Reviewed · ANTWERP TOURS
Landed On Time 60 min. Max 1 Person
The star of this Antwerp experience is the captain’s seat of a Boeing 737. You learn the main controls, choose airports around the world, then try takeoffs, landings, and a full flight. It is a safe way to test your nerve without years of training or a nervous cabin crew behind you.
I like the freedom to pair almost any departure with a different arrival, and I like that beginners get instruction before touching the controls. Jeroen has guided sessions for children and adults, including flights to Geneva and New York. The main caution is practical: one booking attempt found the location and access details unworkable, so confirm the meeting instructions before setting out.
Key points
- Choose your own route: Pick a departure and arrival airport from thousands of virtual locations.
- Learn before you fly: The session begins with basic aviation, cockpit, and control instruction.
- Try real flight tasks: Practice takeoffs, landings, and a complete Boeing 737 flight.
- Private, one-person format: The booking is for one person, with only your group participating.
- Allow extra time: The listed flight time is about 60 minutes, while one detailed account spent 1 hour and 45 minutes at the center including instruction.
- A good family option: An eight-year-old took two flights with Jeroen, one to Geneva and one to New York.
Taking the Boeing 737 Captain’s Seat

This is not a sightseeing tour around Antwerp. It is a hands-on cockpit session built around the feeling of operating a commercial jet.
You begin with the basics of aviation and an introduction to the Boeing 737 cockpit. That matters because a flight deck can look like a wall of switches, screens, and controls. The instruction gives you a starting point before you are asked to do anything important.
You then work through takeoff and landing sessions. These are the parts most people will want to try first, and they also give you a clear sense of the challenge. A takeoff asks you to manage a sequence of controls and keep the aircraft on course. A landing demands more patience and precision, especially when the runway seems to arrive faster than expected.
The session also includes a full flight from an airport you choose to a destination you select. The exact route is up to you, which gives the hour a personal touch. You might fly from one familiar city to another, test a route you have taken as a passenger, or pick two places simply because they look interesting on the screen.
The experience is designed for one person at a time. That is useful if you want meaningful time in the pilot’s seat rather than watching several other people take turns. If you are booking for a child, partner, or friend, check the booking details carefully because the listed format is for a maximum of one person.
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From Aviation Basics to Your First Takeoff

The briefing is an important part of the value here. You are not expected to know how a Boeing 737 works before arriving, and beginners receive guidance before the flight.
You will learn about the aircraft, the cockpit, and the main controls. The supplied information does not promise pilot certification or formal training, so think of this as an introductory simulator session rather than a professional qualification. Still, the format can give you a useful feel for the concentration and coordination required in the cockpit.
Jeroen is named as the instructor who has worked patiently with participants during their sessions. His approach has included explaining the basics, then helping people handle more than one flight. That is especially helpful for a first-time pilot who may need a few minutes to stop staring at every button and start focusing on the aircraft.
The instruction also makes this suitable for people who arrive with different levels of interest. A future pilot can ask more technical questions, while a curious first-timer can simply learn enough to fly the route. One detailed account described the instructor as patient and clear, and an aviation student found the session useful as a practical experience.
You should not expect a quiet ride where you sit back and watch a screen. The point is to take part. Even with help, you will need to pay attention, listen to the instructions, and accept that your first landing may not look like a smooth airline arrival.
Choosing Airports Around the World

The route choice is one of the best features. You can select a departure airport and a different arrival airport from thousands of virtual options.
That flexibility makes the experience more personal than a fixed demonstration. If you have flown into Hong Kong, Istanbul, or San Francisco, you can choose one of those locations for a visual tour. The activity specifically mentions those cities as possible flyover choices, so they are useful options if you want scenery as well as cockpit work.
You can also choose a route with a personal connection. A child fascinated by aviation might want to fly to a dream destination. Someone who has taken a long-haul flight may enjoy trying the same city pair from the other side of the cockpit. You do not need to know much about aviation to benefit from the choice. The route itself gives you something to anticipate.
