House of Travel Online Booking Conditions & General Information
General Terms and Conditions
1. Scope and Agency
These terms and conditions apply to all travel services transactions with the House of Travel group of companies (we/us).
As travel agents, we offer for sale various products and services on behalf of airlines, transport operators, hotels and other accommodation providers, tour operators and all other principal suppliers. These are referred to in these terms and conditions as "Principal/s". We act as the agent of the Principals. We may be engaged under separate terms to provide limited services such as visa assistance, or to act as tour guides.
We do not provide travel products and travel services. We receive remuneration from the Principals by way of commission or other payments related to the sale of travel products and travel services. As a travel agent we facilitate t a direct contractual relationship between you, the customer, and the Principals. As such, your booking is subject to the Principal(s) terms and conditions, copies of which have either been provided to you or are otherwise available on request from us. All tickets, receipts and vouchers are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the relevant Principal. We undertake to fulfil our role as agent for the Principal(s) with reasonable care and skill, but we cannot and do not guarantee the performance of the functions offered by the Principals and we will not be liable if you suffer loss, injury, or disappointment by reason of any acts or failings of any Principal. In any such case your remedy will lie with the Principal.
2. Information Provided by Us
We may provide you with general information from public sources or information made available from our suppliers including brochures, however we have not verified that information and (to the maximum extent permitted by law) do not accept any liability for any inaccuracies or misrepresentations contained in such information. We are not liable or responsible for your compliance with local laws, regulations, and other requirements.
3. Changes to travel requirements, schedules and travel services by Governments or Principals
Principals or Governments may make changes without or with limited notice to routes, schedules, cancel services, or change entry, visa, health, or quarantine requirements or make other decisions that may impact your travel plans. If this occurs, we will work with you to minimise the impact on your travel, however House of Travel is not responsible for any losses or additional costs that arise.
4. Itinerary and Documentation Details
The spelling of the names of those travelling in booking documentation must exactly match the spelling in the traveller's passport or the traveller may be denied boarding an aircraft or entry into a country. It is your responsibility to ensure that all names in your booking are correct as per passports, including middle names and surnames, and that all other details in your documentation are correct prior to confirming your booking with us. We will not be liable for costs or losses in connection with incorrect names or details either provided to us by you, or that have been included in documentation from us that has been received by you prior to confirming your booking.
5. Passports, Visas and Documentation
House of Travel does not provide health, insurance, visa or immigration advice and do not accept any liability in relation to such. We will proceed on the basis that all travellers on a booking made with us have valid passports, visas and re-entry visas unless advised otherwise.
Any visa assistance we may provide is limited to clerical work (including recording, organising, storing, or retrieving information, or data entry, and is performed at your direction). Fees may apply for visa assistance. New Zealand Government advisory notices are available at http://www.safetravel.govt.nz
6. Health
Certain countries or service providers may require that travellers be vaccinated against specific diseases, and potentially pass other medical requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure you have complied with any health requirements of countries you are visiting. We are not medical professionals and do not accept any liability for losses in connection with failure to meet health or medical requirements for entry to a country or use of travel services. We do not accept any liability for any medical issues or losses caused due to the use of the travel services.
If you have ever had a serious communicable disease, you can be refused entry to many countries. If this may affect you, we suggest you pursue this with the appropriate authorities such as the embassy or Consulate of the country that you are visiting.
House of Travel is not liable in the event you fail to meet the medical or health requirements in relation to your travel and no refunds will be payable in that event.
7. Travel Insurance and Activities While Traveling
We strongly recommend that you take out a travel insurance policy at the time you pay for your travel. You should ensure that such insurance is adequate to meet your potential requirements, including for medical expenses arising from sickness or injury during your travel, non-refundable items or loss or damage to your belongings and cover for activities like cruise, snow, adventure sports and high-risk activities. Please be aware that your travel insurance will be subject to strict limitations and conditions including a requirement for full disclosure of material facts including pre-existing medical conditions.
Any hire or use of a vehicle overseas will be subject to your usage agreement with the hirer and you may be liable for any damage or infringement of local laws. We strongly recommend you obtain insurance for any rental vehicles hired. Use of the travel services and any ancillary activities you take part in are at your own risk. Any recommendations or opinions we offer in respect of the services are opinion only and not advice suitable for your personal circumstances. We assume no responsibility for the outcomes of your decision to use the travel services or to take part in any ancillary activities.
8. Prices
All prices shown are in New Zealand Dollars unless explicitly noted otherwise. All prices are subject to availability and can be changed or withdrawn prior to acceptance and payment being made by you. Airfares and other prices offered by the Principals can increase with limited notice even though your arrangements have been confirmed (due to currency fluctuations, tax changes and for other reasons). Such price increases are beyond our control, and you will be liable to pay for any such increases. Many airlines now impose surcharges on the price of travel. These surcharges may change between the time you make a reservation and the date of full payment. You will be liable to pay for any increases in such surcharges.
Government or local authorities may change or introduce new taxes after you have paid in full which you will be obligated to pay either to the travel supplier, the tax authority or direct or to us. In the instance we are required to collect additional taxes or charges from you, we will collect this amount from you prior to departure.
