PRODUCT INFORMATION is effective as of 1/1/2010 and replaces
all other oral,written or printed information except for Gift Certificates. Gift Certificates have different conditions and
restrictions which are printed on the back of the certificate, a copy can be requested in advance of purchase by E-mailing
us. All Gift Certificates are 100% non-refundable for any reason and all sales are final. Gift Certificates and
special fares are valid and available to use only during our current flight season except Holiday dates or other special dates
(such as Valentines Day, Mother's Day, etc.) when only full fare tickets are accepted. We reserve the right to change
the dates of our flight season at any time if - in our sole professional opinion - conditions are not suitable for flying.
By making a verbal telephone or E-mail reservations with us with your major credit card you acknowledge that you have
been notified of this information by our reservations agent when you made the reservation as evidenced by the date and time
your credit card was charged in full, have read this information and ALL OTHER INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE, understand it,
and agree to it:
GENERAL
Uniformed pilots are FAA Certified Commercial Balloon Pilots. All flight times
are approximate. Trip length varies due to wind speed and is conducted at varying altitudes. The exact flight
path and landing areas are unknown in advance and not guaranteed due to unpredictable wind and weather conditions. Our
balloons are inspected and certified as aircraft in accordance with all applicable FAA regulations.
JOINING INSTRUCTIONS
Due to calm air in the early morning, MEETING TIMES vary from 5:00 to 9:00 am depending on the month. Call local
reservations for meeting times and directions to launch site at least 12 hours prior to your flight. Local offices are NOT
open during early morning hours, as our staff is physically at the launch site two hours prior to your meeting time preparing
your balloon for flight. Passengers should check in at the meeting time. A confirmed meeting time is given at the same time
you make your reservation and cannot be changed. It is imperative that you are on time. DEPARTURE TIME is typically 30 minutes
after the MEETING TIME. We take off ON TIME. The departure time cannot be changed to accomodate late arriving passengers,
as we are sitting on the ground burning a finite amount of on-board fuel intended for flight, as well as making other passengers
who have already boarded wait. If you arrive late we reserve the right to deduct the amount of time late from the flight time.
If you arrive after the flight has departed you will not be given a refund, we will make no attempt to make illegal and potentially
dangerous landings to board you and you will not allowed to re-book for a future date. No exceptions to this policy will be
made under any circumstances. Children under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian accompany them on the flight and
sign a waiver on their behalf as noted below.
CLOTHING
Although usual conditions predict cool mornings
and comfortable inflight conditions, passengers should be prepared for extremes. We recommend dressing in 3 light weight layers
with a light weight cap and sunglasses. Video cameras and regular cameras are allowed only if you have a strap to allow the
camera to hang from your neck.
Passengers should wear sturdy footwear like tennis shoes or lightweight hiking boots.
Cell phones MUST be turned off inflight. Absolutely no high heel shoes, sandals or open toe shoes are allowed. The Pilot In
Command reserves the right to deny boarding to any passenger, that, in his sole opinion, arrives for the flight improperly
dressed, and no refund will be given nor re-booking for a future flight date.
SMOKING
Balloons are
fueled by propane, a flammable gas. ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING is allowed at ANY time around or near balloons or motorized equipment.
BAGGAGE/FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Due to limited space on board, FAA regulations prohibit
luggage, camera bags, back packs, purses, etc. We recommend leaving these items at home or locking them in the trunk of your
car before arriving at the balloon. Safekeeping is provided for in our vehicles but we expressly deny any claims for lost,
stolen or damaged goods in our possession while you are flying. Food and beverage is not allowed on board with the exception
of water in small plastic bottles
GRATUITIES
We are frequently asked about gratuities. Your pilot is
an exceptionally skilled professional pilot and also serves as your tour guide. Common guidelines in the tour and travel industry
indicate a minimum ten percent gratuity for your pilot which is shared with the crew. Many passengers like to extend
additional gratuity and we recommend you do so in cash to the pilot at the conclusion of the flight. Our pilots and crew,
like many in the service industry, depend on gratuities as a significant part of their incomes.
CANCELLATIONS
AND TRANSFERS
When you make a reservation we block space for you on an exclusive, definite basis, remove it from
inventory and often must turn away
other paying passengers
who would like to go on the same flight you have reserved. We guarantee that space will be available for you that day.
We do not take tentative or speculative reservations, over book our flights or have standby status.
