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Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
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Dear Pass Holders,

Thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time. We have been addressing the real-time challenges of COVID-19, focusing on the health and safety of our employees and communities. We have also been working on a comprehensive plan to address our pass holders’ concerns about this past season – and the future.

We have read all your emails and comments on social media. We have heard your two primary concerns: First, you are disappointed with last season’s closures. Second, you are worried about next season because of the current uncertainty.

To address these specific concerns, we are sharing a plan that I hope honors your loyalty and provides you with peace of mind about the future:
  1. To Address Last Season:
    • Credits from 20% to 80% for Season Pass Holders
We are providing credits to 2019-20 season pass holders, based on the price of their pass, to apply toward the purchase of a 2020-21 season pass of equal or greater value:
      • A minimum credit of 20% for season pass holders, based on the resort closures in mid-March impacting about 20% of the core season
      • Higher credits for season pass holders who used their pass less than five days
      • A maximum credit of 80% if you did not use your season pass at all, because we recognize that some of you were waiting until spring to use your pass
    • Credits for Epic Day Pass, Whistler Blackcomb Edge Card and Multi-Pack Pass Holders
For guests with remaining days on their 2019-20 Epic Day Pass, Edge Card or one of our other multi-pack pass products, we are providing a credit for each unused day, up to 80% of the price paid for your pass to apply toward a pass of equal or greater value for next season.
    • Your credit will be valid through Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2020) because we understand that you may need time to decide on your plans for next season.

This may seem complicated, but something simple would not address all the unique situations of our pass holders. We will email you personally in the coming weeks to share your specific credit details and your promotion code, which you can use online starting May 13. If you renew your pass prior to receiving your promotion code, we will retroactively provide the credit value back to you. In the meantime, you can click here to use the tables to find your pass credit, see our FAQs, and review the terms and conditions.

  1. Looking Ahead to the 2020-21 Season:
    • New ‘Epic Coverage’ Protects You Next Season
We are confident we will be enjoying a great upcoming ski and ride season, but we also understand that many pass holders are nervous about the future given the current uncertainty. With this in mind, we are launching ‘Epic Coverage’:
      • Epic Coverage is free for all pass holders and completely replaces the need to purchase pass insurance, which can cost up to $60 for other passes.
      • Epic Coverage provides for a refund if you have an eligible injury, job loss, or experience other personal events that prevent you from using your pass.
      • Epic Coverage also provides a refund for certain resort closures, including for events like COVID-19, giving you a refund for any portion of the season that is lost.

We understand that times have changed so Epic Coverage completely redefines your pass protection. We value your loyalty and we want you to enjoy your pass knowing that we are standing behind our commitment to your peace of mind. Click here to learn more about Epic Coverage, see our FAQs and review the terms and conditions.

    • Savings All Season Long
In March, we announced our new Epic Mountain Rewards, providing pass holders 20% off all mountain food & beverage, owned and operated lodging, group ski and ride lessons, equipment rentals and more at our North American resorts. No sign up. No points tracking. No blackout days. Just savings. Learn more about Epic Mountain Rewards here.

  1. The Time You Need:
    • Spring Deadlines Extended to Labor Day
We do not want to rush your decision. We are eliminating our traditional spring purchase deadlines, giving you through Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2020) to use your credit and to lock in 10 Buddy Tickets for next season. If uncertainty continues, we may reassess that deadline again as it gets closer.
    • Lowest Up-Front Cost
If you want to lock in your pass, we want to provide you the lowest up-front cost during this challenging time. Right now the deposit for your pass for next season is only $49, significantly less than the deposit many other passes require. This offer will extend for the next few months.

My hope is that this plan demonstrates our commitment to honoring your loyalty, with credits of 20%-80% for last season, Epic Coverage for next season, and more time to make a decision. We recognize that some people may ask why we did not provide 100% credits or cash refunds for last season. We capped our credits at 80% because our mountains were open and operating for the majority of the season and our passes could be used during that time. Regarding refunds, we recognize that our passes, and pass insurance, historically have not provided for refunds in situations like this, which is why we are introducing the new Epic Coverage.

