Question Ski-lift ticket pricing

[thomasdo1]

I'm in the process of planning the budget for my snow trip this year. I distinctly remember last year that ski lift day passes were $180 per day during the peak winter days, but does anyone remember the price for the non-peak lift tickets? My memory is blurry but I think it was around $100 per day.

My trip will be from 8-10th July and was wondering if this would fall into the non-peak pricing or not.

 

[skifree]

Pretty sure that’s school hols.

 

[Donza]

Absolute peak

 

[thomasdo1]

Pretty sure that’s school hols.

Would moving it to 1st-3rd July be better? I distinctly remember from last year that there was a specific date that any day after this was $180 per day.

 

[skifree]

Would moving it to 1st-3rd July be better? I distinctly remember from last year that there was a specific date that any day after this was $180 per day.

Sorry, I'm SA, we need a NSW with school kids to advise.

 

[emkae]

Both options have some NSW school holidays in there somewhere. The later one may provide better snow cover though..

LMGTFY - Let Me Google That For You

For all those people who find it more convenient to bother you with their question rather than to Google it for themselves.

lmgtfy.app

 

[Snowmaker7]

For both the periods you are talking about I believe tickets were $139 Tues, Wed and Thurs. Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon were $169 if my memory serves me correctly. Someone may be able to clarify.

 

[BrindiCruiser]

It is pretty annoying that Perisher day ticket prices are so obscure, and not publicly available earlier.

 

[SnowRabbit]

As of today I'm anxiously awaiting the posting of the price for Perisher's Over 70s season pass.

 

[NathanF]

As of today I'm anxiously awaiting the posting of the price for Perisher's Over 70s season pass.

$209 based on the price the released today. ...and if Perisher/Vail tickets prices are similar to that of Thredbo, the price of the over 70s season pass will be less than the price of a normal single day ticket and a hamburger.

 

[Chookfooter]

I would be very surprised if day tickets will be available this year, particularly in peak season.

 

[currawong]

I would be very surprised if day tickets will be available this year, particularly in peak season.

what's that based on?
are you just referring to Perisher or all the Vail trio?

do you mean walk-up tickets or all single day tickets, even if pre-purchased?

 

[Myazma]

I wonder if Australian resorts would ever offer 'hourly tickets' like in Niseko.

 

[Chookfooter]

what's that based on?
are you just referring to Perisher or all the Vail trio?

do you mean walk-up tickets or all single day tickets, even if pre-purchased?

Just Perisher according to my source, based on the number of season passes already sold.

 

[nezumi]

I would be very surprised if day tickets will be available this year, particularly in peak season.

That would lead to a whole host of contract issues given that one of the benefits of the Epic Australia Pass is the 6 Bring a Mate vouchers for up to 50% off a day pass.

 

[Chookfooter]

That would lead to a whole host of contract issues given that one of the benefits of the Epic Australia Pass is the 6 Bring a Mate vouchers for up to 50% off a day pass.

That will just add to the tens of thousands of lawsuits Vail is facing in the US over the same issue.

 

[currawong]

Just Perisher according to my source, based on the number of season passes already sold.

do you think they are following thredbo's example of trying to avoid overcrowding or just pressuring people to commit to at least multi-day passes?

and to do it with no warning is really crap. people who have paid for accom while planning to pick their days have every right to be furious.

 

[nezumi]

That will just add to the tens of thousands of lawsuits Vail is facing in the US over the same issue.

Well, I'm already planning in advance to try it on with them in relation to lesson pricing for my non-Epic Pass holding kid, since the benefits on the website simply state that the Epic Aus Pass gives 20% off lessons at Hotham - nothing specifying that they have to be lessons for the passholder.
"Well, it's implied!" - OK, so does the 15% discount at food locations only apply to the passholder too? If I order 4 meals do I only get to pick one to receive the discount? Because the same or similar language is used on both discounts!

 

[skichic]

I wonder if Australian resorts would ever offer 'hourly tickets' like in Niseko.

Geez you’d be pissed off if you spent the whole time queuing!

 

[ShavedBadger]

"Hey Siri, show me absolute bullshit..."

$209 based on the price the released today.

 

[Myazma]

Geez you’d be pissed off if you spent the whole time queuing!

True

 

[skifree]

Geez you’d be pissed off if you spent the whole time queuing!

But it would be epic queuing.

 

[GlenH]

I wonder if Australian resorts would ever offer 'hourly tickets' like in Niseko.

When Mt Blue Cow first opened they sold kilometre tickets. Pleasant Valley and The Ridge counted as 2km, the other three chaitrlifts counted as 1km.

Pretty revolutionary for 1987.

 

[iagreewithhim]

When Mt Blue Cow first opened they sold kilometre tickets. Pleasant Valley and The Ridge counted as 2km, the other three chaitrlifts counted as 1km.

Pretty revolutionary for 1987.

Also a pain in the arse, with that ticket on a long elastic strap snapping back out of the machine, and going flappity flap in your face in the wind.

