Our Promise & Your Commitment.

Welcome to the Westward Ballooning family. We're in the business of creating "once-in-a-lifetime" moments, but because those moments involve wind, weather and aviation law, we need to have some rules. These Terms & Conditions form the complete agreement between you and Westward Ballooning.

Our Promise & Your Commitment.

Welcome to the Westward Ballooning family. We're in the business of creating "once-in-a-lifetime" moments, but because those moments involve wind, weather and aviation law, we need to have some rules. These Terms & Conditions form the complete agreement between you and Westward Ballooning.

1. Booking & Payments.

Full Confirmation: Your adventure is only confirmed once full payment is received.

Direct Purchase: Flight Vouchers for Intimate, Kindred or Fiesta Flights can be purchased directly via our website.

Legal Capacity: You must be at least 18 years old to purchase any voucher or flight from us.

Accuracy is Key: You are responsible for ensuring all information provided (names, contact details and weights) is 100% accurate. We use this data for flight safety and maniifests.

Your Deposit & Balance: Securing your flight requires a deposit at the time of booking. The remaining balance for your flight is due 14 days before your scheduled departure.

Short-Notice Bookings: Because our online system secures only your deposit at checkout, if you are booking a flight within that 14-day departure window, the remaining balance must be settled within 48 hours of placing your deposit.

Keeping Things on Schedule: To ensure our pilots and crew can prepare your flight, balances must be settled within these timeframes. If a balance is missed, we may have to release your exclusive slot, and the deposit will be retained to cover our flight operational costs.

1. Booking & Payments.

Full Confirmation: Your adventure is only confirmed once full payment is received.

Direct Purchase: Flight Vouchers for Intimate, Kindred or Fiesta Flights can be purchased directly via our website.

Legal Capacity: You must be at least 18 years old to purchase any voucher or flight from us.

Accuracy is Key: You are responsible for ensuring all information provided (names, contact details and weights) is 100% accurate. We use this data for flight safety and manifests.

Your Deposit & Balance: Securing your flight requires a deposit at the time of booking. The remaining balance for your flight is due 14 days before your scheduled departure.

Short-Notice Bookings: Because our online system secures only your deposit at checkout, if you are booking a flight within that 14-day departure window, the remaining balance must be settled within 48 hours of placing your deposit.

Keeping Things on Schedule: To ensure our pilots and crew can prepare your flight, balances must be settled within these timeframes. If a balance is missed, we may have to release your exclusive slot, and the deposit will be retained to cover our flight operational costs.

2. Flight and Gift Vouchers.

Our vouchers are designed to be as flexible and accommodating as reasonably possible. To ensure we can offer the best service, we categorise the as follows.

Multi-Purpose Credit: All Westward Flight and Gift Vouchers are multi-purpose. Prior to being redeemed for a flight, the credit can be used for other Westward Ballooning products, including children's clothing, books and official merchandise.

Gift Vouchers (GV): Valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. These are non-refundable.

Flight Vouchers (FV): If purchased directly, these are valid for 24 months from the date of purchase. If converted from a GV, these are valid for 24 months from the date of conversion.

The "3-Attempt" Rule: If nature is particularly stubborn and we have to cancel 3 of your scheduled flight attempts within your validity period, we will extend your voucher for another 12 months, free of charge.

Pregnancy Extension: If you become pregnant during your voucher's validity and are therefor unable to fly, we will extend your voucher by 12 months to ensure that you don't miss out on your adventure.

Expired Voucher Recovery: If your voucher expires, we offer a "Life-Line" to reactivate it:

- Year 1 past expiry: £75 per person.

- Subsequent years: £75 plus an additional £3.75 per person for every year since the original date of expiry.

2. Flight and Gift Vouchers.

Our vouchers are designed to be as flexible and accommodating as reasonably possible. To ensure we can offer the best service, we categorise the as follows.

Multi-Purpose Credit: All Westward Flight and Gift Vouchers are multi-purpose. Prior to being redeemed for a flight, the credit can be used for other Westward Ballooning products, including children's clothing, books and official merchandise.

Gift Vouchers (GV): Valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. These are non-refundable.

