3.1.1 We will provide carriage only to the Passenger named in the Ticket, and you may be required to produce appropriate identification.
3.1.2 A Ticket is not transferable, except as required by any locally applicable laws, in particular those of the European Community concerning package holidays.
3.1.3 Some Tickets are sold at discounted fares which may be partially or completely non-refundable. You should choose the fare best suited to your needs. You may also wish to ensure that you have appropriate insurance to cover instances where you have to cancel your Ticket.
3.1.4 If you have a Ticket, as described in Article 3.1.3, which is completely unused, and you are prevented from travelling due to Force Majeure, provided that you promptly advise us and furnish evidence of such Force Majeure, we will provide you with a credit of the non-refundable amount of the fare, for future travel on us, subject to deduction of a reasonable administration fee.
3.1.5 The Ticket is and remains at all times the property of the issuing carrier.
3.1.6 Except in the case of an Electronic Ticket, you shall not be entitled to be carried on a flight unless you present a valid Ticket containing the Flight Coupon for that flight and all other unused Flight Coupons and the Passenger Coupon. In addition, you shall not be entitled to be carried if the Ticket presented is mutilated or if it has been altered otherwise than by us or our Authorised Agent. In the case of an Electronic Ticket, you shall not be entitled to be carried on a flight unless you provide positive identification and a valid Electronic Ticket has been duly issued in your name.
3.1.7(a) In case of loss or mutilation of a Ticket (or part of it) by you or non-presentation of a Ticket containing the Passenger Coupon and all unused Flight Coupons, upon your request we will replace such Ticket (or part of it) by issuing a new Ticket, provided there is evidence, readily ascertainable at the time, that a Ticket valid for the flight(s) in question was duly issued and you sign an agreement to reimburse us for any costs and losses, up to the value of the original ticket, which are necessarily and reasonably incurred by us or another carrier for misuse of the Ticket. We will not claim reimbursement from you for any such losses which result from our own
negligence. The issuing carrier may charge a reasonable administration fee for this service, unless the loss or mutilation was due to the negligence of the issuing carrier, or its agent.
3.1.7(b) Where such evidence is not available or you do not sign such an agreement, the carrier issuing the new Ticket may require you to pay up to the full Ticket price for a replacement Ticket, subject to refund if and when the original issuing carrier is satisfied that the lost or mutilated Ticket has not been used before the expiry of its validity. If, upon finding the original Ticket before the expiry of its validity, you surrender it to the carrier issuing the new Ticket, the foregoing refund will be processed at that time.
3.1.8 A ticket is valuable and you should take appropriate measures to safeguard it and ensure it is not lost, stolen or damaged.
3.2.1 Except as otherwise provided in the Ticket, in these Conditions, or in applicable Tariffs (which may limit the validity of a ticket, in which case the limitation will be shown on the Ticket), a Ticket is valid for :
(b) subject to the first travel occurring within one year from the date of issue, one year from the date of first travel under the Ticket.
3.2.2 When you are prevented from travelling within the period of validity of the Ticket because at the time you request reservations we are unable to confirm a reservation, the validity of such Ticket will be extended, or you may be entitled to a refund in accordance with Article 10.
3.2.3 If after having commenced your journey, you are prevented from travelling within the period of validity of the Ticket by reason of illness, we may extend the period of validity of your Ticket until the date when you become fit to travel or until our first flight after such date, from the point where the journey is resumed on which space is available in the class of service for which the fare has been paid. Such illness must be attested to by a medical certificate. When the flight coupons remaining in the Ticket, or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, the electronic coupon, involve one or more Stopovers, the validity of such Ticket may be extended for not more than three months from the date shown on such certificate. In such circumstances, we will similarly extend the period of validity of Tickets of other members of your immediate family accompanying you.
3.2.4 In the event of death of a Passenger en route, the Tickets of persons accompanying the Passenger may be modified by waiving the minimum stay or extending the validity. In the event of a death in the immediate family of a Passenger who has commenced travel, the validity of the Passenger's Tickets and those of his or her immediate family who are accompanying the Passenger may likewise be modified. Any such modification shall be made upon receipt of a valid death certificate and a legally certified document indicating the relation of the passenger to the deceased. Any such extension of validity shall not be for a period longer than forty-five (45) Days from the date of the death.
