: Two 60-minute simulator sessions for two people, with two accompanying people included.

All packages also include the roughly 30-minute briefing and 15-minute debriefing. The listed activity time is one to two hours, so the longer packages naturally require more time.

Economy is the sensible choice if you mainly want to try the cockpit and get a taste of the experience. Thirty minutes at the controls can be enough for a first visit, especially after the briefing has shown you the key systems.

Business is the better choice if you want time to settle in, attempt more than one maneuver, and ask more questions. The extra spectator places also make it a stronger option if you are bringing family or friends who want to watch.

First Class is designed around two people sharing the occasion. It offers two separate 60-minute simulator sessions, which makes it a good fit for a pair who both want substantial control time. At the listed price point, this is the package to consider for a major birthday, gift, or aviation-focused day out.

Additional spectators can be booked for 12 euros per person. Check the number included with your package before inviting a larger group, since the included access differs between Economy and the higher categories.

What the debriefing adds

After the flight, you spend about 15 minutes in a debriefing session. This gives you a chance to talk through what happened, ask follow-up questions, and hear the instructor’s observations.

A debrief is easy to overlook, but it helps turn the session into something you remember. You can think about the parts that felt natural, the moments that required more correction, and the difference between handling the aircraft during takeoff and landing.

The activity has received especially strong praise for the care shown by the staff and the interesting explanation before the flight. The debrief fits that same pattern. You are given time to finish the experience with questions instead of being sent out of the cockpit as soon as the controls are switched off.

Warm and cold drinks are included. That is a small detail, but it makes the briefing and post-flight conversation more comfortable, particularly if you are treating this as a special event rather than a quick stop.

Is $116 good value?

At about $116 per person, this is not cheap entertainment. You are paying for a private cockpit session, professional pilot supervision, the briefing, the debriefing, and the simulator setup rather than simply purchasing a short ride.

The value depends on what you want from the experience. If you are buying a memorable gift for someone who talks about aircraft, the cost is easier to justify. The chance to sit in a Boeing 737 cockpit and take the controls has a clear appeal that a standard museum visit cannot match.

The price is also more reasonable for the longer packages, since you receive more flight time and, in some cases, more included spectators. Economy offers the lowest commitment, but the 30-minute flight can feel brief if you become comfortable quickly.

I would not choose this as a general family activity for a mixed group. The age limit and physical restrictions rule out some people, and those who are not interested in aircraft may find the technical briefing less engaging.

For the right person, though, the educational angle adds value. You learn why the controls matter, see how much attention a pilot must give to the aircraft, and experience the challenge of landing a large jet under guidance.

Who will enjoy this most?

This activity suits aviation fans, aspiring pilots, curious adults, and anyone looking for a distinctive gift. It also works well for a parent and child who meet the age requirement and want a shared activity built around imagination and practical instruction.

A father and son can make this especially memorable by taking turns, watching each other handle the controls, and talking about the flight afterward. The simulator gives younger aviation fans a sense of participation rather than just something to watch.

Children must be at least 12 years old. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, claustrophobia, vertigo, epilepsy, or visual impairments. The maximum listed weight is 110 kilograms, and the maximum height is 200 centimeters.

Wear comfortable clothing and flat, comfortable shoes. High heels are not allowed. Alcohol and drugs are prohibited, and the operator does not accept party groups or bachelor and bachelorette parties. Those rules point to the tone of the activity: focused, supervised, and built around aviation rather than a rowdy group outing.

The session is offered in English and German. If you need one of those languages, confirm your preference when booking or arriving.

Practical tips for a smoother flight

Arrive at the AiRail Check In 10 minutes before the start, not at the last moment. The activity includes a briefing, and arriving late could cut into the time you have to learn the cockpit before flying.

Bring your passport or identity card, along with your ticket. A phone or camera is useful for recording photos and video, but follow the instructor’s directions about when it is safe and appropriate to use it.

If you are choosing between packages, ask yourself how much control time you really want. Economy works for a first taste. Business gives you more time to correct mistakes and enjoy the cockpit. First Class makes the most sense when two people both want a full session.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Starting times vary, so check availability before making other Frankfurt plans around the activity.

Should you book the Boeing 737 simulator?

Book it if you want more than a photo in a cockpit. The strongest reasons are the professional pilot supervision, the useful 30-minute briefing, the realistic controls and sound, and the private format. The warm reception and careful explanation also help first-timers feel at ease.

Skip it if you dislike enclosed spaces, have any of the listed physical restrictions, or want a cheap, casual attraction. The price is significant, and the most rewarding part comes from paying attention to the instruction rather than treating the simulator as a simple arcade ride.

For an aviation enthusiast or a thoughtful gift, I would choose the 60-minute Business option unless two people both want to fly. It gives you enough time to get past the initial confusion, try takeoffs and landings, and ask questions without committing to the longest package.

FAQ

Where does the Boeing 737 simulator experience meet?

You meet 10 minutes before the start at the AiRail Check In in Hessen, Germany.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity takes one to two hours, depending on the booking category and available starting time. The briefing lasts about 30 minutes, the simulator flight varies by package, and the debriefing takes about 15 minutes.

How much simulator flight time is included?

Economy includes 30 minutes of simulator flight. Business includes 60 minutes. First Class includes two 60-minute sessions for two people.

Is the simulator flight private?

Yes. The simulator flight is provided without other participants in the cockpit. The number of accompanying people included depends on the package.

How many spectators are included?

Economy includes one accompanying person. Business and First Class include two. Additional spectators can be booked for 12 euros per person.

Which languages are available?

The activity is offered in English and German.

What should I bring and wear?

Bring your passport or identity card, your event ticket, and a camera or cell phone if you want photos or video. Wear comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes. High heels are not allowed.

Who cannot take part?

The experience is not suitable for children under 12, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, claustrophobia, vertigo, epilepsy, or visual impairments. It is also not suitable for people over 200 centimeters tall or over 110 kilograms.