Preamble :

Mont-Blanc hot-air balloon company:

Montgolfières du Mont-Blanc (MMB) is a Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) with a share capital of €7,500:

All activities and services relating to the air transport of people in hot-air balloons, and the marketing, assembly, maintenance and repair of equipment and accessories in this field.

It is registered with the Annecy RCS under number 911612414 and its VAT number is FR 48911612414.

The head office is located at 1, rue Jean Jaurès 74000 Annecy.

Montgolfières du Mont-Blanc is a company approved by the French Civil Aviation Authority (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile) for passenger transport under declaration number FR.DEC.0585. Montgolfières du Mont-Blanc is supervised by the DSAC Centre-Est at Lyon Saint-Exupéry.

The means of contact are :

Postal address: 1, rue Jean Jaurès 74000 Annecy
Telephone number on website: www.montgolfieres-du-mont-blanc.fr
E-mail address: booking@montgolfieres-du-mont-blanc.fr
Website: www.montgolfieres-du-mont-blanc.fr

Next: “MMB”

Buyer:

Any individual or legal entity wishing to purchase a physical or dematerialized product from MMB or one of its sales partners. By placing an order, the purchaser declares that he/she has read and fully accepts these Terms & Conditions (T&Cs).

Any person holding a credit note, ticket or any other recognized document entitling him/her to board a hot-air balloon operated by MMB or a partner company is associated with the purchaser. Any passenger is associated with the purchaser. The terms customers, beneficiaries and passengers are associated with the term buyer.

All purchasers/passengers are deemed to have accepted MMB’s General Terms and Conditions.

Hereinafter: “the buyer

Application of the General Terms and Conditions :

The terms and conditions in force are those published on our website under the heading “General Terms and Conditions of Sale”. The purchaser shall have read and understood these terms and conditions prior to any purchase or order from MMB. Placing an order implies irrevocable and unconditional acceptance of the T&Cs. The purchaser shall pass on the General Terms and Conditions to any other beneficiary of a flight ticket or MMB product.

MMB reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time and at its sole discretion.

By accepting these T&Cs, the buyer guarantees that he/she is of legal age and has full legal capacity to make a purchase. The buyer also accepts MMB’s limits of liability.

Object :

The purpose of these General Terms and Conditions is to define the terms and conditions of sale to the buyer and the obligations of both parties.

These conditions are contracted by the purchaser, but as the ticket(s) are not nominative, they may be passed on to a third party. MMB must be notified of ticket holders. MMB assumes that the ticket holder has been informed of our terms and conditions by the purchaser and that the ticket holder accepts our terms and conditions.

The T&Cs come into force from the date of purchase/order by the buyer and apply until the end of the rights and obligations of either party.

The descriptions, information, estimated durations and potential sites overflown are communicated with the greatest possible accuracy, but are only indicative and non-contractual. The purchaser acknowledges that the execution of a hot-air balloon flight depends on numerous hazards that MMB cannot control, including weather conditions, wind evolution, local geography, safety zones, flight restrictions and any operational or regulatory constraints.

These T&Cs constitute the entire agreement between MMB and the purchaser and prevail over any previous document.

Product description:

The products for sale are described and defined on the MMB website.

Balloon flights include at least :

Safety briefing
Hot-air ballooning
Taxes
Air transport liability insurance

The flight ticket also includes :

Welcoming passengers
The opportunity to take part in flight preparations
A flight diploma
*A surprise souvenir gift depending on the flight
The balloonist’s toast
Shuttle to return to our launch site
CO2 offsetting

* depending on the type of flight

The content of the experience may vary depending on the product chosen. In certain cases, the purchaser may waive part of the services without financial compensation in return.

The gift voucher is a document whose value is defined on the document called “gift voucher”. The gift voucher can be exchanged by the recipient for flight tickets or other products sold by MMB, up to the value of the gift voucher. Gift vouchers may be accumulated.

The experiences and types of flights covered by these T&Cs are those presented on the website and indicated as being carried out and marketed by MMB. They include in particular different types of hot-air balloon flights. The types of flights are offered subject to availability and the conditions necessary for their proper execution. MMB reserves the right to modify, suspend or withdraw any type of flight or flight region at any time and without notice.