The virtual airport selection also helps prevent the session from feeling like a repeatable video game level. A different route can change the feel of the flight, even if the core controls remain the same.
Still, keep expectations sensible. The supplied details do not specify the exact airport scenery, weather settings, flight rules, or level of simulation realism. You should book it for the chance to operate a 737 with guidance, not for a guaranteed replica of a professional airline training session.
Takeoffs, Landings, and a Full Flight
The session has three clear stages: practice takeoffs and landings, then a complete flight.
The takeoff is a natural first challenge. You get to see how the aircraft responds when you move from the runway into the air, with the instructor helping you understand the controls. For a newcomer, this is likely to be the most exciting moment because the aircraft changes from something you are studying into something you are operating.
Landings are where patience becomes more important. You must line up with the runway and manage the aircraft as you approach the ground. The instructor can help, but you still get a direct sense of why professional pilots train repeatedly for this task.
The full flight gives the experience a wider shape. Instead of stopping after one successful takeoff or landing, you can work through a route between your chosen airports. That makes the session feel less like a short technical exercise and more like a compact flight operation.
The published duration is approximately one hour. That refers to the main activity, and one account specifically explained that the 60 minutes in the pilot’s seat did not include the earlier instructions and additional flying information. In that case, the total visit lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes.
I would allow more than an hour in your schedule. The extra time may be useful rather than inconvenient, especially if you are new to simulators and need a proper introduction. Do not arrange a tightly timed appointment immediately afterward.
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What the Experience Costs at $142.48
At $142.48 per person, this is not a casual impulse activity. The price makes most sense if you value hands-on time and want a private session rather than a short public demonstration.
The one-person format is a key part of the calculation. You are paying for access to the captain’s seat and an instructor’s attention, not for a large group attraction. If aviation is a serious interest, or if this is a special gift, the price may feel reasonable because the session is focused on your chosen route and your own attempts.
The value is also helped by the instruction before the flight. Without that briefing, a simulator can become a confusing hour of pressing controls and trying to keep the aircraft straight. Here, the introduction gives you a better chance to understand what you are doing.
The price is harder to justify if you want only a quick photo or a passive look inside a cockpit. It is also worth considering the booking’s one-person limit. A family may need to decide who takes the seat, even though a child and parent could make the visit together if the provider allows them to attend as companions. The supplied details confirm a session involving an eight-year-old, but they do not spell out the rules for additional spectators.
The experience is booked, on average, 25 days ahead. That suggests you should not leave a gift date or a special Antwerp visit until the last minute. Availability can change, so an early reservation is sensible.
A Good Choice for Children and Aviation Fans
This activity has a broad age appeal, though the strongest match is someone who is genuinely curious about flying.
An eight-year-old took two flights with Jeroen, including routes to Geneva and New York. That makes the experience promising for a child who talks about becoming a pilot, provided the child can follow instructions and stay focused in the cockpit.
For children, the value is not just the novelty of sitting in a pilot’s seat. They get to see that flying involves procedures, concentration, and repeated practice. A patient instructor can turn the session into a useful introduction rather than a quick birthday photo.
Adults may enjoy it just as much. An aviation student found the session worthwhile, and another participant came away surprised by how much fun and excitement it provided. You do not need technical training, but a real interest in aircraft will make the hour more rewarding.
It is less suited to anyone looking for a relaxed city tour, a group social activity, or a conventional attraction in Antwerp. The entertainment comes from operating the simulator, not from moving through a series of exhibits.
Antwerp Location and the Practical Details
The meeting point is listed at Antwerpen Meirbrug, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. The activity ends at the same meeting point, and the location is described as being near public transportation.
You receive a mobile ticket, and booking confirmation is issued at the time of reservation. Those details make the activity easy to add to an Antwerp day, but you should still check the exact meeting instructions before leaving for the appointment.
