A kiss is a minor, low-speed contact between two balloons in flight. Because balloon envelopes are large, flexible, and moving at similar wind speeds, these bumps rarely cause damage or compromise flight safety. Pilots actively manage their vertical spacing to avoid them, but they are common at crowded balloon festivals.
Heard on the job
We had a slight kiss with the blue balloon on ascent, but the fabric held fine.
Insider tip
While a kiss between envelopes is generally harmless, baskets colliding with envelopes can cause catastrophic tears.