TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
The services presented on the sudmontgolfiere.com website are offered by SARL ULM DECOUVERTE and Les Montgolfières du Sud, its secondary establishment registered with the Nîmes Trade and Companies Register under number 418 030 979.
ULM DECOUVERTE is a limited liability company with a capital of €30,000, registered in the Villefranche sur Saône Trade and Companies Register under number 418 030 979. VAT number: FR28 418 030 979.
Operating licence No. FR.DEC.416 issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.
1. Introduction
All transport provided and other services rendered by Les Montgolfières du Sud are governed by: the applicable rates, the general terms and conditions below, and the applicable regulations, which form an integral part of these terms and conditions.
2. Prices
Our rates are valid from 1 January 2023 and include 10% VAT for free flights and 20% VAT for tethered flights. They are subject to change without notice. Our rates include: organisation of the ascent (crew, support vehicle, transport), passenger transport insurance for commercial purposes.
2.1 – Cancellation insurance
Our tickets are non-refundable unless the refund option was purchased at the time of ticket purchase, at a fixed cost of €30 per ticket, even if the customer received a discount on their entire order. In the case of a ticket with the refund option, you must give 8 days’ notice before the scheduled flight date to request the desired refund for your ticket. Only the purchaser is entitled to request a refund and therefore to receive it. Only the price of the flight, excluding any options, will be refunded. The accounts department will refund the flight ticket within one month of your request by bank transfer.
3. Ticket purchase
Tickets are non-transferable and valid for 18 months from the date of issue.
They will be sent to you once your payment has been confirmed:
- By automatic email reply
- If you have chosen the ‘gift card by post’ option, a postcard version will be sent to you by post (please allow approximately 8 days for delivery).
Any substitution of passenger names or transfer of tickets by the holder is prohibited without the carrier’s consent.
4. Flight booking and confirmation
4.1 – Booking
The customer contacts Les Montgolfières du Sud to choose (subject to availability) the day of their flight. Our tickets are valid for 18 months from the date of issue.
The voucher of any customer who does not show up for their appointment will be considered expired.
If the flight cannot take place due to health or weather constraints, it will be rescheduled for a later date.
4.2 – Flight confirmation
The day before take-off, between 6pm and 7pm, the pilot will contact the passenger by telephone or text message to confirm the feasibility and exact time of the flight. If the flight cannot take place, it will be postponed to another date agreed upon by both parties.
5. Cancellation or postponement due to Montgolfières du Sud
Les Montgolfières du Sud reserves the right to cancel a flight due to bad weather conditions (wind, storms, fog, heat waves, etc.), for safety reasons, if there are not enough passengers to comply with the balloon’s operating range, or for any other reason related to the health of the crew members. On the day of the flight, only Les Montgolfières du Sud pilots are qualified to assess the suitability of a flight. Cancellations may occur at the take-off site. In this case, Les Montgolfières du Sud shall not be held liable for any expenses incurred by its customers in travelling to the meeting point (travel, accommodation, meals). In all cases, the ticket remains valid until the end of its validity period and another date will be set by mutual agreement.
6. Cancellation or postponement due to a passenger
6.1 – Report
If you wish to change the date of your flight, please notify us at least 72 hours before departure.
6.2 – Late report or failure to appear
6.2.1 – In the event of late postponement (less than 72 hours before the service) or failure to show up at the meeting place at the agreed time, the ticket will be considered used and the deposit will not be refunded.
7. Physical and medical conditions
Air travel is a ‘risky’ environment, which pilots strive to minimise through their experience, professionalism and the equipment they use. However, it is clear that they cannot guarantee 100% safety, particularly due to the objective risks inherent in this environment, especially during landing.
Passengers must be able to board and disembark from the basket, remain standing throughout the flight and hold onto the safety handles during landing, in accordance with the safety rules given by the pilot.
We are not qualified to judge whether a passenger is physically fit to fly in a hot air balloon. If you have a medical condition, have recently undergone surgery, or have any doubts about your ability to fly in a balloon, please consult a doctor and notify Les Montgolfières du Sud.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate pregnant women or children under the age of 6.
8. Flight conditions
The captain reserves the right to change the meeting time, take-off location and flight duration.
As hot air balloon flights are entirely dependent on the weather and aerology conditions on the day, Les Montgolfières du Sud cannot guarantee any specific route or itinerary. The average flight duration is one hour. However, the captain may interrupt the flight at any time for regulatory or safety reasons. No refunds will be given if the flight has lasted at least 30 minutes.
9. Rules on board our hot air balloons
All passengers must be on the boarding list. They must arrive on time at the meeting point and wear clothing appropriate for safety (non-flammable clothing covering legs and arms, walking or sports shoes, cap).
They must comply with the safety instructions given by the captain or his crew, both on the ground and in flight. The captain is the sole authority on board and, as such, has authority over all persons on board. He may decide to refuse to allow any person or cargo to board or disembark if they pose a danger to the smooth running or safety of the flight.
10. Subcontracting
Les Montgolfières du Sud reserves the right to use a subcontractor to perform the flight. All our partners are approved by the French Civil Aviation Authority.
11. Insurance
Les Montgolfières du Sud is insured as an air carrier; paying passengers are covered by civil liability insurance within the limits required by the Warsaw Convention governing air transport.
Items carried by passengers are not covered by our insurers. It is your responsibility to take out additional insurance if you deem it necessary.
12. Subcontracting
Any dispute, challenge, failure to pay or difficulty of any kind relating to our services shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of Nîmes, with the sole exception of cases subject to public policy rules.
13. Acceptance of these terms and conditions
Any order implies full acceptance of these terms and conditions.