MMB cannot be held responsible for any error, omission or difference between the description on the website and the service actually provided, as long as the latter remains consistent with the general nature of the service. MMB undertakes to use all reasonable means to respect the advertised times and to offer the closest possible trajectories to those indicated.

Due to the diversity of our flying zones and the specific aerological conditions of each sector, some flights may be cancelled even when the general weather conditions appear favorable. MMB cannot be held responsible for such decisions, which are based exclusively on safety and aeronautical feasibility.

Derivative products such as books, promotional items, mugs, clothing and others are offered while stocks last. In the event of unavailability of a requested product, the buyer will be informed by e-mail or telephone. In this case, the unavailable product will be cancelled, and a credit note or refund may be offered, with the remainder of the order remaining firm and definitive. Products are described and presented as accurately as possible. However, the seller cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions in this presentation. Photographs of products are not contractual.
In the event of contradiction between the present article and another article of this contract, the present article will apply to the purchase of derived products.

Order products :

The buyer can order one or more hot-air balloon tickets or other items sold on the site through :

The website
By phone
By e-mail
With MMB partner companies

The buyer can choose the method of payment for the order on the website.

We accept the following methods of payment:

By credit card
By bank transfer

Payment is received on receipt of order.

How to buy on the MMB website :

Buyer selects product and quantity
Buyer adds selection to basket
The buyer validates his order in the basket
The buyer indicates his billing address
The buyer can leave a comment
The buyer chooses his method of payment
The buyer accepts the General Terms and Conditions of Sale
The buyer orders
The buyer proceeds to payment if he has chosen to pay by credit card.

If the buyer chooses another payment method, he will receive the payment details by e-mail.

Invoices and e-tickets are sent by e-mail, unless the customer chooses otherwise and requests postal delivery.

Prices are quoted in euros (€) and include VAT and liability insurance. They do not include shipping costs. Prices are valid on the day the order is placed.

MMB reserves the right to modify fares without prior notice. In the event of an increase between the buyer’s order and the execution of the flight, MMB may ask the buyer to pay the fare difference.

For groups of at least twelve (12) people, payment may be staggered over time, with a deposit of fifty (50%) percent payable at the time of booking. The balance must be paid in full at least fifteen (15) days before the flight. The final number of participants will be determined on this date, and will serve as the basis for final invoicing.

For companies and captive flights, a quotation will be sent. This must be returned to us signed by the purchaser by e-mail. If the purchaser returns the quotation without signing it but reserving a date for the service, this constitutes acceptance of the quotation and these T&Cs.

The purchaser will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of the order.
Confirmation of the order will be sent to the e-mail address provided by the purchaser (subject to a valid e-mail address) during the purchasing phase, and will constitute final validation of the order.

Orders placed by telephone are deemed to accept the T&Cs in the same way as an order placed via our website.

The purchaser guarantees to MMB the veracity of the information communicated during the placing of the order and undertakes to update the data concerning him, so that they are always truthful.

Validation of the order by clicking when payment is made online implies acceptance of the terms and conditions of sale, acknowledgement of full knowledge of them, and waiver of the right to invoke one’s own terms and conditions of purchase or any other terms and conditions. The click combined with the authentication and non-repudiation procedure and the protection of all messages constitutes an electronic signature. This electronic signature has the same value between the parties as a handwritten signature throughout France. All the data supplied and the recorded validation shall constitute proof of the transaction. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that his contact details, and those of any beneficiaries, are accurate, and that they are sufficient to receive the various order and delivery information.
The customer is hereby informed that, in accordance with article L132-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code Monétaire et Financier), the order or commitment to pay given by means of a payment card is irrevocable. Payment may only be stopped in the event of loss, theft or fraudulent use of the card or the data linked to its use, or in the event of the beneficiary’s receivership or compulsory liquidation.

The buyer is informed that in the event of prolonged inactivity during the connection, it is possible that the selection of flights, packs or products chosen is no longer guaranteed. In this case, the buyer will have to restart the process from the beginning.

The purchaser is informed that he/she is responsible for all telecommunication costs incurred in accessing the Internet.

MMB cannot be held responsible for any delay in the delivery of tickets due to an error in the purchaser’s data entry.