Thank you for your loyalty. I am confident that our collective passion for the mountains will prevail and we will get through this together. I hope to see you on the mountain next season. And most importantly, I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.

Thank you,
Kirsten Lynch
EVP and Chief Marketing Officer
Vail Resorts
 

Andy Mink

Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
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IMHO it is more than fair. Kudos to Vail. For those who do find fault....I will just ask...Really?????
My guess is the folks who skied 10-20 days will find the 20% credit to be not enough. Or the guy who skied 5 days who doesn't get as much as the woman who skied 4 days. For some, it's just never enough.

I felt the IKON offering was fair but they will have to step up or potentially lose quite a few ticked off (see the IKON FB page) pass holders. I would hope they'd at least extend the deadline to Labor Day.
 
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Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
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OK Ikon, Time to step up. Please match this offering,
Vail just set the bar for what Ikon and every other pass needs to do.

What I find very interesting is the 80% offer people people who never got to use their pass. They must have received a significant amount of e-mails then did the research and found that it was actually accurate. I know @Tricis used hers just once and I not at all. We planned on using them late in the season and this week at Breckenridge.
 

afski722

Getting off the lift
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Wow....that 20% off across the board is a generous move. It I used my pass more than 5 days I was expecting nothing for last season. Offsets the price increases they had planned for 2020-21.
 

Ron

Seeking the next best ski
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Epic Coverage also provides a refund for certain resort closures, including for events like COVID-19, giving you a refund for any portion of the season that is lost.

this is probably the biggest thorn in the side of the Ikon offering. They need to at least match this. I can see the season opening but with no enclosed lifts/gondi's or even half capacity quads or 6 packs. Not sure how they are going to handle multiple lift lines that merge together for loading.
 

Unpiste

Booting down
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I guess I’m in the minority, but so far I actually like IKON’s handling better. (Admittedly I did get good value out of that pass, so am not really looking for or expecting a refund.)

In particular, carrying over only 80% of value for unused days on daily passes just feels like a slap in the face. (Season passes not so much.) Someone could easily have purchased such a pass planning to use it only in the spring, in which case they’d literally have had no opportunity to get their value out of it. This, to me, is a very different product from a season pass.

The “Epic Coverage” terms also feel like they were written by lawyers trying to leave as much wiggle room as they could. IKON’s leaving it up to passholders to put off the season if they want, with zero penalty, just feels like the right thing to do. The last thing we need right now is people feeling monetary pressure to take part in group activities should things not look so great in the fall.

I never used my Tahoe Lpcal pass this year, but I’m honestly not quite sure this pushes me over the line to renewing.
 
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Ron

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IKON doesnt have anything to protect the pass holder if they start to use the pass and the season is cancelled or interrupted. that's why I wont be taking advantage of any early buy programs. a $200 early buy-in bet against $600 is not worth it.
 
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Ron

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In the long run, they'll probably be saving money (and gaining customer loyalty) by doing this rather than fighting with lawyers and paying out class action lawsuits.

it will be far less. the good will, and the time value of money alone. The faster you get people to sign up and move on, the better off you are. that's why you see liberty mutual and others advertising quick settlements on claims. the quicker you settle, the lower the overall cost and the higher the satisfaction of the policy holder.
 

Green08

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20% was a figure I thought they would use. Up to 80% is generous, and essentially extending pass insuarnace to everyone that will include Covid relapses is a massive gesture!

Vail sets the bar HIGH for the industry.

This plus credits for unused lesson packs means we will be back.
 

DanoT

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Not sure how they are going to handle multiple lift lines that merge together for loading.

One lift line solution is to do like my local Costco: set up columns 6 ft apart with a liftie opening a column gate to let x amount thru before going to the next gate.
 

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