Booking Policies

Booking and Cancellation Policies

Alaska Powder Descents begins planning for the season months ahead of when we welcome our first guests of the year.  We make commitments to our guides and staff as well as our helicopter and lodging partners.  As a result, our booking and cancellation policies are designed to protect these commitments, and our policies are firm.

Trip Insurance

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers all aspects of your trip.  APD is not an insurance agent, and therefore we cannot evaluate the specifics of a policy.  We do however encourage you to confirm your policy covers the activity of off-piste helicopter skiing.  We do not officially partner with an insurance provider, but when we travel ourselves, we’ve used Travel Guard (AIG), Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, and Global Rescue. 

Paying for your trip

Payment methods

We accept Visa, Mastercard, check, wire transfer, or cash. 

Initial Deposit

For package and private helicopter bookings made before February 1st, a 50% per person deposit is required at the time of booking to hold a reservation.  Full trip payment will then be collected on February 1st.  For daily heli skiing/riding (both full day and half day trips), full payment is required at the time of booking.  Package and private helicopter bookings made after February 1st require full payment at the time of booking.

End of trip Statement and payment

At the conclusion of your trip, you will receive a billing statement detailing actual trip expenses incurred.  Charges in excess of your initial trip cost are due upon receipt, and any refunds will be processed within 48 hours.  

Cancellation Policy

To reschedule or cancel, communication must be made in writing via email to Alaska Powder Descents.

Rescheduling

Subject to availability, trips can be rescheduled within the same season for free.

When rescheduling within the same season is not possible, our cancellation policy applies.

Cancellations

For cancellations made prior to February 1st, receive a full refund, less a $250 cancellation fee.

Cancellations made on or after February 1st are non-refundable.  Please see the detailed policies below.

For cancellations made on or after February 1st, AND made more than 30 days prior to the start of your trip: you may roll over your entire trip cost paid to the following season.  A $250 cancellation fee applies.  APD reserves the right to charge an additional fee for increased helicopter/fuel costs when rolling over your trip to the following year.

For cancellations made on or after February 1st, AND made 30 days or less prior to the start of your trip: 50% of your trip cost paid can be rolled forward to the following season.  The remaining 50% of your trip cost paid is forfeited.  Additionally, a $250 cancellation fee applies.  APD reserves the right to charge an additional fee for increased helicopter/fuel costs when rolling over your trip to the following year.

Alaska Powder Descents reserves the right to cancel or change any trip due to inadequate sign-ups, weather conditions, client’s not meeting physical & skill level requirements, safety concerns, and any other reason not listed above. In such a case, a full or partial refund is given, but APD is not responsible for additional expenses incurred such as non-refundable airline tickets, and non-package meals & lodging.

Guaranteed Run Policy

If you do receive the guaranteed number of runs included in your package or trip for reasons covered below, you will receive a refund of $150 for each missed run.  For example, if you receive 16 of the 18 guaranteed runs included in a weeklong package, you will receive a refund of $300 ($150 X 2 Runs).

Covered reasons include poor aviation weather, unsafe snow or avalanche conditions, mechanical delays, or simply due to inadequate time.

Non-covered reasons: if you fail to achieve the number of guaranteed runs due to insufficient ability, and/or fitness as determined by APD, you will not receive a refund.

For single day trips, if APD cancels your trip for any reason, including due to poor weather, you will receive a full refund for your trip, less a non-refundable $200/person admin fee.

Additional Run Charges

If you ski/ride runs in excess of what is included with your package or trip, those additional runs will be billed at $200/run. 

Rate Changes

All listed rates are subject to change based on current jet fuel prices and the amount of flight time used per day.

Participants must be 18 years or older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.