Regardless of reason, cancellations, transfers to another date and other switches results in a costly process of letters,
toll calls, record adjustments, etc., plus a loss of revenue if time does not permit a resale. In fairness to others we cannot
make exceptions to the following policy:
* Once we have received your credit card information for your full fare
or special discount ticket your account is charged in full for your flight. No refunds will be made and your fare is 100%
non-refundable UNLESS Balloon America cancels (usually for weather related reasons, but for any other reason in our sole opinion
we deem necessary). In this case we will call you early the morning of your flight, usually before you wake, and notify you
that the flight has been cancelled. If we do this we will either refund your full fare ticket payment electronically to your
credit card or, if you prefer, re-book you for a future date. Special discount tickets may require to you
re-book your flight within a certain time frame up to the expiration date. All Gift Certificates are 100% non-refundable
for ANY reason. In case of a cancellation by Balloon America for your Gift Certificate or special discount fare
you will be allowed to to re-book a future date in accordance with the gift certificate or special dioscount ticket terms
and expiration date, but under no circumstances past this expiration date. It is the customer's responsiblity to be
aware of and comply with any expiration dates and/or any special terms required for advanced booking of Gift Certificates
or special discount fares. Extensions to the expiration date will not be given for any reason. If you elect
to re-book any fare all of the above policy applies as if it was a new reservation.
Additional information about our booking terms and policies:
Passenger and or purchaser
understands that the following release and booking terms has been read and understood:
PASSENGER AND OR PURCHASER HEREBY RELEASES, FOREVER DISCHARGES AND COVENANTS TO
HOLD HARMLESS Balloon America, their affiliated entities, subsidiaries, employees, successors and
assigns from all damages or causes of action, or those which may accrue to the undersigned as a
result of, or arising out of, hot air ballooning activities provided by Balloon America . In signing the foregoing release,
the undersigned hereby acknowledges and represents: (I) THAT THE FOREGOING RELEASE HAS BEEN READ AND UNDERSTOOD AND IS SIGNED
VOLUNTARILY, (II) that the undersigned is over 18 years of age and of sound mind, and (III) that no representations have
been made by Balloon America regarding the safety of hot air ballooning as conducted by Balloon America.
The undersigned also acknowledges (IV) that hot air ballooning carries greater risks than those
encountered in daily life and that these risks often can not be avoided and that injury or even death
may result by taking part in said activities. This release shall be binding upon the undersigned's
heirs, executors, administrators or assigns forever and supersedes all prior understandings with respect
to the subject thereof and may not be modified, changed, supplemented or terminated without the mutual written consent of
Balloon America and the undersigned. If payment for ballooning services is being made by major credit card, the signature
below and or initial phone call to make the reservation as evidenced by the date my credit card was charged authorizes Balloon
America to bill cardholder's account in full. Cardholder has been advised of the exact fare(s), taxes, resort use fees, fuel
surcharges, special permits, etc. Additional gratuity should be extended to the captain of
your balloon on an individual basis. Cardholder agrees that if the amount of passengers actually
showing up for the flight is less than the number guaranteed when the reservation was made, Cardholder
agrees to pay for the amount originally booked and understands that Balloon America held space for them on an exclusive,
guaranteed and definite basis, and that Balloon America has turned away other paying passengers that
would have gone on this flight if the space was not held for Cardholder. Cardholder understands
that his/her credit card was charged in full for the initial reservation at the time of reservation,
that this amount was reviewed and correct for the number of passengers they booked at that time
and date and that all fees and fares are 100% non-refundable. No refund is due if he/she does not fulfill the
initial reservation guaranteeing the amount of passengers. If Balloon America cancels a flight prior to takeoff due to inclement
weather condtions, or for any other reason, your FULL FARE TICKET will refunded in full within 14 days. This
policy does NOT apply to special fare discount tickets which may require you to re-book your flight within a certain
time frame up to the expiration date or gift certificates which are 100% non-refundable for any reason.
PASSENGER AND OR CARDHOLDER UNDERSTANDS THAT ALTITUDE, DIRECTION,
DISTANCE, TIME ALOFT AND LANDING AREAS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY DUE TO INCONSISTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE
WIND PATTERNS AND AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE LANDING AREAS. PASSENGER AND OR CARDHOLDER UNDERSTANDS THAT IT
IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR BALLOON AMERICA OR ANYONE TO PREDICT OR GUARANTEE ANY OF THE ABOVE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BALLOON
FLIGHT IN ADVANCE. ALL FLIGHT TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE. IN ORDER TO INDUCE BALLOON AMERICA TO ACCEPT
PAYMENT BY CASH, CREDlT CARD,CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, PASSENGER, PURCHASER, AND OR CARDHOLDER AGREES
THAT THEY WILL NOT SEEK ANY REFUND OR CHARGEBACK FOR ANY REASON AND ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT THAT
IN OUR SOLE PROFESSIONAL OPINION A FLIGHT IS TO BE TERMINATED EARLY OR EXTENDED LATE FOR SAFETY
CONSIDERATIONS OR TO MAKE RETRIEVAL OF PASSENGERS OR BALLOON EQUIPMENT MORE CONVENIENT FOR BALLOON AMERICA OR FOR ANY
OTHER REASON DEEMED PRUDENT BY BALLOON AMERICA AT ANY TIME.
