Should seniors get discounts on lift tickets?

[Marc]

I'm not sure if that was directed at me or not Marc. Anyway I resect our miltary and my elders. That was my point. Fire fighters and Police are worthy of mention as well. I give the retired guys that come in to do a side job a break at my company.

No, not directed at you, just throwing a hypothetical out there for everyone.

 

[Vortex]

Note mark serves his town as a fire fighter. He has recieved props for that before. Still worthy of mention.:beer:

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Businesswise giving senior discounts is a no brainer. It helps keep a market that without the discounts would trade their skis in for the more traditional senoir activities. Other business sectors have senior discounts not because they like giving away money. AARP factors into the decision to offer discounts.

At the resorts I have worked at they have offered senior discounts for many years but the value of the discounts has changed. For example, at the Bush years ago a senior(70+)? got to ski for free unrestricted. Now they get a good discount on Season Passes as well as a nice discount on day tiks. When I sold a SP to a senior I always got a earful how it used to free but they also understand things have changed and they DO buy the SP.

 

[riverc0il]

the bar keeps going up, i am not expecting a senior discount by the time i am 75, but i support the concept of offering a discount. didn't many ski areas used to let seniors ski free? but there didn't used to be many senior skiers... now a days, the baby boomer population is aging and still skiing, ski areas can't afford to offer up discounts to their prime customers. gotta wait until most skiers either die or can't physically do it to offer the discount.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Senior Discounts

Hmm... I hear that's the age that Utah resorts honor for senior discounts

I want to see that in writing! SOMEBODY BUY MY HOUSE! I'm soooo ready to head west.

 

[kcyanks1]

I just finished up law school, but didn't have a problem getting student ("college") ticket rates the couple times it came up. At both Jackson Hole and Jay Peak, I simply presented my school ID, which had a dated validation sticker, but also a "law" sticker, giving away the fact that I wasn't an undergraduate.

 

[riverc0il]

I just finished up law school, but didn't have a problem getting student ("college") ticket rates the couple times it came up. At both Jackson Hole and Jay Peak, I simply presented my school ID, which had a dated validation sticker, but also a "law" sticker, giving away the fact that I wasn't an undergraduate.

i did that the first season or two outta college while i was scrapping for cash. it got old quick though, asking for the college discount definitely was quickly not worth presenting myself as being a college kid.

 

[kcyanks1]

i did that the first season or two outta college while i was scrapping for cash. it got old quick though, asking for the college discount definitely was quickly not worth presenting myself as being a college kid.

I should clarify, in case it was unclear, that I actually was in law school when I did this. My id sticker was current. I'm also not even sure of whether the ski areas called the id "college" or "student," to be honest, but I'd give it a shot anyway...I was a full-time student, without a full-time job, which I think was the point of the discounts. I have no plans to try to use my id for discounts now, having graduated.

 

[TwinTips21]

Good example of another missed opportunity is the graduate student crowd, which is me. Now most places have no age restrictions for "college students" on their passes and simply say, "just present an ID and letter." Here in the Upper Valley, the closest ski area for Dartmouth Med, Tuck Business, Thayer Engineering, and Vermont Law Students is Ascutney. And guess what? Their "$99 Super College Pass" only applies to undergrads. Makes NO sense to me. So now all that traffic is going to Jay, Burke, K-mart, and Sunapee.

Trailboss I believe your incorrect. Full time undergraduate and graduate college students. Maybe I'm reading something incorrectly. See below for details from the ascutney website. Just as a side note ascutney changed the policy that the pass must be bought before october 30th to get the price of 99. After this date the price is 159. This is to prevent people coming up on weekend from getting the season pass just for 2 visists, because in most cases people had no knowledge of the deal before coming up to ascutney. This goes against the belief that the pass would draw college students to the mountain.




From the Ascutney Website-Ultra College Season Pass

$99, purchased before 11/30 . $159, purchased after 11/30.
Full time undergraduate and graduate college student, with college I.D.
The best value in college skiing in the country! Valid 7 days a week, all season long!

 

[Dr Skimeister]

I remember, years ago, seeing older skiers at several different Eastern resorts that had patches on their jackets that read "70+ Club". I still yearn to be an active member of that club (only 20 yrs to go for me). I think that at an age like that, physical condition permitting, deeply discounted or even free skiing should be offered. Most likely, skiers of that age have spent thousands and thousands of dollars at resorts. The resorts won't be losing money on these "experienced" skiers.

 

[JimG.]

Seniors 70 years old and up should ski for free...and young people should volunteer to carry their ski equipment to the lodge; check that, the ski area ought to have free storage and tuning services for these distinguished folks...and ski areas ought to have senior specific food items for free for them too...and they should get to ski an hour before the lifts are available to the public on powder days.

Because it's the right thing to do.




And because all of us are going to be old one day.