3.3.1 The Ticket you have purchased is valid only for the transportation as shown on the Ticket, from the place of departure via any Agreed Stopping Places to the final destination. The fare you have paid is based upon our Tariff and is for the transportation as shown on the Ticket. It forms an essential part of our contract with you. The Ticket will not be honoured and will lose its validity if all the Coupons are not used in the sequence provided in the Ticket.
3.3.2 Should you wish to change any aspect of your transportation you must contact us in advance. The fare for your new transportation will be calculated and you will be given the option of accepting the new price or maintaining your original transportation as ticketed. Should you be required to change any aspect of your transportation due to Force Majeure, you must contact us as soon as practicable and we will use reasonable efforts to transport you to your next Stopover or final destination, without recalculation of the fare.
3.3.3 Should you change your transportation without our agreement, we will assess the correct price for your actual travel. You will have to pay any difference between the price you have paid and the total price applicable for your revised transportation. We will refund you the difference if the new price is lower, but otherwise your unused Coupons have no value.
3.3.4 Please be aware that while some types of changes will not result in a change of fare, others, such as changing the place of departure (for example, if you do not fly the first segment) or reversing the direction you travel, can result in an increase in price. Many special fares are valid only on the dates and for the flights shown on the Ticket and may not be changed at all, or may be changed only upon payment of an additional fee.
3.3.5 Each Flight Coupon contained in your Ticket will be accepted for carriage in the class of service on the date and flight for which space has been reserved. When a Ticket is originally issued without a reservation being specified, space may be later reserved subject to our Tariff and the availability of space on the flight requested.
3.3.6 Please be advised that in the event you do not show up for any flight without advising us in advance, we may cancel your return or onward reservations. However, if you do advise us in advance, we will not cancel your subsequent flight reservations.
Our name may be abbreviated to our Airline Designator Code, or otherwise, in the Ticket. Our address is Luqa Airport, LQA05, Malta.
In the reasonable exercise of our discretion, we may refuse to carry you or your Baggage if we have notified you in writing that we would not at any time after the date of such notice carry you on our flights. In this circumstance you will be entitled to a refund. We may also refuse to carry you or your Baggage if one or more of the following have occurred or we reasonably believe may occur:
7.1.1 such action is necessary in order to comply with any applicable government laws, regulations, or orders;
7.1.2 the carriage of you or your Baggage may endanger or affect the safety, health, or materially affect the comfort of other passengers or crew;
7.1.3 your mental or physical state, including your impairment from alcohol or drugs, presents a hazard or risk to yourself, to passengers, to crew, or to property;
7.1.4 you have refused to submit to a security check;
7.1.5 you have not paid the applicable fare, taxes, fees or charges;
7.1.6 you do not appear to have valid travel documents, may seek to enter a country through which you may be in transit, or for which you do not have valid travel documents, destroy your travel documents during flight or refuse to surrender your travel documents to the flight crew, against receipt, when so requested;
7.1.7 you present a Ticket that has been acquired unlawfully, has been purchased from an entity other than us or our Authorised Agent, has been reported as being lost or stolen, or is a counterfeit, or you cannot prove that you are the person named in the Ticket;
7.1.8 you have failed to comply with the requirements set forth in Article 3.3 above concerning coupon sequence and use, or you present a Ticket which has been issued or altered in any way, other than by us or our Authorised Agent, or the Ticket is mutilated;
7.1.9 you fail to observe our instructions with respect to safety or security;
7.1.10 you have previously committed one of the acts or omissions referred to above, and we have reason to believe that you may do so again.
7.2 SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Acceptance for carriage of unaccompanied children, incapacitated persons, pregnant women, persons with illness or other people requiring special assistance is subject to prior arrangement with us. Passengers with disabilities who have advised us of any special requirements they may have at the time of ticketing, and been accepted by us, shall not subsequently be refused carriage on the basis of such disability or special requirements.
ARTICLE 8 -BAGGAGE
8.1 FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
You may carry some Baggage, free of charge, subject to our conditions and limitations, which are available upon request from us or our Authorised Agents.
8.2 EXCESS BAGGAGE
You will be required to pay a charge for carriage of Baggage in excess of the free Baggage allowance. These rates are available from us upon request.
