Terms & Conditions

Airline Discount Scheme

1. General information and definitions
1.1 The Air Discount Scheme (ADS) is a mechanism designed to deliver lower air fares for the residents of Scotland's remotest communities whose main residence is in one of the following defined eligible areas:

Western Isles, Orkney Isles, Shetland Isles, Islay and Jura, Caithness and North- West Sutherland.

The ADS is operated by the Scottish Executive and administered on its behalf by Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) - the Administrator.

1.2 ADS tickets are subject to availability and can be bought through participating airlines and affiliated travel agents.
1.3 The Administrator reserves the right to terminate or vary these terms and conditions without notice.
1.4 All ticket issuers must strictly adhere to the processes of the Scheme as notified by the Scottish Executive.

2. The discount
2.1 From 15 May 2006 any qualifying person can buy ADS fares subject to the terms and conditions of participating airlines.
2.2 ADS tickets cannot be used in conjunction with any other government subsidised travel programme.
2.3 The Scottish Executive can take no responsibility for the contract between the purchaser of ADS tickets and the supplier.
2.4 The Scottish Executive accepts no liability for lost, late arrival, damaged or misdirected tickets, or in the event of negligence, fault or deliberate acts or omissions on the part of the purchaser, airlines or agents.
2.5 Tickets issued are subject to the restrictions, if any, notified at time of booking by participating airlines. Please read all fare rules carefully.
2.6 Travel on ADS tickets shall be subject to the relevant airline's Notice and Conditions of Contract as stated on each ticket and the relevant carrier's General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage, the fare rules applicable to the ticket purchased and all other relevant ticketing and contractual conditions, which will be notified at time of booking. The relevant carrier's terms and conditions should be examined prior to purchase.
2.7 ADS fares may be cancelled, modified or upgraded, provided the applicable fare rules permit subject to the relevant carrier's Conditions.

3. Conditions
3.1 Only those persons whose main residence is within the eligible areas (set out at Clause 1.1) can apply to the Scheme Administrator to become an ADS Card Holder and be permitted to purchase ADS tickets.
3.2 Persons under the age of 16 are not permitted to have an ADS Card in their own name.
3.3 The Scheme permits persons under the age of 16 to be included in one or more Cards of named eligible individuals who have, on application, declared themselves the legal guardian, parent or carer of those persons under 16 years of age.
3.4 A Card Holder may only purchase an ADS ticket for the persons less than 16 years of age included on their Card.
3.5 There is no requirement that the Card Holder must travel with the person under 16 years of age but the ADS ticket must, however, be purchased by the eligible Card Holder on behalf of that person who must also be included on the Card.
3.6 All the above are in addition and subject to current airline and statutory authorities' regulations.

4. Changes
4.1 Tickets - Any error relating to the purchase of a discounted ticket should be notified to the relevant sales office or airline prior to travel. Any changes will be subject to the fees and the terms and conditions of the ticket provider.
4.2 ADS Cards - Any change to personal details should be notified at once to the appointed Administrator of the Scheme at: Air Discount Scheme, PO Box 5715, Inverness, IV1 9AS or at: airdiscountscheme.com or telephone.

5. Children/infants
5.1 The carriage of unaccompanied minors is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the relevant participating airline.
5.2 When a child is born, the Administrator should be notified to include it on the relevant eligible Card Holder's card.

6. Payment
6.1 ADS subsidy is applied to the base fare charged by the participating airline on an eligible route. Ticket prices may fluctuate due to changes in taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, applied by the airline which must be paid for in addition to the base fare subject to the relevant carrier's Conditions.
6.2 All ADS bookings can be paid for by any payment method as agreed between the purchaser and agent or participating airline at the time of booking.
6.3 The agent or carrier must not charge qualifying passengers more than the subsidised base fare, together with all relevant taxes, fees, charges and airline surcharges or in any way benefit from the scheme.  If the agent or carrier contravenes this provision, the Scottish Executive will require the agent or carrier to reimburse the difference to the passenger. This will also constitute gross misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action and/or exclusion from the Scheme.
6.4 If an ADS booking is cancelled and the fare rules allow a refund then the refund will be made to the passenger by the ticket issuer subject to the issuer's conditions and only on that portion of the fare paid by the passenger.

7. Abuse
7.1 Misuse of the Card or ticket by the Card Holder will be treated as gross misconduct and may lead to the withdrawal of the Card and/or exclusion from the Scheme.
7.2 The Scheme is only available to individual qualifying Card Holders.
7.3 Any travel agent or airline found constructing and selling package deals using ADS tickets will be subject to disciplinary action including being permanently banned from the Scheme. A "package deal", for the purposes of this clause, means combining a flight with accommodation, car hire or any other ancillary tourist service.