Dematerialized orders are shipped automatically as soon as the order is placed, if the buyer has chosen the default “electronic ticket” option, and within 72 hours at the latest. All other orders are sent by post within 72 hours. Postal charges, except for gift bags sent within Europe, are at the buyer’s expense.

Returns/Refunds:

MMB is a passenger air transport company. In accordance with article L. 221-28 of the French Consumer Code, the purchaser does not benefit from a right of retraction for flight ticket purchases. Once the order has been placed, it is firm and definitive. The ticket is non-refundable unless the “weather cancellation insurance” option has been taken out. In this case, if the buyer has taken out “weather cancellation insurance”, the ticket purchased will be reimbursed in full, with the exception of the amount of the insurance, if and only if the flight has been cancelled due to bad weather conditions preventing MMB or its partner from carrying out the flight.

In this case, the purchaser must inform MMB of his or her wish to be reimbursed by e-mail within eight (8) days from the date of cancellation of the flight and not from the scheduled date of the flight.

For derived and materialized products, the buyer may exercise his right of withdrawal for fourteen (14) days from the date of his order. This only applies to derivative and materialized products, and not to flight tickets and gift vouchers, as stipulated by the Hamon Law. The purchaser may exercise this right of withdrawal on derivative and materialized products, excluding flight tickets and gift vouchers, by writing a letter to this effect to MMB before the date of the aforementioned fourteen (14) day period. The purchaser must return the derived and materialized products to MMB without undue delay and at the latest within fourteen (14) days of sending the company its decision to retract, and will bear the postal costs of returning the products. The purchaser undertakes to pack the products in such a way that they cannot be damaged during transport, and will assume full responsibility for them.
MMB will reimburse the purchaser once it has received the products in good condition.

Validity of MMB products :

The MMB flight ticket is valid for 24 months from the date of issue. During this period of validity, the purchaser may subscribe to the option of extending the ticket for a further 24 months at the rate shown on the website. Any request for extension must be made in writing to MMB’s e-mail address before the ticket’s expiry date. Any ticket not extended before the end of its validity period will be considered expired.

Some promotional offers may have limited validity.

Tickets are valid for the chosen flight region; otherwise, if no region is defined at the time of purchase, they are valid for all flight regions listed on the MMB website. MMB may, if necessary, offer the purchaser the possibility of obtaining his or her flight ticket from a partner company.

If the purchaser of the ticket has had more than three (3) flight cancellations for weather reasons, MMB may, on a commercial basis, extend the flight ticket by 6 months, the purchaser must make a written request to the e-mail address. Without these three (3) reservations, an extension can be purchased on the MMB website, if the ticket is still valid.

Free tickets cannot be extended, refunded, modified or resold.

Gift vouchers may be valid for less than 24 months. The validity date is shown on the voucher. It is not possible to extend the validity of gift vouchers beyond their expiry date. The purchaser must convert the voucher into a purchase (ticket or other product) before its expiry date. Gift vouchers are non-refundable.

Flight tickets and gift vouchers must be paid in full before the flight.

Partner tickets such as Sport-Découverte, Cap Adrenaline, Adrenactive, SmartBox, WonderBox, Baptême de l’air or others:

The tickets or vouchers issued by our partners have specific rules of use and validity. Our General Terms and Conditions apply in their entirety as carrier, except for the validity periods of tickets or vouchers and the means of booking flights. The partner’s terms and conditions apply as a seller.

In the event of a validity problem, the purchaser must contact the ticket/ticket/flight voucher partner from whom the purchaser purchased the ticket/ticket/flight voucher.

Booking a flight date :

The flight can be booked by the buyer subject to availability for the region and date of flight desired.

Bookings are made mainly via the website, under the heading “Plan my flight”. The buyer can book his flight in three (3) different ways:

On the MMB website: “Plan my flight”.
By e-mail
By phone

Confirmation of the reservation date and flight region will be sent by e-mail to the address provided by the purchaser, except in the case of a reservation made directly by telephone. MMB cannot be held responsible for any errors made when booking by telephone.

If the buyer wishes a particular flight date, he will inform MMB by e-mail. MMB will do its best to accommodate the buyer’s request, depending on its schedule.