8.3 ITEMS UNACCEPTABLE AS BAGGAGE
8.3.1 You must not include in your Baggage:
8.3.1.1 items which are likely to endanger the aircraft or persons or property on board the aircraft, such as those specified in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations, and in our regulations (further information is available from us on request);
8.3.1.2 items the carriage of which is prohibited by the applicable laws, regulations or orders of any state to be flown from or to;
8.3.1.3 items which are reasonably considered by us to be unsuitable for carriage because they are dangerous or unsafe, or because of their weight, size, shape or character, or because they are fragile or perishable having regard to, among other things, the type of aircraft being used. Information about unacceptable items is available upon request.
8.3.2 Firearms and ammunition other than for hunting and sporting purposes are prohibited from carriage as Baggage. Firearms and ammunition for hunting and sporting purposes may be accepted as Checked Baggage. Firearms must be unloaded, with the safety catch on, and suitably packed. Carriage of ammunition is subject to ICAO and IATA regulations as specified in Article 8.3.1.1.
8.3.3 Weapons such as antique firearms, swords, knives and similar items may be accepted as Checked Baggage, at our discretion, but will not be permitted in the cabin of the aircraft.
8.3.4 You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.
8.3.5 If, despite being prohibited, any items referred to in Articles 8.3.1, 8.3.2 and 8.3.4 are included in your Baggage, we shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to such items.
8.4 RIGHT TO REFUSE CARRIAGE
8.4.1 Subject to Articles 8.3.2 and 8.3.3, we will refuse to carry as Baggage the items described in Article 8.3, and we may refuse further carriage of any such items upon discovery.
8.4.2 We may refuse to carry as Baggage any item reasonably considered by us to be unsuitable for carriage because of its size, shape, weight, content or character, or for safety or operational reasons, or in the interests of the comfort of other passengers. Information about unacceptable items is available upon request.
8.4.3 We may refuse to accept Baggage for carriage unless it is in our reasonable opinion properly and securely packed in suitable containers. Information about packing and containers unacceptable to us is available upon request.
8.5 RIGHT OF SEARCH
For reasons of safety and security we may request that you permit a search and scan of your person and a search, scan or x-ray of your Baggage. If you are not available, your Baggage may be searched in your absence for the purpose of determining whether you are in possession of or whether your Baggage contains any item described in Article 8.3.1 or any firearms, ammunition or weapons which have not been presented to us in accordance with Articles 8.3.2 or 8.3.3. If you are unwilling to comply with such request we may refuse to carry you and your Baggage. In the event a search or scan causes Damage to you, or an x-ray or scan causes damage to your Baggage, we shall not be liable for such Damage unless due to our fault or negligence.
8.6 CHECKED BAGGAGE
8.6.1 Upon delivery to us of your Baggage which you wish to check, we will take custody of, and issue a Baggage Identification Tag for, each piece of your Checked Baggage.
8.6.2 Checked Baggage must have your name or other personal identification affixed to it.
8.6.3 Checked Baggage will, whenever possible, be carried on the same aircraft as you, unless we decide for safety, security or operational reasons to carry it on an alternative flight. If your Checked Baggage is carried on a subsequent flight we will deliver it to you, unless applicable law requires you to be present for customs clearance.
8.7 UNCHECKED BAGGAGE
8.7.1 We may specify maximum dimensions and/or weight for Baggage which you carry on to the aircraft. If we have not done so, Baggage which you carry onto the aircraft must fit under the seat in front of you or in an enclosed storage compartment in the cabin of the aircraft. If your Baggage cannot be stored in this manner, or is of excessive weight, or is considered unsafe for any reason, it must be carried as Checked Baggage, subject to Articles 8.2 and 8.3.
8.7.2 Objects not suitable for carriage in the cargo compartment (such as delicate musical instruments), and which do not meet the requirements in Article 8.7.1 above, will only be accepted for carriage in the cabin compartment if you have given us notice in advance and permission has been granted by us. You may be required to pay a separate charge for this service.
8.8 COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF CHECKED BAGGAGE
8.8.1 Subject to Article 8.6.3, you are required to collect your Checked Baggage as soon as it is made available at your destination or Stopover. Should you not collect it within a reasonable time, we may charge you a storage fee. Should your Checked Baggage not be claimed within three (3) months of the time it is made available, we may dispose of it without any liability to you.
8.8.2 Only the bearer of the Baggage Check and Baggage Identification Tag is entitled to delivery of the Checked Baggage.
