Price dependent on weather or date: Every second large ski area depends on “dynamic prices”

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Medium-sized and smaller mountain railways have so far stuck to the classic model, with fixed prices for daily and weekly tickets, for example. This is what Benedicta Aregger, deputy director of the Swiss Cable Car Association, told the Keystone-SDA news agency upon request.

After an initial phase where many major mountain railways adopted the flexible pricing model, the trend towards this model has slowed. Half of the major ski areas now prefer the dynamic model. Aregger thus confirmed a finding recently published by the “Aargauer Zeitung” and its sister newspapers.

depending on time

Dynamic prices mean that the price of a day ticket, for example, depends on when you buy it and the date you want to use the cable car. In general, prices are lower the earlier you buy, and prices go up when more people want to ski on a particular day (e.g. on weekends).

From this year the Adelboden-Lenk mountain railways are now subject to dynamic prices. As a company spokesperson announced upon request, they are doing this after several years of testing this model and guest surveys.

The aim is to use the facilities in the ski area more balancedly, to make skiing in the off-season more attractive in terms of price, and to shorten waiting times, including in restaurants. This benefits both guests and the destination. Thanks to the advance sale of tickets, the company’s liquidity is better at the beginning of the season, and the daily cash register is relieved thanks to the online store.

Consumer protection criticism

The Consumer Protection Foundation has repeatedly criticized dynamic prices for not being transparent. This model also hides price increases. Aregger says dynamic prices are clearly communicated and the rules are understandable. Customers understand the model and feedback from mountain railways is positive.

How should ski enthusiast families with small or medium budgets react to dynamic prices? Aregger says that it is important for him to act early when it comes to ski passes, just like renting a holiday apartment.

According to the snow report on the Switzerland Tourism website, most Swiss ski areas start in December. However, since some facilities were already open, Nendaz VS and Veysonnaz VS ski areas wanted the new season to start on Saturday.

Cable car Switzerland is cautiously optimistic about the new season, says Benedicta Aregger. General conditions such as foreign exchange and inflation are not optimal, but the Swiss are ski and snow people. The early start of winter last week was a welcome incentive for good winter deeds. (SDA)

Source :Blick