Flight Vouchers (FV): If purchased directly, these are valid for 24 months from the date of purchase. If converted from a GV, these are valid for 24 months from the date of conversion.

The "3-Attempt" Rule: If nature is particularly stubborn and we have to cancel 3 of your scheduled flight attempts within your validity period, we will extend your voucher for another 12 months, free of charge.

Pregnancy Extension: If you become pregnant during your voucher's validity and are therefor unable to fly, we will extend your voucher by 12 months to ensure that you don't miss out on your adventure.

Expired Voucher Recovery: If your voucher expires, we offer a "Life-Line" to reactivate it:

- Year 1 past expiry: £75 per person.

- Subsequent years: £75 plus an additional £3.75 per person for every year since the original date of expiry.

3. Health, Safety & Eligibility.

Hot air ballooning is an adventure sport. While our pilots are experts, you must be fit to fly.

Mobility: You must be able to board and exit the basket unassisted.

Fitness to Fly: It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you, or anyone flying whilst in your care, are medically and physically fit to fly. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, recent surgeries, or physical disabilities, you must consult a medical professional before booking or flying.

Age: You must be at least 7 years old to participate.

Communication & Language: For safety reasons, all passengers must be able to understand and speak English. This is to ensure you can follow safety briefings and vital instructions from the pilot and crew during all phases of flight.

Pregnancy: For safety reasons, we cannot fly anyone who is pregnant. (See Section 2 for free extension details).

Diving: If you have been diving within 24 hours of your scheduled flight time, you must consult a medical or diving professional regarding the risks of altitude-related decompression sickness before participating.

Weight Limits: Our balloons have a "weight-to-volume" ratio. For all flight types, if a passenger is over 18 stone (115kg), a weight supplement may apply to ensure we can fly safely.

The "Sober" Rule: If the pilot reasonably believes you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will not fly. No refund or rescheduling will be offered.

The Passenger Manifest: For essential flight balancing, we ask that you complete your secure Passenger Manifest Form as soon as your deposit is placed so your pilot has everything they need.

Why Accuracy Matters: Hot air ballooning requires exact weight calculations for the balloon to safely take flight. If a flight cannot proceed on the launch line because the passenger names or weights provided were inaccurate, we won’t be able to offer a refund or a reschedule for that slot.

3. Health, Safety & Eligibility.

Hot air ballooning is an adventure sport. While our pilots are experts, you must be fit to fly.

Mobility: You must be able to board and exit the basket unassisted.

Fitness to Fly: It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you, or anyone flying whilst in your care, are medically and physically fit to fly. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, recent surgeries, or physical disabilities, you must consult a medical professional before booking or flying.

Age: You must be at least 7 years old to participate.

Communication & Language: For safety reasons, all passengers must be able to understand and speak English. This is to ensure you can follow safety briefings and vital instructions from the pilot and crew during all phases of flight.

Pregnancy: For safety reasons, we cannot fly anyone who is pregnant. (See Section 2 for free extension details).

Diving: If you have been diving within 24 hours of your scheduled flight time, you must consult a medical or diving professional regarding the risks of altitude-related decompression sickness before participating.

Weight Limits: Our balloons have a "weight-to-volume" ratio. For all flight types, if a passenger is over 18 stone (115kg), a weight supplement may apply to ensure we can fly safely.

The "Sober" Rule: If the pilot reasonably believes you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will not fly. No refund or rescheduling will be offered.

The Passenger Manifest: For essential flight balancing, we ask that you complete your secure Passenger Manifest Form as soon as your deposit is placed so your pilot has everything they need.

Why Accuracy Matters: Hot air ballooning requires exact weight calculations for the balloon to safely take flight. If a flight cannot proceed on the launch line because the passenger names or weights provided were inaccurate, we won’t be able to offer a refund or a reschedule for that slot.

4. The Flight Experience.

Pilot Authority: The Pilot-in-Command has the final word on everything - duration, landing site and whether the flight happens at all. Safety is our top priority.

Flight Time: We aim for 45-60 minutes in the air, but this is subject to wind and landing opportunities.

Launch Sites: We reserve the right to move to a nearby alternative launch site to get you airborne if your chosen site has operational limitations.