8.8.3 If a person claiming Checked Baggage is unable to produce the Baggage Check and identify the Baggage by means of a Baggage Identification Tag, we will deliver the Baggage to such person only on condition that he or she establishes to our satisfaction his or her right to the Baggage.
8.9 ANIMALS
We reserve the right, at our absolute discretion, to refuse to carry any animals. If we agree to carry any animals they will be carried subject to the following conditions:
8.9.1 You shall ensure that animals such as dogs, cats, household birds and other pets, are properly crated (or carried in a container complying with any applicable legal requirements) and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required by countries of entry or transit, failing which they will not be accepted for carriage. Such carriage may be subject to additional conditions specified by us, which are available on request.
8.9.2 If accepted as Baggage, the animal, together with its container and food, shall not be included in your free Baggage allowance, but shall constitute excess baggage, for which you will be obliged to pay the applicable rate.
8.9.3 Guide dogs accompanying Passengers with disabilities will be carried free of charge in addition to the normal free baggage allowance, subject to conditions specified by us, which are available on request.
8.9.4 Where carriage is not subject to the liability rules of the Convention, we are not responsible for injury to or loss, sickness or death of an animal which we have agreed to carry unless we have been negligent.
8.9.5 We will have no liability in respect of any such animal not having all the necessary exit, entry, health and other documents with respect to the animal's entry into or passage through any country, state or territory and the person carrying the animal must reimburse us for any fines, costs, losses or liabilities reasonably imposed or incurred by us as a result.
8.10 ITEMS REMOVED BY AIRPORT SECURITY PERSONNEL
We will not be responsible for, or have any liability in respect of, articles removed from your Baggage by airport security personnel acting in accordance with any applicable regulations.
ARTICLE 9 - SCHEDULES, DELAYS, CANCELLATION OF FLIGHTS
9.1 SCHEDULES
9.1.1 The flight times shown in timetables may change between the date of publication and the date you actually travel. We do not guarantee them to you and they do not form part of your contract with us.
9.1.2 Before we accept your booking, we will notify you of the scheduled flight time in effect as of that time, and it will be shown on your Ticket. It is possible we may need to change the scheduled flight time subsequent to issuance of your Ticket. If you provide us with contact information, we will endeavour to notify you of any such changes. If, after you purchase your Ticket, we make a significant change to the scheduled flight time, which is not acceptable to you, and we are unable to book you on an alternate flight which is acceptable to you, you will be entitled to a refund in accordance with Article 10.2. You shall therefore provide us with your contact details at time of reservation.
9.2 CANCELLATION, REROUTING, DELAYS, ETC.
9.2.1 We will take all necessary measures to avoid delay in carrying you and your Baggage. In the exercise of these measures and in order to prevent a flight cancellation, in exceptional circumstances we may arrange for a flight to be operated on our behalf by an alternative carrier and/or aircraft.
9.2.2 Except as otherwise provided by the Convention, if we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to the schedule, fail to stop at your destination or Stopover destination, or cause you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a confirmed reservation, we shall, at your option, either:
9.2.2.1 carry you at the earliest opportunity on another of our scheduled services on which space is available without additional charge and, where necessary, extend the validity of your Ticket; or
9.2.2.2 within a reasonable period of time re-route you to the destination shown on your Ticket by our own services or those of another carrier, or by other mutually agreed means and class of transportation without additional charge. If the fare and charges for the revised routing are lower than what you have paid, we shall refund the difference; or
9.2.2.3 make a refund in accordance with the provisions of Article 10.2.
9.2.3 Upon the occurrence of any of the matters set out in Article 9.2.2, except as otherwise provided by the Convention or applicable law (including in particular EC Regulation 261/2004), the options outlined in Article 9.2.2.1 to 9.2.2.3 are the sole and exclusive remedies available to you and we shall have no further liability to you.
9.3 DENIED BOARDING COMPENSATION
If we are unable to provide previously confirmed space, we shall provide compensation to those Passengers denied boarding in accordance with applicable law and our denied boarding compensation policy. A copy of our denied boarding compensation policy is available upon request.
ARTICLE 10 -REFUNDS
10.1 We will refund a Ticket or any unused portion, in accordance with the applicable fare rules or Tariff, as follows:
10.1.1 Except as otherwise provided in this Article, we shall be entitled to make a refund either to the person named in the Ticket or to the person who has paid for the Ticket, upon presentation of satisfactory proof of such payment.
