Terms and Conditions
General information for passengers
Contract Terms
Your Itinerary/Receipt constitutes your ticket for all regulatory, legal and contractual purposes. The ticket together with the General Conditions of Carriage of British International (BI) (and any carriage regulations referred to in those General Conditions) contains all the contract terms for your flight with BI. A copy of BI General Conditions of Carriage is available. No employee, representative or agent of BI has authority to make any representation which may affect the terms of BI’s contract with you. Tickets sold for carriage of passengers by helicopter are exempt from the Provisions of European Union “Denied Boarding” regulations.
Fares and Taxes
All fares are subject to the levels and associated rules filed with the relevant authorities. Fares and rules are subject to change. The airfare charged is for transportation on BI scheduled services and any substitute transportation service. Other charges and taxes will be payable in addition to the fare and will be collected at the time of booking.
Baggage Allowance
- Each adult and child is allowed a baggage allowance of 15kg (33lbs).
- People travelling together should bring separate bags.
- The maximum weight of a single bag is 20kg (44lbs).
- An excess charge will be made for any baggage above your baggage allowance 15kg (33lbs). (The excess charge will be at the operators rate at the time of travel).
- Cabin baggage will be restricted to small, hand carried items with restraining straps such as handbags, cameras and binoculars, which will be carried at the discretion of British International.
- All other items must be stowed in the hold compartment.
- All passengers maybe subject to a baggage search.
Carrier
The ‘carrier’ is British International Helicopter Services Limited, trading as British International, holding a UK CAA Air Operator’s Certificate. The carrier is the operator performing the carriage under which this Itinerary /Receipt is issued. The flight code BS is the registered abbreviation of British International Helicopter Services Ltd., trading as British International. Company registration 257 59 76. BI reserves the right to transfer passengers to other carriers for weather or other operational reasons.
Special Assistance
You must inform BI of any special assistance you need when you book your journey because capacity is limited. If this has not been done before check-in time, BI reserves the right to refuse carriage. Please call BI immediately if you are in doubt. Children under the age of twelve are not accepted for unaccompanied travel unless special arrangements, approved by BI, are made.
Flight Delays/Cancellations
BI plans to carry you and your baggage on the dates and times shown on your Itinerary/Receipt. However, the dates and times shown here, or in any timetable or elsewhere cannot be guaranteed and do not form part of your contract with BI. Flight schedules are subject to change without notice and adverse weather conditions or technical reasons beyond BI’s control may also affect the operating schedule. If any significant change does occur, BI will, if possible and time allows, attempt to contact you. BI has no responsibility for any costs or expenses incurred by passengers in these circumstances. BI reserves the right to substitute alternative equipment on any of its routes and any time. For some very infrequent weather and operational reasons BI may have no option but to offer passengers the opportunity to travel to and/or from the Isles of Scilly aboard the sea ferry. Such an offer will be made only in the last resort. If you are transferred to the sea ferry there is no refund given, due to the increased costs in arranging surface transport. It is essential that all passengers ensure that they have adequate travel Insurance.
Check-In Time
Please arrive at least forty-five (45) minutes before your scheduled departure time. The exception is the St Mary’s airport where check-in will be 1 hour before departure. Failure to do so may result in reservations not being honoured.
Identification
Some form of identity will be required at check-in.
Dangerous Articles in Baggage
Dangerous articles (for example, corrosives, compressed gases, explosives, radioactive materials, flammable liquids and solids, oxidising materials, poisons and infectious substances) must not be carried. Guns, knives and any sharp objects are prohibited in hand baggage.
Mobile Telephones
Mobile telephones are not permitted in baggage and must be carried in the aircraft cabin. On entrance to the departure lounge all mobiles must be switched off and not left on stand-by mode.
Carriage of Domestic Animals
Space for carriage must be requested in advance. There is a charge that includes the use of a container. The charge will be at the rates published on the website or verbally on 01736 363871.
Over booking
BI makes every effort to provide seats for passengers holding confirmed reservations and, specifically does not try to sell more seats than are available routinely on any service (“over-booking”). However for operational reasons, it may be that a seat may not be available on a flight for which a passenger has a reservation. In such case, BI will make suitable alternative arrangements to carry that passenger on a subsequent service.
Car Parking Facilities
There is a large Car Park with 24 hour manned security at the Penzance Heliport. Space is always available. The charge will be at the rate published on the website or verbally on 01736 363871.
Surface Transport
Penzance: A shuttle bus service leaves Penzance Railway Station for the Heliport 45 minutes prior to each scheduled helicopter departure. Incoming flights are met to transport passengers to the Railway Station and other local destinations. The cost of this is not included in the airfare.
St Mary’s: A private bus service operates between St Mary’s airport and Hugh Town. The bus leaves Hugh Town 1 hour prior to each scheduled departure from St Mary’s airport. The cost of this is not included in the helicopter fare.
Cancellations of Reservations
There is a charge of £25 per ticket (subject to change) for cancelling reservations provided the cancellation is made at least 24 hours before the scheduled ticketed departure time. Cancellations made within 24 hours or ‘no show’ will result in no refunds being given. Cancellation procedure is subject to change. Please check current procedures on our website or verbally on 01736 363871
Insurance
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL PASSENGERS ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE TRAVEL INSURANCE. BRITISH INTERNATIONAL BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, FOR EXPENSES ETC INCURRED BY PASSENGERS DUE TO INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION OF THE SERVICE FOR WHATEVER REASON. IF YOU HAVE SELECTED OUR TRAVEL INSURANCE WHEN BOOKING YOUR FLIGHT, PLEASE FIND ENCLOSED YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY DOCUMENT.
