Contract of carriage

[1][2] Contracts of carriage define the rights, duties and liabilities of parties to the contract, addressing topics such as acts of God and including clauses such as force majeure (removing liability for extraordinary occurrences beyond control of the parties).

Among common carriers, the terms and conditions of the contract may be printed on the reverse of a ticket or carriage document.

[5] Cross-border European railway tickets are covered by the CIV conditions of sale.

In July 2010, it became widely public that Southwest Airlines had classified mechanical difficulties as an act of God in their contract of carriage, expanding the definition formerly shared with Delta, American, Continental and United.

[8] According to aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt, the airlines' contracts of carriage favour the company, not the passenger.