Baggage & Traveling with Pets POLICY

VAL Check Baggage Allowance

General Baggage Allowance

• All fares include 25 lbs of free baggage allowance, which includes carry-on and personal items.
• Additional weight beyond the 25 lbs allowance will incur a fee of $2.00 per pound.

Baggage Rules

• Included Allowance: 25 lbs (carry-on and personal items included).
• Baggage Dimensions: Maximum 22″ x 15″ x 9″.
• Excess Baggage Fees: Over 25 lbs will be charged $2.00 per pound.
• Limit of Pieces: Passengers are not limited as to the number of pieces to check in if the total weight does not exceed 50 lbs.
• Linear Dimension: Calculated by adding together the greatest outside height, width, and length — wheels and handles included.
• Overweight Baggage: In the event that your excess baggage cannot be accommodated, luggage will travel on a subsequent flight.

NOTE: The passenger is responsible for forward shipping expenses and arrangements.

Baggage Transfer

Vieques Air Link is not responsible for transferring baggage to other airlines. Passengers must claim their luggage and recheck it with their connecting carrier.

Baggage Claims

Examine your baggage upon arrival. Report any issues to the customer service agent before leaving the airport.

Traveling with Pets

Pet Travel Policy

• Reservation Required: Book at least 48 hours in advance.
• Pet Fee: $30.00 each way.
• Allowed Pets: Domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits, and household birds.
• Kennel Required: Hard-sided; available for rent at $15.00.
• Kennel Dimensions: Must not exceed 26″ x 18″ x 17″.
• For BNI-Islander aircraft, the total combined weight of the pet and kennel must not exceed 30 lbs.
• For PA-32 Cherokee aircraft, the total combined weight of the pet and kennel must not exceed 15 lbs.
• Up to two animals from the same household are allowed on the same aircraft if space permits.
• Due to space and weight limitations, there may be occasions when the passenger and their pets cannot be accommodated on the flight, and alternate arrangements will need to be made.
• Carriage of Pets: Vieques Air Link reserves the right to refuse the transport of pets at any time, including situations where the safety or comfort of passengers or pets is in question.
• Charter Flights: Charter flights may be arranged based on VAL availability to accommodate a passenger with a service animal that is too large. Call Reservations for availability and charter cost.

Service Animals

Vieques Air Link (VAL) permits trained service dogs to accompany passengers with a disability at no additional charge. Reservations are recommended for safety reasons, as aircraft aisles cannot be obstructed in case of an emergency.

Definition of Service Animal:

• The service animal must be trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
• In accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation policy, untrained emotional support or comfort animals, effective January 11, 2021, may no longer travel as service animals.

Animal Behavior and Control:

• The service animal must be secured by harness or leash at all times.
• Animals that do not meet the definition of a service animal can travel as a pet, provided they meet the pet travel policy requirements.
• Service animals are expected to fit within the passenger’s foot space, on the owner’s lap, or under the seat, ensuring that aisles and emergency exits remain unobstructed.
• For larger service dogs, passengers may use the foot space of a nearby unoccupied seat, if available.

Accommodation for Large Service Animals:

• In the case of unavailable space on the reserved flight, VAL will do its best to accommodate the passenger and their service animal on a later flight based on availability. If no later flight is available, the service animal may travel in a kennel if the passenger allows and if baggage cargo dimensions permit; this option will be discussed with the passenger prior to boarding.
• After discussing available options for large service animals with the passenger, and based on the limited number of seats on VAL’s aircraft, passengers may wish to purchase an additional seat in order to guarantee that the animal will be transported on the passenger’s flight.

Disruptive Behavior:

• Service dogs exhibiting disruptive behavior may be denied travel in accordance with U.S. DOT policies.

Documentation:

• Passengers must submit the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form for validation prior to their flight, attesting to the animal’s health, training, and behavior.
• For travel booked 48 hours or more prior to departure, customers must submit this documentation in advance for validation through the email contact@valairlines.com.
• For travel booked less than 48 hours prior to departure, customers may present the form at the check-in counter or departure gate.
• For more details, visit: U.S. DOT Service Animal Forms.

