General Terms and Conditions
Voucher purchase:
1. Vouchers can be bought online using the booking form, by telephone or from other third party agents.
2. This contract is made with you but you can give the Coastal Balloons, LLC balloon flight experience to someone else as a gift provided you inform us when you make the purchase. These Terms & Conditions will refer to that person.
3. It is our intention that all terms of the contract between us are contained in these terms and conditions. If you purchase a ticket through a third party agent, you may have other rights as well. If you do not agree to be bound by these terms and conditions you should contact us immediately.
Our obligations to you:
1. The voucher will entitle you to a flight to be arranged within 12 months of purchase and includes:
• Preparation and inflation of the balloon for flight,
• A flight in a hot air balloon,
• The recovery of the balloon,
• Returning in to the launch field.
2. Our prices:
Our prices vary seasonally, regionally and by demand. Prices paid through third party agents are not guaranteed to be the ‘best’ price.
3. Flight cancellation:
a) Hot Air balloon fights are completely dependent on weather and only the pilot has responsibility to decide whether a flight goes ahead. We reserve the right to cancel a flight due to unsuitable weather conditions at any time up to the moment of take-off, or if the flight has not been fully booked. We do not accept liability for any costs or expenses you incur if we have to cancel a flight.
b) The voucher will remain valid for the period of 1 year from the date of issue. If you have made 4 attempts and your ticket expires due to bad weather conditions it will be renewed without charge for another year.
c) If the pilot decide to cancel the hot air balloon flight due to unsuitable weather conditions, your flight will be re-scheduled without charge.
4. Boarding policy :
Clients must be in possession of a valid voucher or digital representation of payment issued by Coastal Balloons in order to board our balloons. Just as with any FAA controlled aircraft, our pilots have final responsibility for the flight and have complete discretion as to whether to allow you to board the balloon basket. You will be refused boarding if in the pilot’s opinion you would be a risk to the balloon or to the passengers or to yourself.
5. Flight policy :
As balloon flights are weather dependent we cannot guarantee a flight will follow any particular direction. It is our intention that the balloon will be in the air for approximately 1 hour but the pilot has ultimate responsibility for deciding the duration and conduct of any flight and the appropriate time and place of any landing. Flights are undertaken within the limitations of VFR (Visual Flight Rules, as defined by the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration).
6. Litigation :
Any dispute, conflict or contravention of the terms & conditions regarding the services we provide, will be settled by the appropriate legal authority at the town of Norfolk, Virginia with the exception of cases subject to the public law and other regulations.
7. Insurance :
Civil liability insurance is included in the price voucher for each passenger. The level of insurance is in accordance with State and local agreements covering air transportation required by the FAA. We will not be liable for any loss or damage to equipment and personal effects including clothing brought with you on the flight nor for death or personal injury above the level of our insurance covers. If you do not consider the amount of insurance coverage would be adequate to compensate you for any loss whether for death, personal injury or damage to your belongings you should take out your own additional coverage.
8. Sub-contractors :
We reserve the right to sub-contract flights to competent commercial balloon operators under contract with Coastal Balloons, LLC. All our partner companies are recognized as commercial operators by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Your obligations to us:
1. Your voucher is valid for 12 months from date of issue. You must make a minimum of 4 attempts to confirm you flight date with our central reservation office, via phone, txt or email, within this period otherwise your voucher will automatically expire. If you have made fewer than 4 attempts and your ticket expires you will be able to renew it for an extra year at an additional charge of $100 per voucher. All vouchers older than 2 years are considered invalid.
2. Payment:
a) Individual clients - payment must be made in full date of purchase. If payment was not made in full when the voucher was purchased, the balance must be made the day for which you have booked your flight.
b) Groups - of 8 people or more, bookings must be confirmed by email or fax together with a 50% deposit, at latest 15 days before the flight date. The balance of the total price is due the day before the flight date. Total price due will be based on the number of participants listed at 15 days prior to flight date.
3. Flight confirmation:
In order to confirm the flight, you must contact the Coastal Balloons, LLC flight team 12 hours prior the booked flight date, (details are found in confirmation emails and our website) to confirm meeting time / location and weather conditions are suitable for flying.
4. Cancellation / Modification:
a) Individual clients – all scheduled booking is considered confirmed from the moment that Coastal Balloons, LLC confirmed it to you by E-mail, by phone or text. The deposit is refundable in full if cancellation is made up to 30 days prior to your flying date. You will be refund 50% of your deposit if cancellation is made 15-30 days prior to your flying date. If you cancel within 15 days of flying date or are not present at the scheduled take-off site you are not entitled to a rescheduled flight or a refund.
b) "Gift certificate" vouchers [includes Groupon and the like] are not refundable by Coastal Balloons, LLC in any way.
c) Groups - the deposit is refundable in full if cancellation is made up to 30 days prior to the flying date. If a cancellation is made 15-30 days prior to the flight date 50% of the deposit will be refunded. However, if less than 15 days notice of cancellation is given 100% of the deposit is retained by Coastal Balloons, LLC except if the client requested a special cancellation agreement with Coastal Balloons, LLC.
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5. Medical conditions:
We are not qualified to confirm your fitness to fly. It is your responsibility to ensure you are fit to fly. You must not fly if you are suffering from any serious medical condition or have recently undergone surgery unless you have been issued with a doctor’s certificate stating you are fit to fly. You must not fly if you are pregnant or under the influence of drink or drugs.
6. Children:
We generally will not fly children under the age of 5 years. A child under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
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7. Clothing:
You should wear appropriate clothing as is advised to you in advance in Coastal Balloons, LLC website.