The policy is underwritten by Millstream Underwriting ltd on behalf of Elvia travel Insurance International NV (which during 2009 will change its name to Mondial Assistance Europe N.V.). The travel Insurance offered is designed to offer relevant cover at value for money prices, however, we do not seek to advise you on whether the policy is suitable for your needs or specific requirements. Should you decide that your Millstream Travel Insurance Policy is not suitable for any reason, we will give you a full refund. All we ask is that you e-mail notification of the cancellation within 14 days of the issue date (or prior to the scheduled departure date shown on your Itinerary, if sooner). Please e-mail to: reservations@brit-int.co.uk or call us on 01736 363871.
In the event that you need to make a claim you should firstly check the relevant section of your policy to see if you are covered and check what documentation you will need to make a claim. You will need to contact the Claims service on 0845 643 2629.
Notice
If the passenger’s journey involves an ultimate destination or stop in a country other than the country of departure, the Warsaw Convention may be applicable and the Convention governs, and in most cases limits, the liability of carriers for death or personal injury. See also notices headed ‘Advice to International Passengers on imitation of Liability’ and ‘Notice of Baggage Liability Limitations’.
Conditions of Contract
1 As used in this contract, ‘ticket’ means this passenger ticket and baggage check, or this Itinerary/Receipt, if applicable, in the case of an electronic ticket, of which these conditions and notices form part; ‘carriage’ is equivalent to ‘transportation’; ‘carrier’ means all air carriers that carry or undertake to carry the passenger or the passenger’s baggage hereunder or perform any other service incidental to such air carriage, ‘electronic ticket’ means the Itinerary/Receipt issued by, or on behalf of Carrier, the electronic coupons and, if applicable, a boarding document. ‘Warsaw Convention’ means the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air signed at Warsaw, 12th October 1929, or that Convention as amended at The Hague, 28th September 1955, whichever may be applicable.
2 Carriage hereunder is subject to the rules and limitations relating to liability established by the Warsaw Convention unless carriage is not ‘International Carriage’ as defined by that convention. For carriage wholly within the UK, the provision of the carriage by Air Act 1961 and orders made there under apply.
3 To the extent not in conflict with the foregoing carriage and other services performed by each carrier are subject to:
i) Provisions contained in the ticket
ii) Applicable tariffs
iii) Carriers conditions of carriage and related regulations which are made part hereof (and are made available on application at the offices of the carrier), except in transportation between a place in the United States or Canada and any place outside thereof to which tariffs in force in those countries apply.
4 Carrier’s name may be abbreviated in the ticket, the full name and its abbreviation being set forth in carrier’s tariffs, conditions of carriage, regulations, or timetables, carrier’s address shall be the airport of departure shown opposite the first abbreviation of carrier’s name on the ticket; the agreed stopping places are those places set forth in this ticket or as shown in carrier’s timetables as scheduled stopping places on the passenger’s route; carriage to be performed hereunder by several successive carriers is regarded as a single operation.
5 An air carrier issuing a ticket for carriage over the lines of another air carrier does so only as it’s agent.
6 Liability
a) The following information on law in the European Union is provided in accordance with Article 6 of the Council Regulation (EC) No. 2027/97. It applies only to air carriers licensed in a member state.
b) There is no arbitrary limit on claims for death or bodily injury arising out of an accident whilst the passengers are on board the aircraft, or in the process of embarking or disembarking. Air carriers may contest liability if death or injury results from passenger negligence.
c) However, the air carrier will not be liable to pay more than the local currency equivalent of 100,000 Special Drawing Rights (as determined by the International Monetary Fund) if the air carrier can prove that all reasonable steps were taken to avoid the accident, or that it was unavoidable.
d) After an accident, the air carrier must provide prompt financial assistance in cases of hardship within 15 days of identifying the correct natural person entitled to receive compensation. In the event of death, the initial advance shall not be less than the local currency equivalent of 15,000 Special Drawing Rights.
e) All the above obligation of the air carrier must be covered by Insurance approved by the state in which the carrier is licensed.
For further information relating to the above sub-paras, please consult the company’s General Conditions of Carriage, a copy of which may be inspected at British International check-in counters, points of sale and the company’s offices.
7 Baggage must be collected by the passenger as soon as it is made available at the place of destination. Acceptance of the baggage by the passenger, without complaint, at the time of collection, is prima facie evidence that the baggage has been delivered in good condition. In case of damage to the baggage, complaints must be made to a British International employee immediately. In case of delay, complaint must be made within twenty-one days from the date the baggage was delivered.
8 This ticket is good for carriage for one year from the date of issue, except as otherwise provided in this ticket, in carrier’s tariffs, conditions of carriage or related regulations. The fare for carriage hereunder is subject to change prior to commencement of carriage. Carrier may refuse transportation if the applicable fare has not been paid.
9 Carrier undertakes to use it’s best efforts to carry the passenger and baggage with reasonable dispatch. Times shown in the timetable or elsewhere are not guaranteed and form no part of this contract. Carrier may, without notice, substitute alternative carriers of aircraft, and may alter or omit stopping places shown on the ticket in case of necessity. Schedules are subject to change without notice. The carrier assumes no responsibility for making connections by air or any other method of transportation.
10 Passengers shall comply with the Government travel requirements, present exit, entry and other required documents and arrive at airport by time fixed by carrier or, if no time is fixed, early enough to complete departure procedures.
11 No agent, servant or representative of the carrier has the authority to alter, modify or waive any provision of this contract.
