Fast Tracks: Paying to Cut the Line

ScottySkis said:
The corporate response
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They used Copper as a model for Fast Tracks.
What we have learned through our recent experience with the product at Copper Mountain is that it is utilized by less than 2% of total daily skiers due in large part to our careful calibration and limiting access to ensure a quality experience for all guests.

They figured the Senator need a response.
Our recently announced Fast Tracks product, which enables upgradeable express lift access at four of our mountain resorts, has generated some questions and confusion, especially among the Mt. Bachelor community.

They heard feedback about the timing of it.
Nevertheless, if any guest would like a season pass refund before the season starts as a result of our Fast Tracks product, we will honor that request.

I ain’t gonna wait much in no dang lines.
 
I’ve heard that the number of fast tracks sold in a day is going to be limited but I haven’t seen any ballpark numbers. This makes a big difference. It seems like if they limit them enough to have the tiny effect on the general admission lines that they’re claiming, it will also have a tiny effect on their revenues and not worth the PR hit they’re taking. If they sell enough passes to impact their bottom line in a meaningful way then it WILL have an impact on the rest of their customers. If they sell too many, it’ll even degrade the value of the Fast Tracks passes themselves.
 
tirolski said:
They heard feedback about the timing of it.
Nevertheless, if any guest would like a season pass refund before the season starts as a result of our Fast Tracks product, we will honor that request.
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Interesting. Presumably that applies to all four resorts.

Killington still has Killington-only season passes. I presume there are also K'ton regulars who get Ikon instead. Any idea which group is larger?
 
Brownski said:
I’ve heard that the number of fast tracks sold in a day is going to be limited but I haven’t seen any ballpark numbers. This makes a big difference. It seems like if they limit them enough to have the tiny effect on the general admission lines that they’re claiming, it will also have a tiny effect on their revenues and not worth the PR hit they’re taking. If they sell enough passes to impact their bottom line in a meaningful way then it WILL have an impact on the rest of their customers. If they sell too many, it’ll even degrade the value of the Fast Tracks passes themselves.
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Wouldn't selling too many Fast Tracks for a given day be an obvious lose-lose idea? People who pay extra wouldn't be happy because their wait would be longer than if far fewer people had Fast Tracks. People who don't pay extra wouldn't be happy because slipping in too many Fast Tracks people would be notieable. Perhaps it would even be a lose-lose-lose situation because the negative comments on social media would pop up every busy day so the bad PR would be on-going.

Selling a few Fast Tracks, like selling a few First Tracks, wouldn't impact people not paying extra in a noticeable way. Especially if the Fast Track people use the same line as ski school. Although not sure how that would work on lifts that are far away from the bases at Bachelor. Presumably the people willing to pay extra would be happy with shorter waits. So perhaps it would be a win-neutral-win situation for Fast Tracks users, folks not paying extra, and the resort's reputation for customer service.

Makes little difference to me since I'm not planning on skiing any of the four resorts during busy times. Will be watching what happens by mid-Dec when people start actually getting read for ski vacations in late Dec or early Jan. That period was pretty weird last season with people trying to figure out how to deal with lift access reservations and/or parking reservations. That had an impact on everyone's planning, which isn't true for Fast Tracks.

At Wintergreen for the Highlands lift on a weekend, as I remember the Express Lane for property owners would add 3-4 chairs to the wait for people in the regular lanes. Total wait was on the order of 20 min. That's for all black trails in the southeast that takes maybe 3 min to finish a run. No off-piste terrain at all 95% of the time. Was it annoying? Yes. But the fact that there are no lights on Highlands was a more significant reason I stopped skiing at Wintergreen and drove 30 min longer to Massanutten instead.
 
Ok, on an extremely busy day Gore gets around 7500 customers. I don’t know how many Copper can handle for comparison. To make things easy, 2% of 10,000 is 200 if my arithmetic is correct. So 200 people are using the product spread out between multiple lifts. I wonder if it will really affect the lines. And at say $50 per person that is $10,000 a day revenue for the resort.
 
Sbob said:
Agreed, I don’t usually ski weekends anyway but If I’m in line and the same people are lapping the line I’m never going back to that ski area.

I’d like to see them try this concept at the Bar LOL
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You have never been to a bar waiting to get served and watched regulars pull and get what they want?
 
Brownski said:
I’ve heard that the number of fast tracks sold in a day is going to be limited but I haven’t seen any ballpark numbers. This makes a big difference. It seems like if they limit them enough to have the tiny effect on the general admission lines that they’re claiming, it will also have a tiny effect on their revenues and not worth the PR hit they’re taking. If they sell enough passes to impact their bottom line in a meaningful way then it WILL have an impact on the rest of their customers. If they sell too many, it’ll even degrade the value of the Fast Tracks passes themselves.
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Copper has been doing it for years, therefore we should assume that it makes money.

They have had this for years at Stratton and it does not affect the line. When I do notice, it is 1 or 2 people and the lifties just add them to one of the groups coming thru the lines to get on the 6 packs or the gondola. There are way more racers, kid seasonal programs, and lessons jamming up the lines and they are noticeable.
 
Brownski said:
I’ve heard that the number of fast tracks sold in a day is going to be limited but I haven’t seen any ballpark numbers. This makes a big difference. It seems like if they limit them enough to have the tiny effect on the general admission lines that they’re claiming, it will also have a tiny effect on their revenues and not worth the PR hit they’re taking. If they sell enough passes to impact their bottom line in a meaningful way then it WILL have an impact on the rest of their customers. If they sell too many, it’ll even degrade the value of the Fast Tracks passes themselves.
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They know the cheap chaps whining are not going anywhere. They know the value they get and will get over it.
 
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