The purchaser may change his/her flight reservation free of charge up to 168 hours (7 days) before the flight. The buyer will have to set a new flight date at the time of the booking date change, subject to availability for the new flight date chosen. Less than 168 hours before the flight and up to 72 hours before the flight, the buyer may change his flight date reservation by purchasing the “last-minute change” extension on the website. No changes to the flight date will be accepted within 72 hours of the flight.

Flying region :

The flight regions mentioned on the site are indicative and non-contractual. MMB reserves the right to modify them without prior notice.

Flight confirmation/cancellation by MMB :

For morning flights :

The buyer will receive confirmation of his flight by e-mail the day before his flight, no later than 6:30 p.m. local time, at the address given in the booking.

For evening flights :

The buyer will receive confirmation of his flight by e-mail on the day of his flight, no later than 2:30 p.m. local time, at the address given in the booking.

The flight confirmation e-mail contains the date, time and meeting place for the buyer if the flight is confirmed.

In the event of cancellation, the buyer must book a new flight date. In case of flight cancellation,

In addition to e-mail, MMB can also send a confirmation SMS to the number provided by the buyer when booking the flight date.

It is the buyer’s responsibility to contact MMB by telephone if he/she has not received a confirmation/cancellation for his/her flight. The buyer must call MMB no later than 19:30 local time the day before for morning flights and no later than 15:30 local time for day flights.

It is the buyer’s responsibility to be on time for the appointment. MMB cannot guarantee to wait for latecomers, in order to ensure the smooth running of the activity and out of respect for other purchasers present on time at the meeting point. Should the buyer fail to show up at the meeting point, the flight ticket will be automatically and irrevocably cancelled. In this case, the flight ticket will be considered as having been used. MMB is not liable for any costs incurred by its customers in the event of cancellation of a flight by MMB.

For captive flights, MMB will keep the purchaser informed of the expected weather conditions on the day of the flight. In the event that the conditions do not allow the captive flight validated by the buyer at the time of the order to be carried out, the buyer will have the option of cancelling the captive flight without deduction of any charges other than the handling fee. If MMB travels to the location agreed with the buyer for the captive flight, a flat-rate fee will be applied in accordance with the quote. If MMB travels to the location agreed with the purchaser for the captive flight, the service will be invoiced in accordance with the quotation.

Flight cancellation by buyer :

Cancellation for individual customers: The purchaser may change his/her flight reservation free of charge up to 168 hours (7 days) before the flight. In the event of cancellation by the buyer less than 168 hours (7 days) before the flight, the buyer must purchase the “last-minute change” extension on the website. In the event of cancellation less than 72 hours or in the event of non-attendance on the day of the flight, the ticket will be considered consumed/used.

Cancellation for groups: more than 12 passengers or more than one hot-air balloon: the deposit will be fully refunded in the event of cancellation up to 30 days before the flight, excluding any handling fees. If cancellation occurs between 15 and 30 days before the flight, only 50% will be refunded. The deposit is forfeited to MMB if the cancellation is made within 15 days of the flight. In the event of a refund, a deduction will be made for administrative costs.

Cancellation of a flight after receiving confirmation :

Ballooning is totally dependent on the weather. MMB, at its pilot’s discretion, reserves the right to change the launch site, and also to cancel a flight up to the moment of take-off, due to bad weather conditions, unfavorable wind directions, a technical incident endangering the safety of the passengers and its pilot, or if there is not a minimum number of passengers registered.
MMB is not liable for any costs incurred by its customers in the event of cancellation of a flight by MMB, and no compensation may be claimed from MMB or its partners. In the event of cancellation, if the ticket has less than three (3) months of validity remaining, MMB may commercially extend the ticket for a period varying from three (3) to six (6) months.
If a flight is cancelled at MMB’s discretion for weather or flight safety reasons, the passenger must make a new reservation for another flight, in accordance with these GCS, and may under no circumstances be reimbursed for the cost of the ticket, unless the “weather cancellation insurance” option has been purchased with the ticket.

