This document consists of 6 parts:
- Participant Responsibilities
- Booking Terms and Conditions
- Cancellation Policies
- Explanations and Definitions
- COVID Policy
- Participant & Insurance Contract
In order to confirm and join a trip with Triple Point Expeditions, LLC you must read, agree to, and sign the contract below:
1. PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES
1) You will be required to follow the safety policies and procedures of Triple Point Expeditions, LLC and your Guide's and Pilot’s instructions during all activities: and
2) You will be required to read, agree to, and sign the Terms and Conditions Agreement at the time of booking: and
3) You will be required to read, agree to, and sign the RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT in favor of Triple Point Expeditions, LLC before beginning any package or day trip: and
4) You will be required to participate in and read, agree to, and sign the Safety and Helicopter Briefings Acknowledgement before beginning any package or day trip: and
5) You agree and acknowledge when you reserve a Triple Point Expeditions, LLC package or trip that you have significant responsibility for your own safety and you agree that you are ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE for your own safety during participation in a Triple Point Expeditions, LLC package or trip; and
6) You agree and acknowledge that when you reserve a Triple Point Expeditions, LLC package or trip that you are ultimately responsible for understanding Triple Point Expeditions, LLC’s financial and operational policies; and
7) You agree and acknowledge that you fill out all waivers, contracts, booking and pre-trip forms in a timely manner; and
8) You agree to abide by Triple Point Expeditions, LLC’s COVID-19 policies.
Booking for Other Guests:
When booking for other guests, the individual or party paying is responsible for all the policies and details in this Terms and Conditions Agreement.
Failure to complete any of the above responsibilities may result in the cancellation of your booking and no refunds will be given.
2. BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By paying your deposit to confirm your space on a Triple Point Expeditions, LLC heli-ski trip, you are agreeing to our Booking Terms and Conditions below (the “Terms of Booking”). As per your deposit confirmation, you have 48 hours from the time of your deposit to review the Terms of Booking after which date your deposit will become non-refundable in accordance with these Terms of Bookings.
- All rates and deposits are in USD. Rates are subject to change without notice.
Requirements For Booking:
- Your initial deposit is equal to 50% of your total trip cost (the ‘Deposit’) for each trip that you are applying to book is Non-Refundable after 48 hours from payment and is due at the time of booking.
- The remaining balance / full / final payments for all heli-ski trips are due November 1st before the commencement date for all trips booked; and that in cases where these full payments are not received by November 1st, Triple Point Expeditions, LLC reserves the right to release these spaces and you will forfeit your Deposit. Further, all payments for all heli-ski trips are deemed Deposits for the purposes of the terms of this booking and are non-refundable.
- Reservation made after November 1st (of the year before your trip) payment is due in full.
- You have 48 hours from the time of your deposit to review the Terms and Conditions Agreement after which date your deposit will become non-refundable in accordance with these Terms of Bookings.
- You have 48 hours from the time of your deposit to review the RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT in favor of Triple Point Expeditions, LLC after which date your deposit will become non-refundable in accordance with these Terms of Bookings.
- You must complete a booking reservation form at time of booking.
Requirements For Booking Recap:
- Triple Point Expeditions, LLC requires a 50% non-refundable deposit to reserve your trip. The balance payment is due by November 1st (of the year before your trip). All payments made are non transferable and non refundable.
- If the reservation is made after November 1st (of the year before your trip) payment is due in full.
- The 50% deposit, a signed Participant and Insurance Contract (see below), and all other applicable forms are required to confirm your reservation. The Participant and Insurance Contract is a written acknowledgement of Triple Point Expeditions, LLC’s policies, as set forth in this Terms and Conditions Agreement.
- You have 48 hours from the time of your deposit to review the Terms and Conditions Agreement after which date your deposit will become non-refundable in accordance with these Terms of Bookings.
- You have 48 hours from the time of your deposit to review the RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT after which date your deposit will become non-refundable in accordance with these Terms of Bookings.
- Failure to pay the balance by the assigned due date, may result in the cancellation of your reservation, and no refund will be given. There are no exceptions. See Cancellation Policies below.
3. CANCELLATION POLICIES
Participant Cancellation Policy
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC requires all cancellations be received and confirmed in writing by emailing: shred@triplepointexpeditions.com.
All deposits are non-refundable. Portions of payments are transferable as outlined below.