 

[Chookfooter]

Also a pain in the arse, with that ticket on a long elastic strap snapping back out of the machine, and going flapping flap in your face in the wind.

Yes, the mechanics weren't so hot but the concept was a good one, particularly for beginners. IIRC they also had hourly, 3hourly, morning and afternoon tickets too. It would work much better with the RFID system.

 

[Seafm]

I'm still waiting for them to release ticket prices for first week of September.

 

[GlenH]

Also a pain in the arse, with that ticket on a long elastic strap snapping back out of the machine, and going flapping flap in your face in the wind.

That's right, and the funniest thing was watching people finish a run, arrive at the gates and not be able to figure out how far behind their back the ticket had wound itself.

 

[Billy_Buttons]

That's right, and the funniest thing was watching people finish a run, arrive at the gates and not be able to figure out how far behind their back the ticket had wound itself.

That's what chest pockets were for.

 

[GlenH]

Yes, the mechanics weren't so hot but the concept was a good one, particularly for beginners. IIRC they also had hourly, 3hourly, morning and afternoon tickets too. It would work much better with the RFID system.

Indeed, and the cool thing about the kilometre ticket was that the same ticket could be used throughout the season until it expired.

I remember taking a group of friends to introduce them to Mt Blue Cow one morning and we all bought an AM ticket which expired whilst we were having lunch. Then I put them all through Pleasant Valley on my kilometre ticket and we skied back to Perisher without needing another lift.

Ah, those were the days.

 

[Sandy]

I wonder if Australian resorts would ever offer 'hourly tickets' like in Niseko.

Geez you’d be pissed off if you spent the whole time queuing!

This is why a pass with xx number of rides would be more practical.

 

[davec1]

I'm in the process of planning the budget for my snow trip this year. I distinctly remember last year that ski lift day passes were $180 per day during the peak winter days, but does anyone remember the price for the non-peak lift tickets? My memory is blurry but I think it was around $100 per day.

My trip will be from 8-10th July and was wondering if this would fall into the non-peak pricing or not.

Here are the Adult lift prices and the dates that they changed in 2020 and 2021:

2021

Days	From 25 June	From 24 Aug	From 6 Sept
1​	180​	180​	180​
2​	360​	259​	259​
3​	$517​	$372​	$344​
4​	$660​	$492​	455​
5​	$805​	$558​	507​
6​	$964​	$694​	642​
7​	$1,121​	$808​	747​

2020 - these are the changes in prices leading up to and including the school holidays. I dont have 1 and 2 day passes info.

Days	24 June - 26 June	27 June - 3 July	4 July - 19 July
3​	$349​	$433​	498​
4​	$454​	$574​	631​
5​	$561​	$705​	776​
6​	$670​	$843​	927​
7​	$780​	$981​	1079​

 

[NathanF]

Just to add to the above (the following were during peak season (late July/early August but not school holidays) and purchased more than 7 days in advance):

• 2019: 5.5 in 7 days - $522 or $559 with (5) lessons from anywhere other than Front Valley
• 2021: 5 days (not sure if it was 5.5 in 7 or not) - $558 or $598 with (5) lessons from anywhere other than Front Valley

 

[Retro2]

No news here yet.. Thinking of just skiing 3 weeks in Canada every year?.

 

[nezumi]

Lift passes and lessons have just gone live (because Friday afternoon is the best time for that, *obviously*)

As anticipated, a 7 day pass at Perisher in the school holidays is more than the current adult Epic Aus Pass pricing - $1,177 vs $999. At Hotham it's only slightly cheaper ($939)

 

[Stevie84]

Lift passes and lessons have just gone live (because Friday afternoon is the best time for that, *obviously*)

Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[blueandwhite]

Is there any limit on the supply of lift passes this year does anyone know - can they actually sell out for peak days at Perisher? We have booked accommodation to come from VIC for interschools in September and not sure if I need to get lift tickets now they are available or if I can just wait until August to buy them. I presume the prices listed on the website won't go up and they are set at those levels for the season now?

 

[skichic]

Is there any limit on the supply of lift passes this year does anyone know - can they actually sell out for peak days at Perisher? We have booked accommodation to come from VIC for interschools in September and not sure if I need to get lift tickets now they are available or if I can just wait until August to buy them. I presume the prices listed on the website won't go up and they are set at those levels for the season now?

Interschools usually has discounted pricing for participants and team managers.

 

[Tanuki]

Well, I'm already planning in advance to try it on with them in relation to lesson pricing for my non-Epic Pass holding kid, since the benefits on the website simply state that the Epic Aus Pass gives 20% off lessons at Hotham - nothing specifying that they have to be lessons for the passholder.
"Well, it's implied!" - OK, so does the 15% discount at food locations only apply to the passholder too? If I order 4 meals do I only get to pick one to receive the discount? Because the same or similar language is used on both discounts!

Fight the good fight. Please don't go broke doing it though.

 

[nezumi]

Fight the good fight. Please don't go broke doing it though.

As it turned out it was cheaper for me to just buy an Epic Aus Pass for him and then buy his lessons - mainly because of how horribly Hotham are price gouging for lessons compared to Perisher, but that's by the by.

 

[TinkyH23]

We're bringing a newbie with us to Falls next week.
We all have EPIC passes.
I shared lift ticket information to said newbie a few weeks ago to help with budgeting.

"How much is a day ticket?"
"How long is a piece of string?"

A 5 day adult ticket from Monday is currently selling at $694
On 17 July when I shared the link, the same 5 day ticket was $597

I still can't believe VAIL are allowed to keep modifying the price of a ticket throughout the season.

 

[lewis]

We're bringing a newbie with us to Falls next week.
We all have EPIC passes.
I shared lift ticket information to said newbie a few weeks ago to help with budgeting.

"How much is a day ticket?"
"How long is a piece of string?"

A 5 day adult ticket from Monday is currently selling at $694
On 17 July when I shared the link, the same 5 day ticket was $597

I still can't believe VAIL are allowed to keep modifying the price of a ticket throughout the season.

Isn't it fairly predictable and reasonable that it gets more expensive the closer to the date you get? You get to be more confident in the condition of the mountain and, as a result, pay more for the privilege.

Same applies to the epic pass so I'm surprised this is a new concept to you. Unless you're joking about it being unreasonable...?

 

[Sage O]

We're bringing a newbie with us to Falls next week.
We all have EPIC passes.
I shared lift ticket information to said newbie a few weeks ago to help with budgeting.

"How much is a day ticket?"
"How long is a piece of string?"

A 5 day adult ticket from Monday is currently selling at $694
On 17 July when I shared the link, the same 5 day ticket was $597

I still can't believe VAIL are allowed to keep modifying the price of a ticket throughout the season.

EPIC dynamic pricing

 

[TinkyH23]

Isn't it fairly predictable and reasonable that it gets more expensive the closer to the date you get? You get to be more confident in the condition of the mountain and, as a result, pay more for the privilege.

Same applies to the epic pass so I'm surprised this is a new concept to you. Unless you're joking about it being unreasonable...?

You have shares in VAIL I can only assume.

Please explain why you think it is reasonable that it gets more expensive the closer to the date you get.

 

[NightSky]

You have shares in VAIL I can only assume.

Please explain why you think it is reasonable that it gets more expensive the closer to the date you get.

No different to airfare or other holiday pricing.

 

[nezumi]

You have shares in VAIL I can only assume.

Please explain why you think it is reasonable that it gets more expensive the closer to the date you get.

Simple - it's not getting more expensive, the discount to encourage early commitment is being withdrawn.

It's the same with so many other things. If you want to buy it at short notice, then you pay more for the convenience than buying early.

Why is it reasonable that a 1.25L bottle of cola costs $1.50 at the super market, but $5.00 at KFC - and $6 for a glass at a restaurant?
Why is it reasonable that booking a hotel room for August in January is far cheaper than booking the same room in July?

 

[NightSky]

Simple - it's not getting more expensive, the discount to encourage early commitment is being withdrawn.

It's the same with so many other things. If you want to buy it at short notice, then you pay more for the convenience than buying early.

Why is it reasonable that a 1.25L bottle of cola costs $1.50 at the super market, but $5.00 at KFC - and $6 for a glass at a restaurant?
Why is it reasonable that booking a hotel room for August in January is far cheaper than booking the same room in July?

Yeah, your explanation is right on. It's not getting more expensive, the earlybird discount is just getting less.

 

[nezumi]

Yeah, your explanation is right on. It's not getting more expensive, the earlybird discount is just getting less.

It's not like they're even being subtle or sneaky about it either. There are plenty of things that I take issue with regarding ski ticket pricing, including things like lesson cost and structure, lift pass cost, and other significant factors not being known at the time accommodation bookings open (will we offer lessons for your kid's age group this year? Will they be full day, or half day? Book your stay, then find out in 3 months' time!) - but a 5 day lift pass that says "Buy now and save $176" is hardly being deceptive.

 

[lewis]

You have shares in VAIL I can only assume.

I don't think I've ever even been to a Vail resort.. Maybe Perisher, but that may have still been before it was bought out.

Please explain why you think it is reasonable that it gets more expensive the closer to the date you get.

I think other people explained this part. Committing to something a long way out guarantees that you will spend that money in comparison to possibly not spending the money later due to changes in circumstances. Hence, you get to spend less since you're paying upfront. As outlined in other posts, this applies to a range of other services.

 

[sixty_eight]

You get a discount online price when you purchase 7 days in advance.

 

[NightSky]

I just had a look at Mt Buller ticket pricing $40 cheaper for 2 day weekend pass $368 vs $408 for Perisher vs $348 for Falls for the 6th Aug

So pretty much equal, so not a Vail thing.