Boarding and restrictions :

No one may board one of MMB’s hot-air balloons or one of its partners without a valid flight ticket. The purchaser/passenger must declare his/her identity to MMB. MMB must be in possession of the identity and weight of each passenger prior to boarding. The related invoice must be paid in advance by the purchaser, a third party or a partner agency.
As a passenger air carrier, MMB is subject to the conditions stipulated in the Warsaw Convention. The pilots in command of hot-air balloons operated on behalf of MMB are the sole masters on board, in accordance with the Tokyo Convention, and as such have authority over all persons on board. They have the right to refuse to embark or disembark any passenger who might present a danger to the safety, health or good order of the aircraft. Boarding will be forbidden to any person in a state of intoxication, narcotics or presenting a risk.

Dangerous goods are not allowed on board. Alcoholic beverages are forbidden on board, unless agreed by MMB.

MMB personnel are not qualified to judge the passenger’s physical condition and fitness to participate in the flight, except for the points mentioned above. In the event of a serious medical problem, or if the purchaser has just undergone surgery, a medical certificate is required. The purchaser must consult his or her doctor if he or she is convalescing, has a prosthesis (knee, hip, ankle, etc.), backache or neck pain.

Heeled shoes are forbidden.

Unfortunately, pregnant women and children under 1.10m are not allowed on board (except for privatized Premium flights, minimum height 0.90m).

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Children between 16 and 18 must have parental consent. No adult may have more than six (6) children under the age of 16 under his or her responsibility.

For Passengers Reduced Mobility (PRM), we invite the purchaser to inform us of his or her requirements for the successful completion of the flight. MMB may accept passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) in certain cases and under certain conditions, which are analyzed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the passenger’s needs to ensure a successful experience. MMB may ask PRM passengers to be accompanied. MMB cannot guarantee transfers between the vehicle and the gondola. All transfers during transitions are the sole responsibility of the PRM passenger. Certain wind restrictions may apply to PRM passenger flights. We recommend that disabled passengers be accompanied for their flight. The purchaser must be able to get in and out of the basket alone, if unaccompanied. Some of our gondolas are equipped with doors. Some of our gondolas are adapted for PRMs and have an adapted wheelchair.

It is the passenger’s responsibility to seek advice before the flight, and MMB cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred in the event of the passenger disembarking. If a passenger is disembarked by the captain, the ticket will be considered as used.

Flight conditions:

As the flight is entirely subject to weather conditions, MMB or its partners cannot guarantee any circuit or route. The average duration of a flight is one hour. The pilot reserves the right to modify the duration, departure point, rendezvous time and any other aspect of the flight. Missions are carried out under VFR (visual flight rules). Passengers must wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Heeled shoes are forbidden. Only small personal effects are accepted on board (cameras, handbag), to the exclusion of any luggage.
We recommend hiking clothes and flat walking shoes that are practical, hold and protect the feet well. Passengers are reminded of the safety rules during the pre-boarding briefing. Smoking is strictly forbidden in and around the balloon during inflation, flight and storage.

Transport insurance and buyer’s declaration :

Passengers are insured in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Montreal Convention. MMB’s liability to passengers for death or personal injury is limited. For damages up to 113,100 Special Drawing Rights (SDR), liability cannot be excluded or limited. Above this amount, the carrier may be exempted from liability for certain release reasons laid down by law. In the event of death or bodily injury, an advance must be paid per passenger within fifteen days of identification of the natural persons entitled to compensation. In the event of death, the advance payment may not be less than 16,000 SDRs. The amounts in force at the date of drafting of the GCS are subject to change in accordance with international regulations. MMB’s insurance policies are underwritten in Europe by approved companies. Objects carried by passengers are not covered by MMB’s insurance, nor is damage to clothing, voluntary injury or suicide, except in the case of proven fault on the part of MMB. The purchaser must therefore be particularly careful with his or her personal belongings. Passengers are free to take out additional insurance if they consider it necessary.

By accepting these terms and conditions, the purchaser/passenger acknowledges that hot-air ballooning involves risks inherent to the activity. The passenger undertakes to respect the safety instructions and to follow the instructions of the pilot and MMB’s qualified personnel. The liability of MMB, its pilots and its staff is limited in accordance with the legal and regulatory provisions in force and the amounts of insurance taken out by the company.