The initial 50% deposit is non-refundable. Deposits and or payments associated with cancellations made before December 1st (of the year before the trip) or 4 months prior to the first day of the session dates; (whichever comes first) are transferable only to the immediate following season if you are able to find a replacement guest for you and or your group.
Deposits cannot be transferred to any other winter season. If you are unable to fill your session all monies are forfeited and no credits will be applied.
If you can find a replacement guest for the same booking (name change), you will incur no financial penalties. It is the responsibility of the guest, not Triple Point Expeditions, LLC, to find a valid space replacement. For safety reasons, a valid space replacement is subject to the replacement guest’s weight and ski ability being appropriate for the program they are joining.
As part of our continuing effort to enhance all aspects of the safety of our skiing and flight operations we manage the weight of our skiing groups. Group bookings are responsible for ensuring that guests joining the trip do not exceed the regulated maximum operable weight of the helicopter.
If the weight of your group or replacement individual exceeds the maximum operable weight there will be impacts to your ski experience, such as not being able to land on certain runs, more frequent fuel flights due to the reduced amount of fuel we can carry and occasionally skiing runs without the second guide in the group when the total weight is excessive.
If no replacement is found and the remaining guests in the group travel on the scheduled Triple Point Expeditions, LLC trip, the remaining guests will be responsible for the cost of the canceled space.
If the entire group cancels, priority for the same trip in the following season will be forfeited.
All cancellations after December 1st (of the year before the trip) or within 4 months of the trip start date (whichever comes first) will not receive a trip credit or refund.
It is the responsibility of the guests to arrive at the Triple Point Expeditions, LLC departure sites at the required times; and it is their responsibility for any extra costs incurred if a scheduled Triple Point Expeditions, LLC departure is missed. It is also the guests’ responsibility to ensure proper entry through United States Customs and Immigration if entering from outside the United States. Refunds of payments made will not be given in cases where entry into the United States has been denied.
Participant Cancellation Recap:
- The 50% deposit is non-refundable no matter when the guest cancels.
- Deposits associated with cancellations made before December 1st (of the year before the trip) or 4 months prior to the first day of the session dates; (whichever comes first) are transferable only the immediate following season if you are able to find a replacement for you and or your group.
- If the guest cancels after December 1st (of the year before the trip), or less than 4 months prior to the start date (whichever comes first), zero funds will be refunded or credited.
Based on the above risks that are out of our control, we highly recommend travel insurance.
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC’s Cancellation Policy
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC reserves the right to cancel any portion or all of the trip at any time due to weather, avalanche hazards and any other safety concerns.
Additionally, Triple Point Expeditions, LLC reserves the right to cancel any portion or all of the trip at any time due to riots, warlike conditions, governmental restrictions or restrictions by environmental authorities, restrictions in production (maintenance parts), restricted supply of fuel, strike, lockout, epidemics, pandemic, explosion, fire, catastrophe, major engine or other aircraft component failure, or any acts of God, over which Triple Point Expeditions, LLC has no control.
Should events beyond the reasonable control of Triple Point Expeditions, LLC, including but not limited to force majeure, government regulation or advisory (including travel advisory warnings), pandemic, terrorism or threats of terrorism as substantiated by governmental warnings or advisory notices, curtailment of transportation services or facilities which would materially affect attendees from attending, disaster, fire, earthquakes or extreme inclement weather (collectively referred to as "occurrences"), making your trip commercially impracticable, impracticable to perform, illegal, or impossible to fully perform, Triple Point Expeditions, LLC may cancel your trip and terminate your booking, upon written notification. In such circumstances, please refer to Triple Point Expeditions, LLC cancellation policy for more information on how we’ll handle your deposit and payment. Triple Point Expeditions, LLC will not be liable for any liquidated damages, cancellation fees, rental charges, service charges, or any direct, consequential, compensatory, incidental damages or any other damages or amounts of any nature whatsoever.
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC reserves the right to cancel any or all of the trip based on an outside contractor or other operations inability to complete or perform their function or service to the trip (such as but not limited to helicopter charter).
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC cannot guarantee favorable snow conditions, avalanche conditions, weather or air transportation. Based on safety or unfavorable conditions we reserve the right to cancel the trip for any reason at any time.
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC reserves the right to cancel any or all of the trip based on the current booking climate, sales forecasts and / or the projected profitability of a below full occupancy week.
