Welcome to Groundtier. By booking a transfer with us, you agree to the following terms and conditions. These terms ensure a premium, reliable experience for every guest and maintain the integrity of our services.
1.1 Legal Entity
Services are provided by Groundtier sh.p.k., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Albania.
1.2 Registration
Groundtier sh.p.k. is currently under incorporation. Full company details including Business Identification Number (NUIS) will be updated upon official registration with the National Business Center (QKB) of Albania.
1.3 Registered Address
Tirana, Albania. Complete address will be provided in your booking confirmation.
1.4 Contact Information
Email: info@groundtier.com
Phone: Available in booking confirmation
Website: groundtier.com
2.1 Services Provided
Groundtier provides premium pre-booked airport transfers and private chauffeur services throughout Albania, with primary focus on Tirana International Airport (TIA) and Vlora International Airport (VIA).
2.2 Advance Booking Requirement
All bookings must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled pickup time. Same-day or next-day bookings are not available. This advance notice ensures vehicle availability, driver assignment, and service quality.
2.3 Booking Confirmation
A booking is considered confirmed only upon:
By completing payment, you enter into a binding contract with Groundtier sh.p.k.
2.4 Information Accuracy
Customers are responsible for providing accurate information including flight number, pickup date/time/location, drop-off destination, number of passengers, luggage count, and contact details. Groundtier is not liable for service failures resulting from incorrect or incomplete information provided during booking.
3.1 Payment Terms
Full payment is required at the time of booking. All prices are displayed in Euros (EUR) and include vehicle service, driver, fuel, tolls, flight tracking, meet and greet service, and all applicable taxes.
3.2 Payment Processing
Payments are processed securely through Stripe. Groundtier does not store or have access to your credit card details. All payment data is encrypted and handled in accordance with PCI-DSS standards.
3.4 What's Included
Your booking price includes: Private vehicle (sedan or minivan as selected), professional English-speaking driver, flight tracking and delay monitoring, complimentary waiting time (60 min airport / 15 min non-airport), meet and greet with name sign, all fuel/tolls/parking fees, and child safety seats (free of charge upon request).
3.5 What's NOT Included
Waiting time beyond complimentary allowance, additional stops not specified at booking, gratuities (optional), and personal expenses or items left in vehicle.
4.1 Free Cancellation
You may cancel your reservation free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled pickup time. Full refund will be processed to your original payment method within 5-10 business days.
4.2 Late Cancellation
Cancellations made less than 24 hours before pickup time will incur a 50% cancellation fee. The remaining 50% will be refunded to your original payment method.
4.3 No-Show Policy
If the passenger fails to arrive at the designated meeting point within the complimentary waiting time without prior notice, the booking is considered a no-show and is non-refundable.
4.4 Cancellation by Groundtier
In the rare event that we must cancel your transfer due to circumstances beyond our control (vehicle breakdown, driver emergency, force majeure), you will receive immediate notification and full refund within 3-5 business days, plus assistance arranging alternative transportation when possible.
4.5 Flight Cancellations
If your flight is cancelled by the airline, we offer free rebooking to an alternative flight (subject to availability) or full refund. No cancellation fees apply.
5.1 Airport Pickups
We provide 60 minutes of complimentary waiting time starting from your flight's actual landing time (not scheduled time). This ensures adequate time for disembarkation, immigration, baggage collection, and arrival at meeting point.
5.2 Non-Airport Pickups
We provide 15 minutes of complimentary waiting time from the scheduled pickup time at hotels, addresses, or other non-airport locations.
5.3 Excess Waiting Time
After complimentary waiting time expires: First 30 minutes €15 surcharge, additional time €10 per 15 minutes. Driver will contact you before departing. Payment collected in cash to driver or via follow-up invoice.
5.4 Passenger Delays
If you anticipate being late, please contact us immediately. Our drivers will make reasonable efforts to accommodate delays, subject to availability and excess waiting time charges.
6.1 Real-Time Monitoring
We monitor all flights in real-time. If your flight is delayed, your pickup time automatically adjusts with no additional charges. Driver waits for actual landing time. No action required from you.
6.2 Early Arrivals
If your flight arrives significantly early, please notify us if possible. We will dispatch the driver earlier when available. Standard waiting time policy applies from actual landing. We cannot guarantee immediate pickup for unannounced early arrivals.
6.3 Flight Information
Please provide accurate flight details at booking. We are not responsible for service failures if incorrect flight number provided, flight changes not communicated, or passenger exits from different terminal than standard.
7.1 Complimentary Service
Child safety seats are provided completely free of charge upon request at the time of booking. This includes:
7.2 EU Safety Standards
All child seats comply with EU Regulation ECE R44/04 or R129 (i-Size) safety standards and are regularly inspected and maintained.
7.3 Legal Requirements
In accordance with Albanian law and EU directives, children must use appropriate restraint systems. We provide these at no cost as part of our commitment to passenger safety.
7.4 Installation
Our professional drivers are trained in proper child seat installation. Seats are installed before your arrival and checked for security.
7.5 Customer Responsibility
While we provide complimentary child seats, parents/guardians remain responsible for requesting appropriate seat type for child's age/weight at booking, ensuring child remains properly secured during journey, and notifying us of any special requirements.
8.1 Luggage Allowance
Standard allowances per vehicle: Sedan (up to 3 standard suitcases max 23kg each plus 3 carry-on items), Minivan (up to 7 standard suitcases max 23kg each plus 7 carry-on items).
