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.
  • • Limited of Pieces: Passenger are not limited as to the number of pieces to check in if the total of weight does not exceed 50lbs.  
  • • Linear dimension: is calculated by adding together its’ 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: Passenger is responsible for forward shipping expenses and arrangements.


  • Baggage Transfer

ViequesAir 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

• Reservation required: Book 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”.

• Weight Restrictions:  

• For BNI-Islander aircraft the total combined weight of the pet and kennel must not exceed 30lbs.  

• For PA-32 Cherokee aircraft the total combined weight of the pet and kennel must not exceed 15lbs.  

  • • Multiple Pets: 
    • •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 could be arranged on VAL availability to accommodate a passenger with a service animal that is too large. Call Reservation 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 US 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:  
    • •  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 owners’ 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.
  • Accomodation for Large Service Animals:
  • • In the case of unavailable space in the reserved flight to accommodate the above requirements, VAL will do it’s best to accommodate the passenger and its Service Animal into a later flight based on availability. In the event there’s no availability in a later flight, Service Animal may travel in a kennel if the passenger so allows and if baggage cargo dimensions permit, this option will be discussed with the passenger prior to flight boarding.
  • • After discussing available options for large service animals with the passenger and based on the limited number of seats on VAL’s aircrafts, 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 may be denied travel in accrodance with US DOT policies,
  • Documentation:
  • • Passenger 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@valairlilnes.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 you may access to https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/service-animals#ServiceAnimalForms. 

Emotional Support Animals

•In accordance with the final rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation, effective Jan. 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 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 available. Reasonable rearrangements for a later flight could be consider or 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 hard-sided case.

• A limited release tag is required.

Golf Bags

• We accept closed golf bags.

• Bag should be a hard-sided carrying case provided by 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 should 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) are encased together in a container acceptable to Carrier.

• The equipment have to be informed during reservations and will travel on space availability only.

FIREARMS – Regional Airports Policy

• Passenger is responsible to notify VAL in advance when making the reservation if he/she will be traveling with a firearm.

• Firearm must travel in a locked suitcase provided by the customer.

• Firearms and ammunition can be transported within the same locked case, must travel in hard-sided case.

• The firearm and ammunitions cases need to be locked and secured. Locked means either padlock or travel cases with locks ie Bio, Combo, key or key card. 

•The counteragent will inspect the case to make sure is locked and inquire if firearm is unloaded with ammunition separated then he will accept the bag or suitcase as CHECK-IN luggage, It will not be CARRY ON. Conceal Carry need to put gun and ammunition inside a backpack or suitcase. Firearms that are use for hunting (shotgun rifles) no longer can used soft cases for transport.

•.Passenger will fill out V.A.L. Firearms Travel Disclosure Form declaring that he /she is in compliance with Federal Laws & V.A.L. Travel policies. Any violations or failure to comply with the transport of firearms the passenger may face federal and or state criminal prosecutions.

•Security personnel (Ranger, ST. James etc. ) are not L.E.O. and has to comply with the same Policies that a private citizen license firearm holders has.

•Passenger with an expired license cannot travel with the weapon he/she has to make the proper arrangement securing the firearm.

•.Web booking requires costumer to call our Call Center to provide his license information.

•Any L.E.O.in uniform under official duty will travel with their weapon and they should follow their travel guidelines under Federal and States laws. For other L.E.O.s not in uniform but on official duties, The Officer or Agency must inform Call Center that it will have personnel traveling on Official duties.

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Wheelchairs

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

NOTE: Unusually shaped objects: Large pieces or sporting equipment exceed the capacity of the compartments and 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 gladly to transport your fragile items but we cannot accept liability for it. Please let us know in advance of any item you may be concern 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