(File photo: Courtesy CBC)
In spring 2019 B.C. Ferries is looking to introduce discounted prices for prepaid fares and those traveling on off-peak times.
Spokesperson Deborah Marshall says they are still working on the details but the initiative will be on their three biggest routes and are also aimed at reducing no-shows for reservations.
“On a busy weekend… we are fining people booking multiple reservations[and that] makes it look busier than it is,” said Marshall.
“They are only using one and what it looks like for standby traffic is it looks busier than it is… it artificially inflates it.”
They hope that prepaying would give an incentive to not miss a sailing, and are also looking to offer discounts at off-peak times to reduce waits.
“If customers who have more flexibility… they can book those off-peak times it [then] frees up more spaces on busy times,”
The company estimates that around 15 per cent of bookings on average are no shows on busy days.
B.C. Ferries says they will have the initiatives between the Tsawwassen to Swartz bay and Duke point route, and from the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route.
More details will be released next year.
CHEK News
