PASS POINTERS
A staggering percentage—as high as 80 per cent at some resorts—of lift tickets are still purchased at “full retail,” that is, the ticket window price. (Note that Liftopia, the third-party ticket reseller that many skiers would use for cheap(er) last-minute tickets, filed for bankruptcy in the spring.
The biggest issue—unresolved at press time—is “What if I buy an Epic or Ikon pass and the U.S. border is closed?” Vail Resorts policy will be to pro-rate your pass refund based on the number of days it’s used during the season. New this year: Vail will refund that money onto your credit card or provide you with a credit, your choice. Ikon passholders can defer their 2020-21 passes to the next season—see the Adventure Assurance fine print.
Both Epic and Ikon passes are charged to your credit card in American dollars that are then “converted” to Canadian dollars. Unlike say the airline industry, Vail hasn’t figured out how to price a Whistler-only season pass to Canadians in their own currency. Yes, an unachievable exchange rate is quoted on Vail’s website but avoids reminding buyers that almost all credit cards charge an additional but hidden five to six per cent exchange rate and credit card foreign currency fees.
Restrictions often apply; Vancouver area skiers who try using their discounted EDGE Cards (in three, five or 10 tickets) are often surprised to find out that those passes are not redeemable on American holidays like Martin Luther King or Presidents’ Day weekends.
Ancillary discounts are often available on meals, rentals, gear and lessons, but are not always heavily publicized. For 2021, Epic passholders will receive 20 per cent off accommodations, lessons, meals and merchandise at Vail Resorts’ businesses.
As usual, the early bird gets the worm. Pre-season pricing seems to get earlier with each passing year; guests can lock in payment if they make a commitment as early as May, with this year’s deadline delayed a couple of weeks because of that little pandemic thing going on. Smaller resorts in both the East and West often provide their season passholders with “reciprocal pass” arrangements that offer discount, and even free, lift tickets at larger mountains.
Vail Resorts makes it easy (maybe too easy?) to lock in savings on an Epic Pass. You can put down $49 in the spring and not pay the remainder until the autumn.