The reasons for the cancellation of the trip will determine the amount that Triple Point Expeditions, LLC can refund. In the event that Triple Point Expeditions, LLC cannot provide any of the contracted services we will refund any unused portion of the trip where expenses have not already been incurred before, during or preceding the guest’s arrival.
Based on the above risks that are out of our control, we highly recommend travel insurance.
4. EXPLANATIONS AND DEFINITIONS
Additional Refunds and Credits
Except where otherwise specified, no refunds or credits are given.
Stipulations that apply to all refunds and/or credits are outlined above. No refunds or credits are issued in part or in whole due to late arrival or early departure. No refunds or credits are issued for missed skiing due to skiing ability, fitness, equipment failure, or personal choice. If a skier becomes injured, ill, or requests to leave the field prematurely for any reason, no refund or credit will be issued. Flight time resulting from an evacuation or early departure from the field may result in an additional charge.
Hobbs
The helicopter cost is based on actual flying time as measured on the Hobbs meter (“Hobbs time” or “Hobbs hours”) which is defined as the amount of time the helicopter actually flies. Hobbs time does not include those periods where the helicopter is idling or sitting on the ground in the field. Billed Hobbs time is based on a Daily Flight Report by the Pilot, and is calculated to the 1/10th of an hour. Any estimated Hobbs totals provided to the customer by Triple Point Expeditions, LLC staff are not guaranteed, they are just estimates.
Any unused Hobbs time is forfeited and not rolled forward to future seasons.
How to Understand Hobbs Hours
The helicopter hobbs meter clocks time in flight. The amount of skiing possible for every hour of hobbs time varies with the weather, snow conditions, group or individual priorities, group or individual weight and the groups or individuals ability / fitness level.
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC expects groups to utilize any and all opportunities to fly during their time with us. We will not extend Hobbs credit if skiing opportunities are missed due to skiing ability, fitness, equipment failure, or personal choice. Hobbs credit will not be extended if you don’t come, miss flights or leave early.
How to Understand Hobbs Overage:
Additional Hobbs over your package amount will be billed at the current rate per hour and broken into 1/10th’s of an hour increments. Hobbs overage will be divided evenly amongst the guests that extend beyond their package allotment. Triple Point Expeditions, LLC cannot foresee which guests will choose to extend into overage and guests must be aware that the decisions of the other guests on their week may impact the logistics and financial ramifications of overage they could incur.
Please note: The Hobbs billable rate is subject to change based on fuel prices, helicopter availability, etc.
You will only pay for the hours you choose to go over your prepaid amount and you will only pay for what you actually fly.
The Weather
As with heli-skiing anywhere in the world, poor weather-related flying conditions could limit our ability to attain our objectives, whether in vertical feet or in Hobbs hours. Weather forecasting is notoriously difficult and often inaccurate in Alaska, and we encourage our guests not to make major decisions based on long-term weather outlooks.
Your Guides and Pilots
Many of our Guides and Pilots are requested by returning guests. We will always do our best to put our guests with their preferred Guides and Pilots. However, we cannot guarantee a specific Guide or Pilot, and any requests are not contractual by nature.
Maximum Operable Weights
A primary limitation of helicopters is the weight they can carry in flight. When stating your weight at the time of booking, please be accurate. Upon arrival, all guests will be weighed in their ski gear. After tallying weights, we reserve the right to split groups to configure the total weights appropriately.
Safety and Helicopter Briefings
Prior to skiing with Triple Point Expeditions, LLC, you must complete the Triple Point Expeditions, LLC Safety and Helicopter briefings. For returning guests, the briefing must be completed every year with no exceptions. Unless prior arrangements are made, please plan on attending the briefing the morning of your first day of skiing.
Groupings
We typically ski in groups of four guests. Many groups book in groups of four or eight. For individuals and groups of three or less, we do our best to match you with riders looking for a similar experience by using information from our onboarding form. Groupings are of the utmost importance and we make every effort to combine like minded and equally skilled riders. That being said we cannot make guarantees that every group will be an exact fit when it comes to fitness, ability level, etc.
Ski and Snowboard Equipment
Quality equipment, designed for heli-skiing or snowboarding, is critical to a great experience. Triple Point Expeditions, LLC’s K2 demo program offers top-quality skis. We offer these at no additional charge. If you have great powder skis or a snowboard you love, please bring and use your own equipment. If you don’t, we recommend using our demo equipment. We do not supply snowboards and you must bring your own ski and snowboard boots.