Emotional Support Animals

In accordance with the final rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation, effective January 11, 2021, new bookings for emotional support animals will no longer be permitted. Customers who wish to travel with a pet may do so according to the VAL Pet Travel Policy.

Inappropriate Animal Behavior

We understand how important your animal is to you. We will only refuse transportation of a trained service animal if it engages in disruptive or aggressive behavior such as:

• Growling
• Biting
• Jumping on customers, flight attendants, or staff
• Relieving themselves in the gate area or cabin
• Barking excessively, not in response to a handler’s need or distress

If all requirements are not met, the animal will travel as a pet in the cabin or cargo if space is available. Reasonable rearrangements for a later flight may be considered, or the customer can arrange a charter flight.

Sports Equipment – Baggage Allowance

Fishing Equipment

• We accept fishing equipment as long as the rod is encased.
• Must be packed in a hard-sided case.
• A limited release tag is required.

Golf Bags

• We accept closed golf bags.
• Bag should be in a hard-sided carrying case provided by the passenger, including clubs, balls, and shoes. Hooded golf bags or golf bags in a soft-sided carrying case provided by the passenger will be subject to limited release.

Scuba Equipment

• Scuba tanks must be empty.
• All accompanying equipment (e.g., BCD, weight belt, one regulator, one tank harness, one tank pressure gauge, one mask, two fins, one snorkel, one knife, and one safety vest) must be encased together in a container acceptable to the carrier.
• The equipment must be declared during the reservation and will travel on space availability only.

Firearms – Regional Airports Policy

• The passenger is responsible for notifying VAL in advance when making the reservation if they will be traveling with a firearm.
• Firearms must travel in a locked suitcase provided by the customer.
• Firearms and ammunition can be transported within the same locked case; the case must be hard-sided.
• The firearm and ammunition cases must be locked and secured. Locked means either padlock or travel cases with locks (biometric, combination, key, or key card).
• The counter agent will inspect the case to ensure it is locked and confirm that the firearm is unloaded with ammunition separated, then accept the bag or suitcase as checked luggage only — it will not be accepted as carry-on. Concealed carry permit holders must place the firearm and ammunition inside a backpack or suitcase. Firearms used for hunting (shotguns, rifles) may no longer be transported in soft cases.
• The passenger will fill out the V.A.L. Firearms Travel Disclosure Form declaring compliance with federal laws and V.A.L. travel policies. Any violations or failure to comply with the transport of firearms may result in federal and/or state criminal prosecution.
• Security personnel (Rangers, St. James, etc.) are not law enforcement officers (LEO) and must comply with the same policies as private citizens with licensed firearms.
• Passengers with an expired license cannot travel with a weapon and must make the proper arrangements to secure the firearm.
• Web bookings require the customer to call our Call Center to provide their license information.
• Any LEO in uniform on official duty will travel with their weapon and should follow their travel guidelines under federal and state laws. For LEOs not in uniform but on official duties, the officer or agency must inform the Call Center that personnel will be traveling on official duties.

Wheelchairs

• We can provide a wheelchair at the gate for arrival and departure. Your personal wheelchair will travel as cargo on the same flight. You must request this when making your reservation and at check-in.

NOTE: Unusually shaped objects, large pieces, or sporting equipment that exceed the capacity of the compartments are not accepted for transport.

Liability

Luggage is designed to protect its contents. Vieques Air Link, Inc. cannot be liable for minor exterior damage (i.e. scratches, scuffs, stains, dents, cuts and dirt resulting from normal wear and tear of baggage). We are glad to transport your fragile items but we cannot accept liability for it. Please let us know in advance of any item you may be concerned about for extra caution and consideration.

For oxygen tank please refer to: www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/cabin_safety/portable_oxygen Items prohibited on Vieques Air Link flights please see T.S.A. policy: www.tsa.gov/travel