Furthermore, the purchaser certifies by accepting the Passengers that he/she does not suffer from any disability/psychiatric or psychic disorder, uncontrolled chronic illness or injury of any kind that would result in an inability to board the basket or complete the flight in complete safety for myself and the other passengers.

Subcontracting of services :

Under certain conditions and in certain cases, MMB’s services may be performed by one or more subcontractors accredited by MMB. The purchaser will be informed of this prior to the flight. Subcontractors guarantee the same safety conditions and meet the same regulatory requirements. Partners have the right to fly in France. Flight conditions will remain identical for the buyer.

Personal data :

MMB collects and processes buyers’ personal data in its capacity as data controller. The data is collected and processed to enable MMB to follow up with the customer, to complete the online transaction, to execute the contract and to comply with its legal obligations. The purchaser guarantees MMB the veracity of the information communicated on the site. MMB reserves the right to send the purchaser or any person having communicated his/her e-mail address a newsletter or offers related to the services offered on the site, by e-mail, sent to the address given by the purchaser on the site or by any other means. If the purchaser no longer wishes to receive newsletters or offers, he/she may object at any time by sending an e-mail to MMB. MMB will not communicate the buyer’s contact details to a third party. Only accredited persons have access to MMB data. MMB is subject to RGPD rules.

Intellectual property and hypertext links :

The site and its contents, in particular brands, logos, images, drawings, models, texts, photographs, graphic charts and databases, are the exclusive, full and entire property of MMB. Any reproduction, representation, distribution, exploitation, marketing or use of any of the elements present on the Site, or of all or part of the Site, is strictly forbidden.
The purchaser undertakes not to commit any act of infringement, unfair competition or parasitism against MMB.

The insertion of a hypertext link to the site requires the prior written consent of MMB. In any event, the link must point solely to the home page of the MMB site.

Evidence agreement and image rights:

The purchaser acknowledges and accepts that the information contained in MMB’s computer systems has the same probative force as paper documents, with regard to the placing of the order by the purchaser and the acceptance of these general conditions.

MMB may take photographs during the ballooning experience.
The purchaser acknowledges and accepts that photographs may be taken of him/her during his/her participation in the ballooning service. By accepting these conditions, he/she explicitly grants MMB and its partners the right to use the images taken during the service for promotional, advertising and commercial purposes. The buyer accepts that the images may be used on various media, such as websites, social networks, brochures, advertisements and any other promotional material. His participation in the service implies his explicit consent that images may be taken and used in accordance with these conditions. The purchaser may expressly refuse to be photographed by informing MMB staff prior to the start of the service.

Force Majeure:

MMB’s obligations will be suspended in the event of force majeure, without the purchaser being able to engage MMB’s responsibility.
The following are expressly considered to be cases of force majeure or fortuitous events, in addition to those generally accepted by the Jurisprudence of the French Courts and Tribunals: total or partial strikes, internal or external to MMB, in particular of postal services, lock-outs, bad weather, epidemics, earthquakes, fires, storms, floods, water damage, blocking of telecommunications means, blocking of the Internet, governmental or legal restrictions, legal or regulatory changes to forms of marketing, and any other event beyond the express control of the parties preventing the normal performance of the present contract.

Mediator:

Suppliers of services related to travel, tourism, accommodation, leisure and transport have internal complaint handling structures to which customers should turn in the event of a dispute.
However, where disputes persist, those arising from contracts concluded between the professional and the consumer may be the subject of optional mediation, free of charge to the consumer.
How to contact a Mediator:
“The consumer must refer the matter to the company’s internal department responsible for settling disputes in the event of a dispute. In the absence of a satisfactory response, or in the absence of a response within 60 days, the customer may refer the matter to the Tourism and Travel Ombudsman, whose contact details and referral procedures are available on its website: https://www.cm2c.net/.”

Dispute :

Any dispute, contestation, failure to pay or difficulty of any kind relating to our services will be subject to the jurisdiction of the court, with the sole exception of cases subject to the rules of public order jurisdiction.

Should any provision of these terms and conditions be declared null and void or inapplicable as a result of a court decision or the application of a law or regulation, the remaining provisions of these terms and conditions shall remain in force. In the event of doubt as to the interpretation or validity of versions translated into another language, the French version shall prevail.

Last update: November 2024