Clearing congestion and back logs are major terminals is a desired result of offering more discounted fares during off-peak times by BC Ferries. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

saver fares

BC Ferries hoping discounted fares enough to lure passengers away from busy sailings

Mar 15, 2024 | 11:23 AM

NANAIMO — Additional discounted fares will be available for BC Ferries travellers.

Beginning April 1, savings for families, those who carpool or walk on will see extra options for “Saver” fares when booking their travel online.

The fares are typically offered during off-peak times as a way to encourage those with flexible travel schedules to avoid the busiest hours of the day at BC Ferries terminals, according to ferries spokesperson Jeff Groot.

“We’re doubling the number of Saver fares overall on the routes between Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver. People who book off-peak sailing times, whether that’s early in the morning or mid-week or late at night, they are going to see more Saver fares that are available for them to book.”

Through the rest of March, the ‘Saver’ fares are being offered on the first and last sailings most days between Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland.

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Bookings made into April offered a similarly low fare on each of the first two trips on most days.

A new foot passenger saver fare is also being offered for a flat $15 rate on selected sailings.

Groot added offering discounted fares will also encourage people to book online more for their travel, again reducing waits at the terminal.

“That gives us more certainty about when you’re going to travel and where there is going to be pressures on the system. It’s three times faster for us to get you through the ticket booth, it should mean less congestion before terminals and inside our terminals, and it hopefully means fewer sailing waits.”

Carpooling and using alternative forms of transportation to get to terminals when possible is also encouraged, as it allows them to carry more passengers per trip, Groot said.

Ferry fares are projected to increase overall, however, by 3.2 per cent on April 1.

Full prices fares at the terminal will increase $4.10 between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, while passenger fares will ride $0.55.

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