 

[andyzee]

Seniors 70 years old and up should ski for free...and young people should volunteer to carry their ski equipment to the lodge; check that, the ski area ought to have free storage and tuning services for these distinguished folks...and ski areas ought to have senior specific food items for free for them too...and they should get to ski an hour before the lifts are available to the public on powder days.

Because it's the right thing to do.




And because all of us are going to be old one day.

Now you're talking! Somehow we seem to forget about the "right thing to do" and concentrate on the almighty $$

 

[tirolerpeter]

Senoir Discounts?

Now you're talking! Somehow we seem to forget about the "right thing to do" and concentrate on the almighty $$

Isn't the "almighty $$" what this country is all about? Look at any recent economic studies of income distribution. The disparity between poor and rich is increasing rapidly, and many individuals who were formerly "middle class" (per US government definitions) are sliding downward. Seniors on fixed incomes are extremely vulnerable due to inflationary pressures that always exist. I'm not crying "poor mouth" personally, but then I have a pretty good pension, savings, investment assets, and most importantly excellent HEALTH INSURANCE. That is not the typical "senior" in our society.

I personally don't ask for a discount not available to anyone else on week-ends when ski areas must maximize their profits, but since they run the lifts anyway mid-week, and they are very under-utilized, encouraging seniors who have time available to ski mid-week would be like airlines selling off "empty" seats. Some $$$ is better than no $$$ when you have to keep the system running anyway.

 

[andyzee]

Isn't the "almighty $$" what this country is all about?

It sure is and I think I pointed that out in the following answer from a previous post:

Good point, however, we do not live in a socialist society where all incomes can be taken into account. Not everyone is entitled to a day of skiing, sad but true. However, it is acceptable to give the elderly discounts and that, I believe, should not be taken away. I believe that a person has worked all of their lives, gotten to the retirement age and if they can ski, well God bless em, let them enjoy

Also, not everything is black and white, just cause we are a capitalist society, doesn't mean that all compassion should go out the window.

 

[Ski Diva]

I don't know where I stand on this one. There are so many groups that could use a discount -- college students, single parents, people who work for minimum wage, me....

All I know is that this past winter I saw a guy getting off the lift wearing an 80+ jacket, and I thought, "At his age, they should let him on for nothing; he deserves it for just being out here." I mean, is the mountain going to overrun with 80-year-olds taking advantage, bombing down the slopes and crowding us out? I don't think so. I think they've paid their dues. Can't we afford to give them a few free runs at the end of the line?

Only hope I can do the same when I'm his age.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Seniors?

It sure is and I think I pointed that out in the following answer from a previous post:



Also, not everything is black and white, just cause we are a capitalist society, doesn't mean that all compassion should go out the window.

Maybe I'm pushing the "non-political posts envelope here" but I'd gladly let the "skiing discount" thing slide for some decent Health Insurance coverage for ALL our citizens. Lack of HI not only causes much human suffering, but is a major factor in pushing otherwise hard working people into backruptcy in our society.

Ski Diva has a good point. Where do you "draw the line" in determining discounts elegibility? As a "maturing" skier, I would certainly love a good deal at some point, although I'm not "old" yet, I think it is in the economic interests of ski areas to promote skiing by offering "freebees" and discounts to some patrons. Of course, I understand that "senior" skiers really don't need encouragement, they are already addicted. Look what passing out "free" smokes did to promote addiction to tobacco. I don't know about current military practices, but soldiers got free smokes in every war right up through the Vietnam era. I know, I was a GI and smoker then. Look how prosperous the tobacco companies have been as a result.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Seniors 70 years old and up should ski for free...
Because it's the right thing to do.

I agree. As a society we have been inclinded to focus on everthing young and ignoring the needs of our seniors. I think we should fo everything we can to make those years happy and acrive for them.

Not all seniors have loving families to look after their best interests.

I was playing devil's advocate in my previous posts on this thread, I'm glad to see so many think they should ski for free.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I know, I was a GI and smoker then. Look how prosperous the tobacco companies have been as a result.

That's a good example of promotion gone wrong. However, if seniors ski free it's more business for the ski industry and the exercise may help the seniors live healthier lives.

I agree with you on health care concerns in our country BTW. I don't think it's a problem for just the poor. When people are sick and can't get care it can be a strain on society in many economic ways not just ethical ways which of course are more important.

 

[Marc]

While discussing the merits of a state run healthcare system maybe more public policy than politics, I'd guess that

1) it still crosses the acceptable bounds as set in previous precedent
2) does not have much to do with private businesses giving discounts to seniors

 

[ctenidae]

This poster is a classic example of the principle that: "Youth is wasted on the young." A POX on him. He must have been one of the enforcers in "Logan's Run." Actually, Senior discounts should start at age 60 and three months. It is only a coincidence that I am 60 and three months old!

Someone needs to check the batteries in their Sarcasmometer.

:beer: