As families gear up for the peak spring break travel period, BC Ferries announced plans to introduce more discounted fares, but they won’t roll out until after the kids return to school.
On Thursday, BC Ferries unveiled a series of changes aimed at providing more opportunities and flexibility for travelers, including increased discounts and reduced cancellation fees starting April 1st.
According to the company, these adjustments are part of their ongoing efforts to enhance customer experience and manage congestion at terminals.
The most notable change is the expansion of discounted Saver fares, which will now benefit more than double the number of passengers traveling between Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver.
Additionally, cancellation fees for Prepaid and Saver fares are being reduced, giving passengers greater flexibility in altering their travel plans.
“By offering more discounts for those who book and pay in advance, we expect less congestion at our busier times, more passengers will be able to find space to travel at the times they want and fewer will experience sailing waits,” said Nicolas Jimenez, BC Ferries’ President and CEO.
“It’s nearly three times quicker for customers to check in with a Prepaid or Saver fare, so in addition to getting our best fares, the more people who book these, the better the experience we can offer for everyone.”
Travelers who carpool and book in advance or opt for alternative modes of transportation will also enjoy new savings.
Specifically, discounts will be enhanced for those booking Saver fares and traveling together in the same vehicle. Furthermore, a new Foot Passenger Saver Fare of $15 will be introduced for select sailings when booked and paid for in advance.
Among the changes, customers booking Prepaid fares in advance for travel between Metro Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast will see a decrease in their average fare price.
Additionally, twice as many passengers will now benefit from Saver discounts when traveling to the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island or Metro Vancouver.
That being said, BC Ferries also announced some fare increases today.
Standard adult fares on various major routes will rise by $0.55, and the at-terminal fare for passengers driving up will increase by $4.10 for routes between Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver.
Last fall, the independent commissioner of BC Ferries greenlit an average fare hike of 3.2% per year from April 2024 to 2028.
Before securing a $500 million funding injection from the provincial government, the ferry corporation had initially proposed a 9.2% annual fare increase over the same timeframe.
