Terms and Conditions
1-Purpose: The activity you are about to enjoy has been developed by SAS Montgolfière & Châteaux.
Any associated documents, such as descriptions, photographs, advertising brochures, or any
other type of information, are provided for informational purposes only and are not binding on the seller. The simple
fact that the customer places an order constitutes their definitive and irrevocable consent to
these terms and conditions.
All transportation and other services provided by Montgolfière & Châteaux are
governed by:
- Rates applicable as of November 1, 2025.
- Terms and conditions of sale, application of the Warsaw Convention.
- Acceptance of the specific constraints associated with organizing a hot air balloon flight.
2-Validity of the offer: Our offers are subject to availability at the time of booking.
Passengers declare that they are aware of and accept the general terms and conditions of sale.
3-Contract formation: Orders placed by the customer with Montgolfière & Châteaux are binding upon
receipt of the deposit or full payment for gift vouchers. Once
the order has been placed, the customer will receive the gift voucher by email.
4-Ticket contents: Our tickets include reception, transportation by vehicle to the takeoff site,
preparation and inflation of the balloon, the hot air balloon flight, packing away the balloon, the traditional balloonists’ toast,
return to the meeting point by vehicle, and civil liability insurance for air transport.
5-Ticket validity: Our gift flight tickets are valid for one year from their date of issue
and are non-refundable. The ticket holder must make a minimum of 4 flight attempts
during the validity period, otherwise their ticket will automatically expire. If these 4 attempts have been canceled
due to bad weather conditions, the ticket will be extended for one year at no extra cost. The purchase of
a validity extension allows the validity of the gift ticket to be increased by one year or reactivated
if it has expired within the last six months. Any ticket holder who does not
show up for the scheduled boarding will have their ticket forfeited, with no postponement or refund.
6-Prices: All our prices are quoted in euros, are valid for the current year, and include
the entire activity as well as passenger aviation liability insurance.
7-Deposit: All orders must be accompanied by a deposit of
half the total value of the order in order to be registered. The balance will be paid on the day of the flight. Reservations with a deposit
by check are valid for the entire validity period of the check if the service could not be provided on the
scheduled date due to weather conditions. If it is impossible to postpone, the reservation is canceled and the deposit
is refunded in full for payments by check or reduced by €20 for deposits by
bank transfer or credit card, refunded by bank transfer within two months of the date of the refund request.
International refund fees are the responsibility of the customer.
8-Payment method: All payments may be made in euros, by bank or postal check drawn on a French bank, by credit card or bank transfer, or in cash on the day of the flight. Checks are not considered as discharge of the debt until they have been cleared.
9-Cancellation: In accordance with regulations and distance selling practices, you have
14 days from the date of your reservation to cancel your order. After
this period, no cancellation will be possible and the ticket will be subject to the conditions of Article 5. Hot air balloon flights are entirely dependent on the weather, and only the pilot is authorized to make the decision to
take off. Montgolfière & Châteaux reserves the right to cancel a flight due to bad weather conditions or any other case of force majeure at any time, up until takeoff, for reasons of insufficient safety. In any case, Montgolfière & Châteaux shall not be liable for any costs incurred by the customer in the event of cancellation. Any ticket holder who does not show up at the designated boarding point or who cancels the scheduled flight within 48 hours prior to departure will have their ticket forfeited or their deposit cashed, with the balance claimed.
10-Boarding conditions: No one is allowed to board a hot air balloon without a valid flight ticket. By handing over the signed ticket to the pilot upon boarding, passengers agree to the terms and conditions. The pilot is in sole command and, as such, has authority over all passengers. The pilot is the sole authority on board and, as such, has authority over all persons on board. He has the right to refuse boarding or to disembark any passenger who may pose a threat to the safety, health, or good order of the aircraft. The pilot will not wait for latecomers.
11-Flight conditions: As flights are entirely subject to weather conditions, we cannot guarantee any specific route or itinerary. Flights are conducted under VFR (visual flight rules, as defined by the regulations of the French Civil Aviation Authority) and the locations indicated in our documents and on our website www.montgolfiere-chateaux.fr are not contractually binding. The average duration of a flight is one hour. The pilot reserves the right to modify the duration, departure location, meeting time, and anything else related to the flight.
12-Complaints: Any complaints regarding a service must be sent to us by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt within a strict deadline of 15 days to the following address: SAS Montgolfière et Châteaux – 222 route de Campredon – 24220 BEYNAC ET CAZENAC. After this deadline, no complaints will be considered.
13-Disputes: Any dispute, challenge, failure to pay, or difficulty of any kind relating to our services shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Sarlat la Canéda.
14-Insurance: Each passenger is insured under civil aviation liability. Items carried by passengers are not covered by our insurers, nor are any damages caused to your clothing or in the event of suicide or self-inflicted injuries. It is your responsibility to take out additional insurance if you deem it necessary.
15-Medical conditions: We are not qualified to judge your physical fitness to fly. People with prosthetic limbs or physical disabilities must inform the office when making their reservation. Passengers with limited mobility who have doubts about their ability to participate in the activity or who suffer from a particular medical condition should seek advice from their doctor and provide a medical certificate if necessary. Anyone who discloses a medical condition upon boarding will not be allowed on board without a medical certificate of fitness. Their ticket will be considered as used. It is essential to be able to stand for 1 hour, as the basket is not
equipped with seats. We do not allow pregnant women or anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol to board our hot air balloons.
16-Age requirement: Children under the age of 6 are not permitted to fly. There is no age limit for flying, however, children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult and a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to hot air ballooning is required for all passengers aged 70 and over.
17-Flight attire: Passengers must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Heeled shoes, sandals, skirts, and shorts are prohibited. It is advisable to bring a cap and avoid synthetic fabrics. No bags are allowed on board for safety reasons. Cameras and video cameras are permitted with a strap or other retention system that prevents them from falling over board.
18-Subcontracting: We reserve the right to use a subcontractor to carry out hot air balloon & castle flights.