8.2 Oversized Items
Oversized luggage (surfboards, bicycles, ski equipment) must be declared at booking. Additional charges or vehicle upgrade may apply. Items that cannot safely fit may be refused.
8.3 Prohibited Items
Passengers may not transport illegal substances, hazardous materials, unsealed liquids/foods that may damage vehicle, or weapons (unless legally authorized and declared).
8.4 Passenger Conduct
Passengers must treat driver and vehicle with respect, follow driver's reasonable safety instructions, not smoke in vehicle, not consume alcohol excessively, and not engage in disruptive behavior.
8.5 Right to Refuse Service
We reserve the right to refuse or terminate service without refund if passenger is intoxicated/disruptive, endangers safety, violates these terms, or illegal activity is suspected.
8.6 Lost Property
Groundtier is not responsible for personal belongings left in vehicles. We will make reasonable efforts to return found items, but cannot guarantee recovery. Storage or return shipping costs may apply.
9.1 Vehicle Quality
All vehicles are maximum 5 years old, professionally maintained and inspected, fully insured for passenger transportation, climate controlled, and clean/smoke-free.
9.2 Vehicle Types
Sedan: Suitable for 1-3 passengers with standard luggage
Minivan: Suitable for 4-7 passengers with standard luggage
9.3 Vehicle Substitution
We reserve the right to substitute a vehicle of equal or higher quality if originally assigned vehicle becomes unavailable, safety/maintenance issues arise, or operational requirements dictate. Passengers will never receive a vehicle of lower quality than booked. Upgrades may occur at no additional charge.
9.4 Driver Qualifications
All drivers hold valid Albanian driving license with passenger transport endorsement, have minimum 3 years professional driving experience, pass background and safety checks, speak functional English, and are trained in customer service and local route knowledge.
9.5 Driver Conduct
Drivers will arrive on time or early, dress professionally, provide courteous/respectful service, drive safely and obey all traffic laws, and respect passenger privacy and preferences.
10.1 Direct Transfer
Standard pricing includes direct transfer from pickup point to destination via the most efficient route, as determined by driver's professional judgment considering traffic, road conditions, and safety.
10.2 Additional Stops
Stops not specified at booking time (grocery stores, attractions, etc.) are subject to driver availability and discretion, waiting time charges (€10 per 15 minutes), and advance notification (appreciated but cannot be guaranteed).
10.3 Route Deviations
Driver may deviate from planned route due to road closures/accidents, traffic congestion, safety concerns, or police/emergency services instructions. No additional charges apply for necessary route changes. Original quoted price remains fixed.
11.1 Insurance Coverage
All vehicles carry comprehensive insurance including third-party liability (minimum €1,000,000), passenger liability insurance, and vehicle damage insurance.
11.2 What We Are Liable For
Groundtier accepts liability for negligence by our drivers causing passenger injury, damage to passenger luggage while in our custody, and failure to provide booked service without reasonable cause.
11.3 Limitation of Liability
Our maximum liability is limited to:
These limitations apply to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be limited by law.
11.4 What We Are NOT Liable For
Groundtier is not liable for: delays caused by traffic/weather/accidents/road closures beyond our control, missed flights or connections due to factors beyond our control, personal belongings left in vehicle after service completion, indirect or consequential losses (hotel costs, missed tours, etc.), or acts of God, terrorism, civil unrest, or government actions.
11.5 Passenger Insurance
We recommend passengers maintain their own travel insurance covering trip interruption, medical emergencies, and personal belongings.
11.6 Extended Retention for Claims
Booking data may be retained beyond our standard retention period if required for active insurance claims or disputes, legal proceedings, or regulatory investigations. Once claim/dispute is resolved, data is deleted.
12.1 Definition
Force majeure includes: natural disasters, extreme weather, war, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, government restrictions, pandemic, or any event beyond our reasonable control.
12.2 Service Suspension
We may suspend or cancel service without liability if force majeure makes service provision unsafe for passengers or drivers, illegal or prohibited by authorities, or practically impossible.
12.3 Refund Policy
In case of force majeure cancellation: full refund provided if service not yet commenced, partial refund for interrupted service (pro-rated), and no additional compensation beyond refund.
12.4 Rebooking
We will make reasonable efforts to rebook your transfer when circumstances permit, subject to availability.
13.1 Complaint Procedure
If you are unsatisfied with our service, contact us at info@groundtier.com within 7 days of service date with your booking reference number, description of issue, and supporting evidence. We will investigate and respond within 5 business days. If issue unresolved, we will offer mediation through independent third party, compensation where appropriate, or escalation to management.
13.2 Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Albania, without prejudice to mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence. Any disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of Albanian courts or, for EU residents, the courts of your country of residence in accordance with EU consumer protection regulations.
13.3 EU Consumer Rights
For customers resident in the European Union, nothing in these terms affects your statutory consumer rights under EU law.
14.1 Updates
We may update these terms periodically to reflect changes in law or regulation, operational improvements, or service additions/modifications.
14.2 Notification
Material changes will be posted on our website with updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our service after changes constitutes acceptance.
14.3 Existing Bookings
Changes to terms do not affect bookings already confirmed. Those remain subject to terms in effect at time of booking.
15.1 Entire Agreement
These terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Groundtier sh.p.k.
15.2 Severability
If any provision is found unenforceable, remaining provisions continue in full effect.
15.3 Waiver
Our failure to enforce any right does not constitute waiver of that right.
15.4 Assignment
You may not transfer your booking to another person without our consent. We may assign our rights and obligations to another company.
15.5 Third Party Rights
These terms are between you and Groundtier. No third party has rights under this agreement.
By completing your booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.