RFID tickets

[andrec10]

I've used them in Utah and love them. If management saw past the ends of their noses, places would recoup the costs in no time!

 

[vcunning]

They've actually asked me my DOB a handful of times. Maybe a lot of it is randomness.

Glenn, I think you're getting confused with the DOB question. That usually only happens at the drinking establishments we frequent.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Either do I. But like bvib says, it must be the ones who aren't really smart about it. I've seen a few people get picked out of line right in front of us. It usually goes like this:

"What your birthday?"

"Uhhhhhh"

And that's that. They've actually asked me my DOB a handful of times. Maybe a lot of it is randomness.

My season pass does not list the DOB or any info but my name and pic. Never seen that info on passes at other mtns. or those questions asked either.

Basically to get caught, a person has to be a real idiot.

 

[Glenn]

Glenn, I think you're getting confused with the DOB question. That usually only happens at the drinking establishments we frequent.

Ahhhhh! OK! Now that makes sense! :lol:

My season pass does not list the DOB or any info but my name and pic. Never seen that info on passes at other mtns. or those questions asked either.

Basically to get caught, a person has to be a real idiot.

It's not listed on our passes either. However, it does come up on the scanner when the ticket person scans your pass.

 

[JPTracker]

At Killington, they need two employees per lift on quad chairs and gondolas to scan bar codes. RFID gates would pay for themselves very quickly. The employees could instead focus on keeping the chairs full and policing the lift line bargers and you'd only need half as many employees.

They could probably have the line people randomly spot check passes. Just to make sure it's the passholder...and not a friend out borrowing it.

At Jay there is usually one employee checking passes. He is standing next to the RFID gates with a hand held computer of sorts. He can see every pass which scans through the gates including pictures and stats for all the season pass holders. They catch people when there are discrepancies in sex, age or the photo doesn't match. I saw one guy stopped because he shaved off his beard. Also after a while the lifties know a lot of the regulars so if a regular is dumb enough to lone his pass to someone they will probably get caught.

 

[billski]

I too used them at Jay this season. Hmm, I didn't have to "buy" anything. We got a paper-like ticket that is not rechargeable. It worked everytime for us, we just had to make sure it was on the outward site of the jacket pocket.

The pass is now essentially transferable.I'm sure JP recognizes that. However I cannot imagine someone coming all the way to Jay and not buying a pass for their entire stay. The only time I'd stay in the lodge is if I broke something/

 

[Geoff]

The pass is now essentially transferable.I'm sure JP recognizes that. However I cannot imagine someone coming all the way to Jay and not buying a pass for their entire stay. The only time I'd stay in the lodge is if I broke something/

A day ticket or multi-day ticket has always been "transferable". ...particularly now that many places use tie wraps instead of a ticket bale and a ticket with adhesive on it. In the old days, you had to go to a ticket window and tell them you were changing clothes so they'd print you another ticket.

As people point out, an RFID season pass can display your photo and birthday to a hand-held PC. It's easy enough to spot the blatant imposters.

 

[k123]

Campgaw is going to be using an RFID ticket system this season: http://skicampgaw.com/home/item/33-rfid

 

[x10003q]

Hickory Ski Center in NY has this system. I used it last year for an individual day pass and it worked fine. I zipped the card into a pocket on my sleeve and waved it by the reader. The thing about Hickory is that you are there with anywhere from 10-200 people so there is not so much lift loading pressure.:wink:

Hickory Ski Center

 

[BenedictGomez]

This whole, 'it speeds thing up" thing is nonsense to me. I think it's a P&L issue, plain and simple.

 

[Edd]

This whole, 'it speeds thing up" thing is nonsense to me. I think it's a P&L issue, plain and simple.

Based on my observations out west I beg to differ. No doubt there's a financial incentive if you think beyond short term but many ski areas do a poor job of lift line management. Things run smoothly at the ones I've seen.

 

[steamboat1]

I've never used an RFID system so I have no experience with it. I have been to several areas that use a plastic card that you have to insert into a reader to get through the turnstiles. The only pain about that was you had to have the card readily available to insert in the reader, it was kind of a pain in the butt. If you don't have to insert a card into anything it sounds good to me.

 

[deadheadskier]

Looks like Ragged is in the RFID game now, which is somewhat surprising to me given that Ragged isn't a major resort.

I got my CHAD card in the mail today and it included a free ticket to Ragged. You just need to register the card online and go and and hop on the lift.

 

[Smellytele]

Looks like Ragged is in the RFID game now, which is somewhat surprising to me given that Ragged isn't a major resort.

I got my CHAD card in the mail today and it included a free ticket to Ragged. You just need to register the card online and go and and hop on the lift.

Still waiting on my chad Card not that it is needed right now anyway. I saw the Ragged RFID cards at the Boston ski show at the Chad both. Almost bought another chad card but didn't. Man this was a useless post by me - no useful info at all...

 

[billski]

Still waiting on my chad Card not that it is needed right now anyway..

I talked with Jeff at the show on Saturday. The brochures just arrived. He doesn't send out the cards until he has the brochure to accompany it. Supposed to all go out this week.

 

[mikestaple]

Used them at Jay last year. You really had to be conscious of what pocket you had it in so it angled correctly to the reader. Also, don't have your phone etc in that pocket as it messes up the read.

And - my kids had them. Had to keep readjusting what pocket they sat in relative to their height and the reader.

I did refill them on line - but the refill for the youngest (under a certain age so he skied free) didn't take so I had to go back to client service anyways.

Seems like a great idea to avoid the ticket buying line. Just needs a little more tweaking.............

In the end though - it's just more data gathering gibberish for their operations and marketing departments.

 

[BenedictGomez]

In the end though - it's just more data gathering gibberish for their operations and marketing departments.

And an ancillary source of revenue.

 

[57stevey]

Looks like Ragged is in the RFID game now, which is somewhat surprising to me given that Ragged isn't a major resort.

I got my CHAD card in the mail today and it included a free ticket to Ragged. You just need to register the card online and go and and hop on the lift.

Me too. But I notice there was no Golf/Ski Warehouse card included this year; was this the same for you? I have used the Sunapee discount in the past; CHAD card is still a good deal though overall.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

I used RFID last season at Blue in PA and it worked well. The card was free and I just kept in my outer jacket pocket and the turnstile opened every time. I'll reload it on the internet before I go this season.

 

[billski]

Me too. But I notice there was no Golf/Ski Warehouse card included this year; was this the same for you? I have used the Sunapee discount in the past; CHAD card is still a good deal though overall.

I have a golf and ski card, which I cant find; I thought the card was good forever, the deals just keep changing.