Navigating Apple Student Tours: A Comprehensive Guide
Apple Student Tours offers customized tour experiences, but understanding the fine print is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable trip. This article provides a detailed overview of the policies and procedures involved in participating in Apple Student Tours, covering everything from payments and cancellations to responsibilities and potential issues.
Registration and Payments
Securing a spot on an Apple Student Tour requires a few key steps. Initially, participants must complete and sign an online registration form. Alongside this, a non-refundable Tour Admin Fee of $250 is required to secure the reservation. This fee can be paid via check, money order, cashier’s check, MasterCard, Discover Card, or Visa.
Complete payment for the tour is due by the final payment date outlined in the registration information. Failure to meet this deadline may result in a $50 late payment fee. If a reservation is submitted when the tour is already full, Apple will retain the payment and place the participant on a waiting list. If space does not become available, a refund will be provided, minus any applicable non-cash payment fees.
For payments beyond the initial Tour Admin Fee, Apple offers a discount for payments made via cash, check, money order, or cashier’s check. A one-time non-cash payment fee of $79 is applied when using other forms of payment. It's important to note that personal checks are not accepted after the final payment date. Late registrations are confirmed based on space availability and must be paid in full, including any additional air or hotel costs. Participants are advised to include their Tour Account Number on all check payments and can also make credit card payments online via their Tour Account. Credit card charges will appear as "APPLE STUDENT TOURS" on the statement.
All participants are required to have a minimum of $1,500 total paid into their account by the date specified in the registration packet. Failure to have $1,500 paid by the specified date may result in a participant being canceled from the trip. Final Payment must be received in our office by the final payment date as outlined on the registration information sheet. Payment extensions will be approved on a case by case basis and will be subject to a MANDATORY $50 Payment Extension Fee. Please contact Apple at (619) 299-9686 should you need to request a payment extension.
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If payment is not received by the Final Payment date, and you have not been approved for a payment extension, your tour status may be changed from Confirmed to Pending with cancellation penalties still in effect. Accounts that are not paid in full by the final payment date outlined in the registration information will be assessed a MANDATORY $50 Late Payment Fee. There is a $25 service charge for all returned checks.
Tour Pricing and Potential Changes
The prices quoted at the time of booking are based on existing airfares and rates, which are subject to change. Potential price increases may arise from various factors, including but not limited to, increases in airfare, baggage fees, other transportation services, fuel surcharges, taxes, or fees, failure to meet minimum signup requirements, changes to the tour date, and other unforeseen fees. Participants will be notified in writing of any price increases. Accommodation prices are generally based on quad occupancy unless otherwise specified. Apple Student Tours does not assign roommates for student travelers; this responsibility falls to the group coordinators. Adult participants are responsible for arranging their own roommates, and if a roommate cannot be found, they may be required to pay a single occupancy rate. Tour prices are also contingent upon a minimum number of participants per transportation vehicle.
Cancellations and Refunds
Refunds are limited upon cancellation of a tour. Cancellations will be accepted only upon receipt of WRITTEN notice to APPLE. The cancellation fees outlined above are not intended as a penalty, but rather a fair estimation of a portion of the internal and external unrecoverable costs that APPLE incurs planning, managing, and administering the extensive group travel program that you committed to by registering.
Payment Protection Program
Participants have the option to "opt-in” to participate in the Protection Program by paying for the Protection Program by the final payment date. In the event your account is not paid in full by the final payment date (Tour Cost plus Tour Admin Fee plus Payment Protection Program cost plus any other applicable Tour Charges) you will be responsible for all cancellation charges, if any. The Payment Protection Program only provides coverage beginning on the tour’s Final Payment Date and not before. Cancellations prior to the final payment date will be covered as outlined in Section V, above.
Baggage Policies
Air carrier baggage allotments and charges vary from carrier to carrier. If your tour specifies that the cost of baggage is included, APPLE will pay for one (1) piece of checked baggage under 50 pounds on both outbound and return flights. If a participant’s luggage weighs more than 50 pounds or has more than one piece of luggage, participant is responsible for additional costs. If your tour does not specify that costs of baggage is included, it is your responsibility to understand and abide by your tour’s air carrier baggage requirements, as you will be responsible for any excess baggage fees not included in the tour price. APPLE is not responsible for damage to baggage. Air carrier policies may vary concerning lost or damaged baggage.
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Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
Only the services listed in the tour package are included in the tour price.
Food Allergies and Dietary Restrictions
APPLE recognizes that some tour participants may have severe food allergies. If a food allergy poses a concern for any participant, APPLE requests any such participant notify APPLE in writing of the nature and extent of the allergy and any special dietary requests within seven (7) days of participant’s initial registration. APPLE will do its best to ensure that the tour vendors and service providers are informed of the allergy but cannot guarantee that all requests will be accommodated. Vegan eating options are not offered during group tours and that Apple Tours cannot prevent tour provided meals from the potential of being cross-contaminated with gluten containing foods.
