I really question this as well. Sugarbush does a good job of checking tickets/passes. Every so often one won't scan after a few tries and they will just wave you through, but you still have to have something that looks real even in that situation.
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Okemo - RFID
- Thread starter gmcunni
- Start date
I really question this as well. Sugarbush does a good job of checking tickets/passes. Every so often one won't scan after a few tries and they will just wave you through, but you still have to have something that looks real even in that situation.
steamboat1
New member
Yes Sugarbush & some other places do a good job. Not so at some other areas. Weekdays at K your lucky to find a scanner (outside of K-1 maybe) in the afternoon (sometimes earlier). I've brought this up in discussions on other sites a few times. I have no idea what it's like on weekends because I'm not there. Sugarbush will scan you everytime even if the scanner has seen you 10 times already. At K I sometimes have to look for a scanner to be scanned only because I keep track of my days this way. They can tell you how many days you've been scanned with a season pass..
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manhattanskier
New member
I have had an express pass at Killington that was never scanned on some days, it is very easy.
steamboat1
New member
But you are scanned every time. That's the point.
I'm sure you are not alone. I think they lose a ton of money because of this.
dlague
Active member
I had an express card as well and that happened to me in May, skied all day without ever being scanned until the last run. If I would have bagged it earlier I would have had to go to customer service to get it scanned. Wink wink!
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KevinF
Member
I'm amazed that people don't like RFID systems. I usually ski at Stowe. Never had an issue there. I've skied at Jay. Never had an issue with theirs. Seems like it works smoothly for the other patrons. Everybody I've talked to likes it.
My ski jacket has a pocket just above the wrist that is the perfect size for holding an RFID card. I just wave my wrist at the scanner and it opens right up.
IMHO, it sure beats the old system of having to show your lift ticket every time. It always seemed that the people doing the scanning would be standing on the opposite side of where I had put my lift ticket, so I was always twisting around so they could see it.
My ski jacket has a pocket just above the wrist that is the perfect size for holding an RFID card. I just wave my wrist at the scanner and it opens right up.
IMHO, it sure beats the old system of having to show your lift ticket every time. It always seemed that the people doing the scanning would be standing on the opposite side of where I had put my lift ticket, so I was always twisting around so they could see it.
I am amazed that a place like K doesn't make sure their lifties scan everyone at all lifts that can be accessed from lodges or parking lots. Seems like ski area management 101.
When Jay first put in RFID I had some issues but last few years they worked just fine for me. I prefer not having to attach a ticket. The only problem I have with Stowe's RFID system is that they seem to have cut way back on ticket sellers and if you have to sign up for an RFID there you wait in a long line while they get a life history from each and every customer ahead of you. However, once in their system you just start skiing and your credit card is charged on your first scan of the day.
When Jay first put in RFID I had some issues but last few years they worked just fine for me. I prefer not having to attach a ticket. The only problem I have with Stowe's RFID system is that they seem to have cut way back on ticket sellers and if you have to sign up for an RFID there you wait in a long line while they get a life history from each and every customer ahead of you. However, once in their system you just start skiing and your credit card is charged on your first scan of the day.
steamboat1
New member
Doesn't work that smoothly for me. The only time I ski Stowe I use either a VT. Pass or take advantage of ski club/council appreciation day pricing. Either way I still have to go to the ticket booth to get my RFID card activated for the day. I'm not a big fan of using plastic either & usually pay cash.
I hear ya. I have the MCP pass this year and am anticipating Stowe will be a PITA to get on the hill in the morning.
Last year I found forerunner lodge a lot faster then gondola lodge for ticketing.
steamboat1
New member
Yeah but if you get your card activated in the Mansfield lodge you then have to climb that god awful stairway to get to the lifts.:razz:
I already had an activated card but was there on a Metro Ski Council day and that rate was cheaper than the $89 Stowe card price. I hate that climb too but it's not really that bad. Also was meeting some crazy people who seem to start there every time...
mbedle
Well-known member
I take offense to that post!!! I am one of those crazy people that start over there every time... lol. But yes, the walk up the hill does suck, but it is a nice way to warm up the calf muscles. Plus, if you start out the back door near the stairs and make a diagonal line across the hill, its not too bad.
steamboat1
New member
I assume MCP pass stands for the Mountain Collective Pass. Guess you'll be skiing around out west this season since it's only good for 2 days at each resort. Not a bad deal if you can get around.
mbedle
Well-known member
Actually good for 50% off lift tickets at Stowe after the first 2 free ones. When I spoke to Stowe this summer, they were not sure if they would going to integrate the MCP into the Evolution card and bypass or require you to go to the window each morning to purchase a single day pass.
Yeah, that's brilliant.
Favorite feature of the RFID is loading your pass the night before and not waiting in line at the ticket counter. Big help for weekend day trips.
I remember the early on at stowe buying a day pass....took forever. Might have been the first year with the RFID chip system....or maybe they were rolling out that evolution card....anyway, they had to collect all your information, name address, etc....and the ticket counters were just kind of learning, and they were way overloaded....took forever to buy a one day pass.
And I remember our bracelet things at Jay - we were staying there. Do they still use those or have they moved to cards? - not working well. Had to stop skiing every day to get them to load them in right every day.
And Blue mountain in the pokes has had RFID for a long time. We have a ton of cards that we now load online the night before. But we have so many cards for so long ago...some of the first cards you can't reload, some you can....couple times last year we thought we loaded them online only to find out it didn't take...
All just growing pains.
Just to be old fashioned for a minute, it's kind of a shame that the automatic gates will be taking more attendant jobs. I enjoy having friendly faces greet you and telling you to enjoy the day or whatever...(when the attendants are friendly that is....). I know that sounds corny, but it's true. Automation is a drag in that respect. Also, fewer ski bum jobs for our kids in the future.
We have a trip planned to Aspen with the epicski gang and we are going to Jackson Hole with our ski club so the Mountain Collective Pass works out great for us this season.
+1 Completely agree with this part.
spiderpig
Member
Okemo has been pretty lax about checking tickets, even at the main base quads, and especially in singles lines. I'm never up there on holidays though, so they may be more thorough then. And they don't scan, to correct some earlier posts.
FWIW, they posted on Facebook that this wouldn't result in less jobs, and based on them rotating people to organize the lines/sit in the shack/stand at the loading line, I believe it. Maybe one or two less people at the Six that they can move elsewhere.
FWIW, they posted on Facebook that this wouldn't result in less jobs, and based on them rotating people to organize the lines/sit in the shack/stand at the loading line, I believe it. Maybe one or two less people at the Six that they can move elsewhere.