10.1.2 If a Ticket has been paid for by a person other than the Passenger named in the Ticket, and the Ticket indicates that there is a restriction on refund, we shall make a refund only to the person who paid for the Ticket, or to that person's order.
10.1.3 Except in the case of a lost Ticket, refunds will only be made on surrender to us of the Ticket and all unused Flight Coupons.
10.2 INVOLUNTARY REFUNDS
10.2.1 If we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule, fail to stop at your destination or Stopover, or cause you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a reservation, the amount of the refund shall be:
10.2.1.1 if no portion of the Ticket has been used, an amount equal to the fare paid;
10.2.1.2 if a portion of the Ticket has been used, not less than the difference between the fare paid and the applicable fare for travel between the points for which the Ticket has been used.
10.3 VOLUNTARY REFUNDS
10.3.1 If you are entitled to a refund of your Ticket for reasons other than those set out in Article 10.2, the amount of the refund shall be:
10.3.1.1 if no portion of the Ticket has been used, an amount equal to the fare paid, less any reasonable service charges or cancellation fees;
10.3.1.2 if a portion of the Ticket has been used, an amount equal to the difference between the fare paid and the applicable fare for travel between the points for which the Ticket has been used, less any reasonable service charges or cancellation fees.
10.4 REFUND ON LOST TICKET
10.4.1 If you lose your Ticket or portion of it, upon your furnishing us with satisfactory proof of the loss, and paying a reasonable administration charge, refund will be made as soon as practicable after the expiry of the validity period of the Ticket, on condition:
10.4.1.1 that the lost Ticket, or portion of it, has not been used, previously refunded or replaced (except where the use, refund or replacement by or to a third party resulted from our own negligence).
10.4.1.2 that the person to whom the refund is made undertakes, in such form as may be prescribed by us, to repay to us the amount refunded in the event of fraud and/or to the extent that the lost Ticket or portion of it is used by a third party (except where any fraud or use by a third party resulted from our own negligence).
10.4.2 If we or our Authorised Agent lose the Ticket or a portion of it, the loss shall be our responsibility.
10.5 RIGHT TO REFUSE REFUND
10.5.1 We may refuse a refund where application is made after the expiry of the validity of the Ticket.
10.5.2 We may refuse a refund on a Ticket which has been presented to us, or to Government officials, as evidence of intention to depart from that country, unless you establish to our satisfaction that you have permission to remain in the country or that you will depart from that country by another carrier or another means of transport.
10.6 CURRENCY
We reserve the right to make a refund in the same manner and the same currency used to pay for the Ticket.
10.7 BY WHOM TICKET REFUNDABLE
Voluntary refunds will be made only by the carrier which originally issued the Ticket or by its agent if so authorised.
ARTICLE 11 - CONDUCT ABOARD AIRCRAFT
11.1 GENERAL
If, in our reasonable opinion, you conduct yourself aboard the aircraft so as to endanger the aircraft or any person or property on board, or obstruct the crew in the performance of their duties, or fail to comply with any instructions of the crew, including but not limited to those with respect to smoking, alcohol or drug consumption, or behave in a manner which causes discomfort, inconvenience, damage or injury to other passengers or the crew, we may take such measures as we deem reasonably necessary to prevent continuation of such conduct, including restraint. You may be disembarked and refused onward carriage at any point, and may be prosecuted for offences committed on board the aircraft.
11.2 PAYMENT OF DIVERSION COSTS
If, as a result of conduct by you of the sort mentioned in Article 11.1 we decide, in the exercise of our reasonable discretion, to divert the aircraft for the purpose of offloading you, you must pay all costs resulting from that diversion.
11.3 ELECTRONIC DEVICES
For safety reasons, we may forbid or limit operation aboard the aircraft of electronic equipment, including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, laptop computers, portable recorders, portable radios, CD players, electronic games or transmitting devices, including radio controlled toys and walkie-talkies. Operation of hearing aids and heart pacemakers is permitted.
11.4 INTOXICATION
No person may board an Air Malta aircraft when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
No person may be permitted to drink alcoholic beverages on board the aircraft unless served to them by the cabin crew as stipulated in the terms and conditions which the passenger agrees to when booking the flight ticket.
Cabin Crew shall not serve alcoholic beverages to any person on board who appears to be intoxicated and to passengers under 18 years of age.