Tour Alterations and Flight Issues
APPLE reserves the right to make deviations to the originally scheduled tour departure date. In the event of such a change, all cancellation penalties, if any, will remain in force. In the event of an airline cancellation of a scheduled flight, APPLE will attempt to obtain alternate flight plans as soon as reasonably possible. Due to group air travel restrictions, individual flight deviations are not available. Flight departure times and actual travel times are not guaranteed and may affect the length of time spent in destinations.
Participant Conduct and Responsibilities
Participants will be held responsible for their behavior and actions at all times during the tour. Participants displaying inappropriate behavior may be removed from the tour and sent home at their own expense, with no refunds given for any unused portion of the tour. APPLE personnel do not act as chaperones during the tour. Chaperones and chaperone responsibilities are provided by the travel group and not APPLE. For all tours in connection with any school, all school behavior rules, and dress codes will apply. For the safety and enjoyment of the participants, APPLE may exclude participation of students exhibiting contagious symptoms that may pose a risk of illness to fellow participants or with a history of behavior problems such as physical or verbal assaults. Participants or other travelers subject to school disciplinary action, such as suspension or expulsion, or individuals who demonstrate behavior problems prior to the scheduled tour departure date may be cancelled entirely from the tour by APPLE in APPLE’s sole discretion. Any such cancellations will still be subject to all applicable cancellation charges, penalties, and fees. By reserving a place on a tour, you are representing to APPLE that the participant has no limitations that will impede the travel plans of the group, including but not limited to such behavior problems. If the participant has a disability or other limitation that can be reasonably accommodated, the parent/guardian must notify APPLE at the time of reservation of the limitation and the accommodation being requested. APPLE will attempt to make reasonable accommodations for the participant whenever possible. If the limitation or accommodation refers to personal care matters for which APPLE does not in its sole discretion cannot reasonably accommodate, the participant may be required to provide a personal assistant/attendant staying single occupancy at the participant’s expense. Participants with a medical condition that causes reasonable doubt that the participant can complete all aspects of the tour safely may be required to provide a written statement from a physician stating that the participant is capable of completing the flight or tour safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance. If a medical certificate is requested and not provided, the participant may be prohibited from participating. If prior to departure, APPLE becomes aware of the existence of a previously undisclosed contagious illness or limitation, or that a participant’s limitation is greater than that which was represented and such limitation cannot be reasonably accommodated, or has had or has behavior issues that APPLE determines may impede the safety and well-being of other participants, APPLE reserves the right to cancel the participant’s tour, with tour cancellation penalties, if any, applying.
Travel Documents and Information Disclosure
APPLE will provide appropriate itineraries and travel documents prior to the tour. It may be necessary for APPLE to disclose some of your personal information with other companies such as airlines, hotels and tour operators. By reserving a place on the tour, the participant acknowledges and agrees to APPLE’s disclosure practices.
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Force Majeure
APPLE incurs substantial non-recoverable costs and expenses in planning and preparing for tour events. APPLE’s services include the submission of payments on behalf of participants for several non-refundable services with, but not limited to, airlines, hotels, transportation companies and other vendors. Within a reasonable time following the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event, APPLE shall notify the participants affected that a Force Majeure Event has occurred and its anticipated effect on APPLE’s ability to perform, including its expected duration. The circumstances causing the Force Majeure Event may not be fully realized for some time following its actual occurrence. As a result, APPLE may declare a Force Majeure Event at some time later than the occurrence of the Event itself, but the date of the Force Majeure Event will be the date of its original occurrence as determined by APPLE. Similarly, APPLE is not responsible for any claims, losses, direct or indirect damages, costs, or expenses including, without limitation, any inconvenience, injury, accident or death, arising out of or in connection with a Force Majeure Event.
Safety and Security
The participant assumes complete and full responsibility for, and hereby releases APPLE from, any duty of checking and verifying any and all safety and security conditions of the destination during the length of the proposed travel. APPLE strongly recommends that participants check with the Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov), Department of Transportation (www.dot.gov), and the Federal Aviation Administration (www.faa.gov) for news and information regarding the areas of the participant’s intended travel. In Apple’s judgment, when conditions warrant, or if it deems it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the participants, Apple reserves the right to make changes in the published itinerary. APPLE also reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a participant on the tour. Upon APPLE’s determination that a participant threatens their own safety or the safety of others, the participant shall be removed from the tour and returned home at the participant’s expense.
Informational Texts
By creating an account, you agree that APPLE may send you informational text (SMS) messages as part of the normal business operation of your use of APPLE’s services.
Legal Jurisdiction
This agreement, its application and interpretation shall be governed exclusively by its terms and by the laws of the State of California. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this agreement or any of its terms and conditions shall be brought in a state or federal court located in the Southern District of California and each tour participant and/or their guardian or legal representative hereby consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit. Additionally, each tour participant and/or their guardian or legal representative hereby consents and submits that any claim they may have against APPLE, including our past and present employees and agents, must be brought individually and they will not join such claim with claims of any other person or entity or bring, join or participate in a class action against Apple.
Assumption of Risk
The terms of this agreement shall serve as a complete release and express assumption of risk for the undersigned tour participant, his or her parent(s)/legal guardians(s), heirs, assignees, admin…
