'I tried ordering a Bolt helicopter for just 50p more than a car - but it didn't go to plan' - Melis

Travelling around London can be a nightmare but that is how most get from A to B. We brave the smells and those wanting to sit next to us, because nothing really beats the affordable cost of a bus journey.

Travelling around London can be a nightmare but that is how most get from A to B.

We brave the smells and those wanting to sit next to us, because nothing really beats the affordable cost of a bus journey.

London Underground fares on the other hand could use some slashing, but alas, the pros of public transport outweigh the cons.

But when you’re on a night out for a hen do and you’re giddily on your way to the next venue, a bus or tube journey simply won’t do.

So instead you pull up your favourite taxi app but when you see the option for a helicopter, you're suddenly faced with what feels like a once in a lifetime choice.

At least that is what I thought when I chose this option on the Bolt application on Thursday night, but to my disappointment instead of a rotating aircraft, a humble four-wheeled vehicle showed up.

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Standing in the middle of Paddington, a group of friends and I decided to head into Soho to carry on our evening of celebrating the bride-to-be.

As we stood on the side of the street, I noticed that Bolt provided a helicopter service for a reasonable price from Euston Station to Oxford Street.

Ordinarily, one would think that perhaps booking this mode of transport in the middle of the city would fail for a number of reasons.

How would a helicopter land in the middle of a narrow car filled London street, without flight permissions or warning?

Secondly, cab prices are high and unpredictable enough, so the astronomical bill for your flight from one point in central London to another would spell immediate bankruptcy.

But trying to talk sense to a gaggle of girls on a hen-do proved pointless, and the only thing that felt right was to book the helicopter and see what happened.

It wasn’t long after pressing the button that we all began looking up eagerly at the sky, waiting for the chopper to land and whisk us all away close to Dean Street.

But of course, much like taxis in the capital, our ride was running late.

So we started to complain like true Londoners, with no spinning blades in sight, and feeling fed up with the broken promises of illusive five star travel.

Moments later, what might have been a Toyota Prius, pulled up on the corner of the street and shouted out a name, which left us all quite disappointed.

Though it did get us to our destination, it wasn’t quite the Hangover movie moment we would have liked it to be.

Days later, feeling completely bamboozled by yet another taxi firm, I decided to open the app to see if I had dreamt it.

But indeed it was there, roughly a £9 journey from SE4 to SE10 reduced from £11.00.

Surely this was false advertising at its best.

But after contacting Bolt, a spokesperson had this to say:

“Bolt, London’s fastest growing ride-hailing operator is partnering with London’s Air Ambulance Charity in recognition of their 32 year service providing round the clock trauma care to the people of London.

“London’s Air Ambulance is reliant on public donations to meet its annual running costs of £11 million.

“As an adoptive Londoner, the afternoon of the 23rd August will see Bolt launch the partnership by hosting a dedicated London’s Air Ambulance ride-type on its app, next to the existing XL and Electric car options.

“The ride-type will work like a normal Bolt ride, but with every trip passengers can donate £0.50GBP of the ride fare directly to London’s Air Ambulance Charity.

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“The new category will be available in the Bolt app in London in the weeks running up to Air Ambulance Week between 6th - 12th September”.

So although my friends and I got lost in the moment, it turns out that our curiosity and delusions under the influence went to a good cause.

And despite the cab not being the ultimate mode of transportation, traffic in the city is bad enough without a bunch of helicopters flying around carrying hen parties.

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