ARTICLE 12 - ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES
12.1 If we make arrangements for you with any third party to provide any services other than carriage by air, or if we issue a ticket or voucher relating to transportation or services (other than carriage by air) provided by a third party such as hotel reservations or car rental, in doing so we act only as your agent. The terms and conditions of the third party service provider will apply.
12.2 If we are also providing surface transportation to you, other conditions may apply to such surface transportation. Such conditions are available from us upon request.
ARTICLE 13 -ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES
13.1 GENERAL
13.1.1 You are responsible for obtaining all required travel documents and visas and for complying with all laws, regulations, orders, demands and travel requirements of countries to be flown from, into or through which you transit.
13.1.2 We shall not be liable for the consequences to any Passenger resulting from his or her failure to obtain such documents or visas or to comply with such laws, regulations, orders, demands, requirements, rules or instructions.
13.2 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Prior to travel, you must present all exit, entry, health and other documents required by law, regulation, order, demand or other requirement of the countries concerned, and permit us to take and retain copies thereof. We reserve the right to refuse carriage if you have not complied with these requirements, or your travel documents do not appear to be in order.
13.3 REFUSAL OF ENTRY
If you are denied entry into any country, you will be responsible to pay any fine or charge assessed against us by the Government concerned and for the cost of transporting you from that country. The fare collected for carriage to the point of refusal or denied entry will not be refunded by us.
13.4 PASSENGER RESPONSIBLE FOR FINES, DETENTION COSTS, ETC.
If we are required to pay any fine or penalty or to incur any expenditure by reason of your failure to comply with laws, regulations, orders, demands or other travel requirements of the countries concerned or to produce the required documents, you shall reimburse us on demand any amount so paid or expenditure so incurred. We may apply towards such payment or expenditure the value of any unused carriage on your ticket, or any of your funds in our possession.
13.5 CUSTOMS INSPECTION
If required, you shall attend inspection of your Baggage, by customs or other Government officials. We are not liable to you for any loss or damage suffered by you in the course of such inspection or through your failure to comply with this requirement.
13.6 SECURITY INSPECTION
You shall submit to any security checks by Governments, airport officials, Carriers or by us.
ARTICLE 14 - SUCCESSIVE CARRIERS
Carriage to be performed by us and other Carriers under one Ticket or a Conjunction Ticket is regarded as a single operation for the purposes of the Convention. However, your attention is drawn to Article 15.5.1.
ARTICLE 15 - LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE
15.1 APPLICABILITY
The liability of each carrier involved in your journey will be determined by its own conditions of carriage. Our liability provisions are as follows:
15.2 APPLICABLE RULES
The rules applicable to our liability shall be as provided by: the Convention, to the extent it applies;
- EC Regulation 2027/97 as amended by EC Regulation 889/2002 (when such amendment is effective); and
- to the extent not inconsistent with the above, applicable national law.
15.3 DEATH OF OR INJURY TO PASSENGERS
15.3.1 There shall be no artificial limit to the amount of our liability for death, wounding or bodily injury suffered by a Passenger in the event of an accident on board the aircraft or in the course of embarking or disembarking.
15.3.2 For any damages up to the sum of the equivalent of 128,821 Special Drawing Rights, we shall not exclude or limit our liability by proving that we and our agents have taken all necessary measures to avoid the damage or that it was impossible for us or our agents to take such measures.
15.3.3 Above the level of 128,821 Special Drawing Rights we shall be entitled to the defences available under the Convention.
15.3.4 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 15.3.2, if we prove that the damage was caused by, or contributed to by, the negligence of the injured or deceased Passenger, we may be exonerated wholly or partly from our liability in accordance with applicable law.
15.3.5 We shall, without delay, and in any event not later than fifteen days after the identity of the natural person entitled to compensation has been established, make such advance payments as may be required to meet immediate economic needs on a basis proportionate to the hardship suffered. Such payment shall be of an amount not less than the equivalent of 15,000 Special Drawing Rights (or 16,000 when EC Regulation 889/2002 has come into effect) per Passenger in the event of death.
15.3.6 An advance payment shall not constitute recognition of liability and may be offset against any subsequent sums paid on the basis of our liability, but is not returnable, except in the cases described in Article 15.3.4 or in circumstances where it is subsequently proved that the person who received the advance payment caused, or contributed to, the damage by negligence or was not the person entitled to compensation.