9. Disclosure of financial arrangements
We may receive commissions, fees, or financial incentives from the sale of airfares and travel products and services on behalf of Principals.
10. Payment
If payment has not been made in full as and when required, bookings may be cancelled without notice.
Payments may be made via electronic bank transfer, credit card or debit card. Credit card surcharges will apply when you pay by credit card. Q Card, GEM Visa, ASB True Rewards, are also accepted forms of payment subject to lending and credit criteria being met, however additional fees and surcharges may apply.
11. Our fees and charges
House of Travel Online Booking Fee
A House of Travel Online Booking Fee will apply to all bookings made with us. In the event you cancel your booking the fee is non-refundable.
Amendment fees
Any changes after booking for any reason will incur a House of Travel amendment fee plus any Principal fees. Re-issue, amendment and upgrade conditions are subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant Principal. It is your responsibility to ensure that any credits are used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Principal.
Where you request or require an amendment to your House of Travel Online booking, the following House of Travel Amendment fees will apply:
• Each change to a Domestic booking: a fee of $30 per passenger per ticket in addition to Principal fees will apply.
• Each change to an International booking (will incur a fee of $60 per passenger per ticket in addition to Principal fees.
Cancellation
Where travel arrangements are cancelled for any reason, including for any event beyond our control then we will pay to you in full any refund received from the supplier on your behalf. However, any refunds payable to you may not include commission paid by the suppliers to us for services provided and any additional income earned in relation to the booking. Additional Principal cancellation fees may also apply. Where travel arrangements are cancelled for any reason prior to full payment being made, then any non-refundable deposits will also be forfeited.
Where you request a cancellation, this will be deemed to be an amendment to your booking and the above amendment fees will also apply.
12. Principals’ fees and charges
In addition to any fees we charge, our Principals may also charge amendment, administration, and cancellation fees and unless expressly stated otherwise, bookings may be non-transferable and/or non-refundable. In some cases, it may not be possible to change reservations or to cancel the reservation or it may be uneconomic for you to do so. You should always check the cost before requesting changes in reservations.
13. Refunds
Where a refund is due this will be paid to you once we receive the moneys from the Principal involved. Unless otherwise agreed by us, refunds will not include commission or other amounts paid by the Principals to us for our services.
Your right to a refund is subject to the terms and conditions of the airfares or travel services provided by the Principals. We are not responsible for any delays by a Principal in processing a refund. Principals may take a significant time to process a refund and any payment of a refund to you is subject to us receiving it from a Principal.
14. Liability
To the extent permitted by law, we do not accept any liability for any loss or damage, injury, delay, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment or expenses caused directly or indirectly, by acts, omissions or default, whether by negligence or otherwise, by any Principal or by any other event beyond our control, including, without limitation, strikes, accidents, pandemics or outbreaks of infectious diseases, quarantine restriction, public health decree, state of emergency, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, acts of God or where not preventable by our reasonable diligence. Where our liability cannot be excluded and where our liability may be lawfully limited, then that liability will be limited to the remedies provided by law.
We strongly advise you to regularly check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Travel Advisories at http://www.safetravel.govt.nz to assist you in accessing any risks prior to travel.
15. Authority acknowledgement
By making payment for a booking with us otherwise confirming your booking, you confirm you are authorised to deal with all matters in connection with the booking with us or Principals on behalf of all other travellers named in the booking confirmation, and accept the terms and conditions as set out in the booking confirmation on behalf of all travellers, and that such authorisation will continue unless otherwise revoked in writing.
16. Changes to these terms and conditions
We may amend these terms and conditions at any time. The applicable terms and conditions are those in effect at the time you make a booking with us.
17. Governing Law and Enforcement
Any disputes you may have with House of Travel will be subject to New Zealand law and the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Courts. Suppliers and your contracts with them may be subject to different laws and jurisdictions. We note that international air transport conventions may apply in respect of the travel services in your booking. Any illegality, unenforceability, or invalidity of a provision of these Terms and Conditions does not affect the legality, enforceability or validity of the remaining provisions.
18. Privacy policy
We respect your privacy and will handle your private information only in accordance with our Privacy Policy which is available at https://www.houseoftravel.co.nz/hot-info/privacy-policy .
To facilitate your booking or to provide a travel recommendation we will need to collect relevant personal information from you and provide this to travel services suppliers and other entities. By proceeding you confirm consent from all named travellers to us processing and providing your personal information (which may include sensitive information) to these suppliers and entities as per our Privacy Policy for the purposes of fulfilling the booking, noting that because some travel services suppliers and facilitating entities are located outside New Zealand, they may not be required to protect your personal information in a way that, overall, provides comparable safeguards to those in New Zealand.
19. Website
Your use of the House of Travel website is subject to our website usage terms which are available at https://www.houseoftravel.co.nz/hot-info/website-usage. Our website contains information provided by Principals and is subject to change without notice. While we endeavour to ensure the contents of the website is as accurate as possible, to the extent permitted by law, we will not be liable for any direct or indirect loss or damage, however, caused, suffered by you by reason of your use of, or inability to access, the website.