One booking attempt reported that the access code did not work, the stated bell location could not be found, and no one answered messages or the phone. That is a serious warning, especially because the same account questioned whether the venue was still operating. Other accounts describe completed sessions and helpful staff, so the practical lesson is not to assume everything is fine based only on an online reservation.
I would save the confirmation, check the provider name, and contact Antwerp Flight Simulation Center if the access details look unclear. If you cannot confirm where to go, resolve that before traveling across Antwerp. This is particularly important if you are giving the experience as a Christmas or birthday present.
The activity is described as private, with only your group participating. The maximum is one person, so ask before booking if you expect family members to join inside the simulator. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed accessibility information.
Weather, Cancellation, and Timing
The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Changes or cancellations inside the final 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.
The stated policy also says the experience requires good weather and may be canceled if conditions are poor, with a different date or full refund offered. That condition is unusual for a simulator, but it is part of the booking terms you should note.
Cutoff times use local time in Antwerp. If you are visiting from another time zone, use Belgian local time when calculating the 24-hour deadline.
The safest plan is to book well ahead, keep your schedule flexible, and avoid placing the session on the final afternoon before an airport departure. The experience itself is short, but the instruction and access process may take longer than the listed 60 minutes.
The Good and the Less Certain
The strongest part is the hands-on format. You are not simply shown a cockpit. You learn the basic controls, make takeoffs and landings, and fly a route chosen by you.
The instructor support is another plus. Jeroen is specifically associated with patient explanations and sessions that worked for both children and aviation students. That range suggests the experience can adjust to the person in the seat, though the exact teaching style will depend on the session.
The route choice adds real personality. Geneva, New York, Hong Kong, Istanbul, and San Francisco are mentioned as possible examples, but the wider airport selection is the real attraction. You can make the flight familiar, ambitious, or simply fun.
The main concern is reliability at the meeting point. A completed session and several positive accounts sit beside one serious report about a missing venue and failed contact. Since the experience depends on reaching a specific location, confirmation is not a minor detail.
The other limitation is value for money. At $142.48, you should want active cockpit time and instruction. If you are looking for a cheap aviation-themed activity, this will likely feel expensive. If you want a private chance to operate a 737 and choose your own route, the price has a clearer logic.
Should You Book This Boeing 737 Session?
Book it if you have a strong interest in aircraft, want to try a flight simulator without formal training, or need a distinctive gift for a child or adult who dreams of flying. The combination of instruction, private cockpit time, flexible airports, and takeoff and landing practice gives the hour a clear purpose.
I would be more cautious if your schedule is tight or if you are uncomfortable paying $142.48 for a single-person activity. Confirm the address and access arrangements before going, and allow extra time beyond the advertised hour.
For the right person, this is a focused and memorable Antwerp experience. You get to choose the route, take the controls, and learn why a commercial flight demands more than simply pointing an aircraft toward a runway.
FAQ
Where does the Boeing 737 simulator experience begin?
It begins at Antwerpen Meirbrug, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
Where does the activity end?
The activity ends back at the meeting point.
How long does the experience last?
The listed duration is approximately one hour. The main flight time is about 60 minutes, and instruction before the flight may make your total visit longer.
How many people can take part?
The activity has a maximum of one person, and it is described as a private activity.
Is the experience suitable for beginners?
Yes. Instructions are provided before the flight, including an introduction to basic aviation, the Boeing 737 cockpit, and the aircraft controls.
Can I choose the airports?
Yes. You can choose departure and arrival airports from thousands of virtual airports around the world.
What will I do during the session?
You will learn the cockpit basics, practice takeoffs and landings, and complete a flight from an airport you choose to a destination you select.
Can children participate?
The information says most people can participate, and an eight-year-old completed flights with Jeroen. No more specific minimum age is provided.
Can I cancel for a full refund?
Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.
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