15.3.7 We are not responsible for any illness, injury or disability, including death, attributable to your physical condition or for the aggravation of such condition.
15.4 BAGGAGE
15.4.1 Except in the case of an act or omission done with intent to cause damage or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result, our liability in the case of damage to Baggage shall be limited as provided by the Convention:
- where the Warsaw Convention applies, the limit will normally be 17 Special Drawing Rights per kilo for Checked Baggage and 332 Special Drawing Rights for Unchecked Baggage;
- where the Montreal Convention applies, the limit will be 1,288 Special Drawing Rights per Passenger (for both Checked and Unchecked Baggage); provided that if in accordance with applicable law different limits of liability are applicable such different limits shall apply. If the weight of your Checked Baggage is not recorded on the baggage check, it is presumed that the total weight of the Checked Baggage does not exceed the applicable free baggage allowance for the class of carriage concerned.
15.4.1 If at the time that your checked baggage is handed over to the Carrier, you have made a special declaration of interest in delivery at destination and have paid the supplementary sum, the liability of the Carrier shall be the sum not exceeding the declared sum, unless it is proved that the sum is greater than your actual interest in delivery at destination.
15.4.2 We will not be liable for damage to Unchecked Baggage unless such damage is caused by our negligence.
15.4.3 We are not liable for any damage caused by your Baggage. You shall be responsible for any damage caused by your Baggage to other persons or property, including our property.
15.4.4 We shall have no liability whatsoever for damage to articles not permitted to be contained in Checked Baggage under Article 8.3, including fragile or perishable items, items having a special value, such as money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities, or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents, or samples.
15.5 GENERAL
15.5.1 If we issue a ticket or if we check Baggage for carriage on another carrier, we do so only as agent for the other Carrier. Nevertheless, with respect to Checked Baggage, you may make a claim against the first or last Carrier.
15.5.2 We are not liable for any damage arising from our compliance with or your failure to comply with applicable laws or Government rules and regulations.
15.5.3 Except as may be specifically provided otherwise in these Conditions of Carriage or by applicable law, we shall be liable to you only for recoverable compensatory damages for proven losses.
15.5.4 The contract of carriage, including these Conditions of Carriage and exclusions or limits of liability, applies to our authorised agents, servants, employees and representatives to the same extent as it and they apply to us. The total amount recoverable from us and from such authorised agents, employees, representatives and persons shall not exceed the amount of our own liability, if any.
15.5.5 Nothing in these Conditions of Carriage shall waive any exclusion or limitation of our liability under the Convention or applicable laws unless otherwise expressly stated.
15.5.6 Nothing in these Conditions of Carriage shall waive any exclusion or limitation of our liability or any defence available to us under the Convention or applicable laws as against any public social insurance body or any person who is liable to pay compensation or has paid compensation in respect of the death, wounding or other bodily injury of a Passenger.
ARTICLE 16 - TIME LIMITATION ON CLAIMS AND ACTIONS
16.1 NOTICE OF CLAIMS
Acceptance of Baggage by the bearer of the Baggage Check without complaint at the time of delivery is sufficient evidence that the Baggage has been delivered in good condition and in accordance with the contract of carriage, unless you prove otherwise.
If you wish to file a claim or an action regarding Damage to Checked Baggage, you must notify us as soon as you discover the Damage, and at the latest, within seven (7) Days of receipt of the Baggage. If you wish to file a claim or an action regarding delay of Checked Baggage, you must notify us within twenty-one (21) Days from the date the Baggage has been placed at your disposal. Every such notification must be made in writing.
16.2 LIMITATION OF ACTIONS
Any right to damages shall be extinguished if an action is not brought within two years of the date of arrival at destination, or the date on which the aircraft was scheduled to arrive, or the date on which the carriage stopped.
The method of calculating the period of limitation shall be determined by the law of the court where the case is heard.
ARTICLE 17 - OTHER CONDITIONS
Carriage of you and your Baggage is also provided in accordance with certain other regulations and conditions applying to or adopted by us. These regulations and conditions as varied from time to time are important. They concern among other things:
(i) the carriage of unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, and sick passengers,
(ii) restrictions on use of electronic devices and items;
(iii) the on board consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Regulations concerning these matters are available from us upon request.
ARTICLE 18 – INTERPRETATION
The title of each Article of these Conditions of Carriage is for convenience only, and is not to be used for interpretation of the text.