Air Freight Conditions
NOTICE ON MARKET CONDITIONS & ADDITIONAL CHARGES- Rates & Capacity: All rates are subject to airline capacity, space availability, airline acceptance, security regulations, fuel surcharges, airport charges and market conditions prevailing at the time of booking.
- Schedules: Flight schedules and transit times are provided for information purposes only and remain subject to airline operational conditions, weather, security controls, customs examinations, airport congestion and other circumstances beyond SMINLO’s control.
- Transit Times: Any flight schedules, transit times or delivery estimates are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute a contractual commitment.
- Routing: Routing remains at the discretion of airlines and service providers. SMINLO cannot guarantee any particular routing and shall not be liable for any consequences arising from airline route selection, flight changes, transfers or route modifications.
- Force Majeure: SMINLO shall not be liable for any delay, loss, damage or failure to perform resulting from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, strikes, airport closures, epidemics, pandemics, governmental actions, embargoes, security restrictions or other force majeure events.
- Additional Charges: Any fuel surcharges, security surcharges, peak season surcharges, war risk surcharges, airline-imposed surcharges, airport fees or governmental charges introduced after the quotation date shall be charged additionally.
- Operational Costs: Any storage charges, customs inspections, airport handling fees, security screening costs, X-ray inspections, return shipments, re-delivery costs or other charges arising during transportation shall be payable by the Customer.
- VAT: Price quotation does not include VAT.
- Validity: Quotation validity is subject to space availability and final airline confirmation.
- Currency Fluctuations: USD or other foreign currency-denominated items will be converted using the exchange rate valid on the day of shipment execution. In case of exchange rate fluctuations exceeding 3%, SMINLO reserves the right to adjust the quotation accordingly.
- Rate Adjustments: We reserve the right to recalculate the quotation should airline rates, fuel surcharges, airport charges, exchange rates or other material cost components change prior to execution.
- Order Cancellation: In the event of cancellation of a confirmed transport booking by the Customer, SMINLO shall be entitled to charge a cancellation fee amounting to 100% of the agreed freight together with all demonstrably incurred ancillary costs. The above shall not apply if otherwise agreed in writing between the parties.
- Transport from the specified place of pick-up to the specified place of delivery.
- Free time for loading/unloading (including waiting at customs offices) up to 2 hours. Thereafter waiting charges of EUR 30 per commenced hour shall apply.
- Cargo Insurance: Insurance of goods against all risks is excluded. We strongly recommend arranging commercial cargo insurance, which SMINLO can provide upon request.
- Duties & Taxes: Customs duties, taxes, customs guarantees and other governmental charges.
- Airport Charges: Storage charges, airport terminal fees, security screening fees, customs examinations, inspections and other charges imposed by airports, airlines or authorities.
- Dangerous Goods Charges: DGR handling fees, dangerous goods acceptance fees, special airline charges and other costs related to the carriage of dangerous goods unless explicitly included in the quotation.
- Customer Errors: Any additional costs arising from inaccurate, incomplete or late information provided by the Customer.
- Chargeable Weight: Air freight charges are based on the higher of the actual gross weight or the volumetric weight as determined by the airline, airport handling agent or applicable IATA rules.
- Security Screening: Airlines, airports and authorities may require security screening, X-ray inspection, physical inspection or other security procedures. Any resulting fees, delays or additional costs shall be borne by the Customer.
- Declared Dimensions & Weight: The quotation is based on the dimensions and weight provided by the Customer. Any re-weighing or re-measurement performed by the airline, airport or handling agent shall prevail for billing purposes.
- Weight & Dimension Discrepancies: Any additional charges arising from differences between declared and actual weight, dimensions or volume shall be borne by the Customer.
- Data Accuracy: The Customer is fully responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all shipment information, including cargo description, dimensions, weight, package count, customs documentation, origin and destination information.
- Cargo Ownership & Acceptance: The Customer confirms that the goods are not subject to ownership disputes, commercial disputes, pending claims or any circumstances that could prevent delivery, customs clearance or acceptance by the consignee. Any costs arising from such circumstances shall be borne entirely by the Customer.
- Cargo Preparation: The Customer shall ensure that cargo is properly packed, labelled, documented and suitable for air transportation. SMINLO and/or the airline reserve the right to refuse cargo deemed unsafe, improperly packed or incorrectly declared.
- Undeliverable Cargo: If delivery cannot be completed, the consignee refuses the cargo, customs clearance cannot be completed, or delivery instructions cannot be executed, SMINLO may arrange storage, return transport, destruction, disposal or other reasonable measures at the Customer’s risk and expense.
- Dangerous Goods: The Customer is solely responsible for proper declaration of dangerous goods in accordance with applicable IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). Undeclared or incorrectly declared dangerous goods shall be the sole responsibility of the Customer.
- Lithium Batteries: Lithium batteries and goods containing lithium batteries must be fully declared prior to shipment. Any costs, penalties, delays or damages arising from undeclared or incorrectly declared lithium batteries shall be borne entirely by the Customer.
- Airline Acceptance: Final acceptance of cargo remains subject to airline approval, security requirements and applicable regulations. SMINLO shall not be liable if cargo is refused by an airline due to packaging, documentation, safety, security or regulatory reasons.
- Sanctions Compliance: The Customer confirms that neither the cargo nor any involved party is subject to applicable sanctions, embargoes, export control restrictions or trade prohibitions. Any costs, penalties, delays or losses resulting from sanctions-related issues shall be borne entirely by the Customer.
- Service Suspension: SMINLO reserves the right to suspend transportation services, release of documents or any other services in case of overdue invoices, exceeded credit limits or reasonable concerns regarding the Customer’s financial solvency.
- Invoice Disputes: Any objection regarding an invoice must be submitted in writing within 14 days of receipt. Otherwise the invoice shall be deemed accepted.
- General Lien: SMINLO shall have a general lien on all cargo, documents and funds under its control for all amounts due from the Customer, whether arising from the particular shipment or from any other previous or current business relationship between the parties.
- Payment Allocation: The Customer agrees that payments received may be allocated by SMINLO at its sole discretion against any outstanding invoices, debit notes, interest, fees or any other amounts due from the Customer.
- Booking Cancellation: Cancellation of a confirmed air freight booking may be subject to airline cancellation charges, security screening charges, handling charges and other expenses incurred by SMINLO.
- Carrier Liability: Carrier liability is not cargo insurance and is subject to limitations under the Montreal Convention, Warsaw Convention and applicable law.
- Liability Limits: Any liability for loss, damage or delay shall be governed exclusively by the applicable international conventions, airline conditions of carriage and relevant legislation.
- Forwarder Status: SMINLO acts solely as a freight forwarder unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- General Conditions: All services are provided exclusively in accordance with the General Freight Forwarder’s Conditions of the Association of Logistics and Freight Forwarding of the Slovak Republic (VZP ZLZ SR).