4. The Flight Experience.

Pilot Authority: The Pilot-in-Command has the final word on everything - duration, landing site and whether the flight happens at all. Safety is our top priority.

Flight Time: We aim for 45-60 minutes in the air, but this is subject to wind and landing opportunities.

Launch Sites: We reserve the right to move to a nearby alternative launch site to get you airborne if your chosen site has operational limitations.

5. If You Need to Change Your Plans.

We know life happens. If you need to cancel or reschedule, the following rules apply.

7+ Days Notice: Refund (minus an 8% admin fee) or free Reschedule.

48 Hours to 7 Days: Free Reschedule to a new date. No refunds.

Less then 48 Hours: No rescheduling or refunds possible.

No-Shows: Failure to arrive on time results in the loss of your flight with no refund and no rescheduling.

5. If You Need to Change Your Plans.

We know life happens. If you need to cancel or reschedule, the following rules apply.

7+ Days Notice: Refund (minus an 10% admin fee) or free Reschedule.

48 Hours to 7 Days: Free Reschedule to a new date. No refunds.

Less then 48 Hours: No rescheduling or refunds possible.

No-Shows: Failure to arrive on time results in the loss of your flight with no refund and no rescheduling.

6. If We Cancel (Refund Reassurance).

If we cancel your flight due to weather, safety or logistical reasons:

Instant Reschedule: You'll get a personal link to our real-time diary to pick a new date immediately.

The Refund Option: If you can't fly again, we will refund your payment to the original method of payment, minus an 8% fee.

The 8% Fee: To cover non-refundable costs paid to our booking platform and transaction providers, weather-related refunds are subject to an 8% deduction.

6. If We Cancel (Refund Reassurance).

If we cancel your flight due to weather, safety or logistical reasons:

Instant Reschedule: You'll get a personal link to our real-time diary to pick a new date immediately.

The Refund Option: If you can't fly again, we will refund your payment to the original method of payment, minus an 10% fee.

The 10% Fee: To cover non-refundable costs paid to our booking platform and transaction providers, weather-related refunds are subject to an 10% deduction.

7. The Fiesta Flight.

Refunds: Fiesta Flights are refundable minus 25% to cover event-specific overheads.

Standard Transfer: If cancelled due to weather, your voucher remains valid for two years for a standard Intimate or Kindred Flight, depending on the passenger numbers in your Fiesta Flight booking.

Fiesta Deferral: You may choose to transfer your flight to the following year's Fiesta for a £75 per person supplement.

7. The Fiesta Flight.

Refunds: Fiesta Flights are refundable minus 25% to cover event-specific overheads.

Standard Transfer: If cancelled due to weather, your voucher remains valid for two years for a standard Intimate or Kindred Flight, depending on the passenger numbers in your Fiesta Flight booking.

Fiesta Deferral: You may choose to transfer your flight to the following year's Fiesta for a £75 per person supplement.

8. Media, Communications & Marketing.

Capturing the Magic: Unless you explicitly notify us otherwise in writing before your flight, you consent to Westward Ballooning taking photographs and videos of you during your experience for marketing, social media, or other business purposes.

Communications: By booking, you agree to receive SMS and phone calls regarding your flight status and safety.

8. Media, Communications & Marketing.

Capturing the Magic: Unless you explicitly notify us otherwise in writing before your flight, you consent to Westward Ballooning taking photographs and videos of you during your experience for marketing, social media, or other business purposes.

Communications: By booking, you agree to receive SMS and phone calls regarding your flight status and safety.

9. The "Boring but Important" Bits.

Intellectual Property: All content on our site belongs to Westward Ballooning.

Amendments: We reserve the right to amend these terms without notice.

Consumer Rights: Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under UK law.

9. The "Boring but Important" Bits.

Intellectual Property: All content on our site belongs to Westward Ballooning.

Amendments: We reserve the right to amend these terms without notice.

Consumer Rights: Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under UK law.

Ready to Fly?

By ticking that "I Agree" box at checkout, you're confirming that you've read, understood, and accepted these terms. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.

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Ready to Fly?

By ticking that "I Agree" box at checkout, you're confirming that you've read, understood, and accepted these terms. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.