Additional Helicopter
In certain situations, Triple Point Expeditions, LLC can activate a second or third helicopter for your group. This potentially allows additional flexibility to the guest. This will be subject to additional charges or minimums that will be outlined before activating the additional helicopter or helicopters.
Fixed-wing Support
In certain situations, Triple Point Expeditions, LLC can activate fixed-wing aircraft to support operations. Fixed-wing support is billed based on the aircraft Hobbs' time. The rates for this service are spelled out on an as needed basis.
Relocation Charges
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC makes every effort to relocate operations, when appropriate, to locales that might offer better flying or skiing conditions. Often Triple Point Expeditions, LLC will need to charge transportation, lodging, food and fuel support costs associated with this service.
Fuel Surcharge
Due to the volatile nature of the fuel market, it may be necessary to implement a fuel surcharge. We base the fuel surcharge on the Los Angeles Index for Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Price that is reported by the US Department of Energy: (https://www.eia.gov/). A fuel surcharge will be added for increases in the base fuel prices as of February 1 of the previous ski season. A $60/Hobbs hour charge will be added for each $1 increase. In addition, a remote fuel surcharge will be added when remote operations result in significantly higher fuel costs. A $60/ Hobbs hour charge will be added for each $1 increase above Triple Point Expeditions, LLC’s base rate.
Examples of when a fuel surcharge may be applied: If the price of Jet A increase based on the above index’s or when utilizing our remote fuel cache’s and or remote staging areas like Talkeetna, Merrill Field, Cordova, Beluga, Valdez, Seward, Chickaloon and Sheep Mountain.
Credit Card Processing Fees
If guests choose to pay with a credit card Triple Point Expeditions, LLC reserves the right to add a Credit Card Processing Fee to your final bill. Guests have the option to pay by other means and will be not charged the processing fee if they choose another form of payment.
End Of The Week Billing
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC will create a bill at the end of each week and provide an itemized statement including additional charges incurred during your stay where applicable. Items can include: hobbs overage, relocation fees, fuel surcharges, massages, activity days, incidentals, extras and special requests. We expect guests to pay their final bill before departure.
Based on the above risks that are out of our control, we highly recommend travel insurance.
5. COVID POLICY
Our detailed COVID-19 Operating Plan is available to all guests upon request. If you have any questions please ask us. We can provide a printed or emailed document. We require our clients to follow our COVID policies.
These may include but are not limited to:
- Demonstrate Vaccination Status / Proof of Vaccination
- Pre-trip negative COVID test
- Participate in multiple Abbott Rapid Testing throughout the week (on arrival at the airport and several times at the lodge)
- Cooperate with us in forming “bubbles” with certain lodge staff and guests, and only interacting with those in your bubble
- Wear a mask when around other people and inside the lodge or helicopter
- Hand washing
- Social distancing
- Respect other people and their COVID concerns
- If you are feeling any signs or symptoms please inform staff member
6. PARTICIPANT AND INSURANCE CONTRACT
Refunds
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC does not offer refunds or roll unused Hobbs time forward.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend Travel Insurance.
As with any insurance policy, it is critical to understand the specifics of your policy before purchasing it. We cannot take responsibility for the outcomes of policy claims.
Insurance Recommendation:
Triple Point Expeditions, LLC strongly recommends that all guests carry Cancel For Any Reason Insurance, Trip Cancellation Insurance, Trip Interruption Insurance, Medical Insurance, and Emergency Evacuation Insurance. These insurance types safeguard you against unforeseen mishaps that can occur before or during your adventure. Trip insurance policies generally need to be purchased promptly after booking a trip to be effective. Typically, this is within two weeks of your deposit date. It is important to read the fine print of any insurance contract and associated coverage. COVID-19 has changed many travel insurance policies and we highly recommend choosing the appropriate coverage for your circumstances and peace of mind. We cannot take responsibility for the outcomes of policy claims or advise exactly which policies to purchase.
In an effort to protect your investment, Triple Point Expeditions, LLC highly recommends that you purchase a Travel Guard Policy. If, prior to departure you, a family member traveling with you or a traveling companion needs to cancel, or if during your trip, an interruption due to a covered reason occurs, a travel protection plan can potentially help provide reimbursement for your pre-paid non-refundable travel arrangements. The protection plan can also provide coverage for trip delays, baggage loss or delays, medical expenses, medical evacuation and more.
We recommend purchasing Travel Guard insurance at: travelguard.com.
