rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
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Post by rt1commuter on Jun 28, 2011 22:54:44 GMT -8
So I went today to reserve a spot on route 3 today from Horseshoe bay for Friday (Canada day) and found that almost all of the sailing were full! I was hoping to go in the morning, and not in the late afternoon. I figure we'll chance it and drive out to the terminal in the morning. But I was wondering, how much deck space is currently reservable. What chance does a "drop in" car actually have of getting on?
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Post by glasseye on Jun 29, 2011 2:07:41 GMT -8
Look at the Terminals at a Glance page in the wee hours of the morning between midnight and when the terminals open up for traffic for the day. Unless something is broken with the BCFS website, the full percentages for each sailing will be due to reservations as there cannot be any traffic waiting inside the terminals to board. What free space remains should (one hopes) be available for drive-up traffic. I have at times seen some sailings (particularly on routes 9 and 30) 100% full at 1am. Indeed, both route #9 sailings are showing completely full for today. I have no idea if the reservable space percentage differs on a per route or per date basis. If you check the terminal page just after midnight on Thursday, you should, however, get some idea what chance you have as a drive-up. Route 17 any use to you?
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 29, 2011 8:08:30 GMT -8
I have seen it before late at night after midnight the 7am has shown it being 100% full which it actually wasent but I think if you get there early enough for a sailing you should be fine! If there is a wait get there for the previous sailing before the one you want then you probably would get on the one you want if there was a wait.
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Post by Ferryman on Jun 29, 2011 13:53:16 GMT -8
On Route 9 all deck space is reservable in order to arrange the loading procedure for multi destinations. However, reservations are free on route 9, which is not the case on the major routes. Also with route 9, you can still show up at the terminal as a "hopeful", but you'll be set aside on standby if there is room to accommodate once the reserves are on board.
I can't remember exact percentage, but I believe it's something like 25 % of the total load, but definitely not the entire load.
My only advice, and something you'll need to accept since it's part of traveling on the ferries during a long weekend, is the need to show up early and see where that gets you. There will also be two ships running on route 3, so wait times shouldn't be all that bad anyways.
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Post by Nickfro on Jun 29, 2011 15:16:55 GMT -8
I think the max is about 25% reservable space for Route 3, as that is typically what I see on the current conditions pages. The Island routes, however, often show a much higher percentage of around 50%.
Keep in mind though that when there is an extra boat running on Route 2 (3 boats total) and Route 3 (2 boats), quite often one of those sailings at peak times has 0% reservable space. When that's the case, if you don't have a reservation it can often be good to catch that sailing, or the one after it since it usually cleans out all stand-by cars waiting in the terminal.
On an aside, in response to JP's specific trip plan, I find this year's Canada Day long weekend schedule on Route 3 to be created improperly. It appears BCFS has not considered the holiday Friday, and maintaining their traditional summer schedule for this upcoming weekend.
Reasons for this observation: - 2 scheduled extra sailings (ie. Coquitlam) on Thursday afternoon instead of the typical 3 on Friday afternoons - No scheduled extra sailings on Friday (Canada Day) morning, which will be required, like on most summer Saturdays - 3 scheduled extra sailings on Friday afternoon, which sounds overkill since Friday pm will act like a typical summer Saturday pm: people have all travelled to their weekend destination by this time. - 3 scheduled extra sailings on Saturday morning, which won't be required since Saturday will act like a typical summer Sunday morning: relatively quiet.
I'm sure extra sailings will be added on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning once they realize traffic demand requires that. It's too bad because they'll most likely be wasting fuel and money during the quieter times too.
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Post by Mike on Jun 29, 2011 16:09:55 GMT -8
I think the max is about 25% reservable space for Route 3, as that is typically what I see on the current conditions pages. The Island routes, however, often show a much higher percentage of around 50%. I believe the maximum reservable space on Route 3 is actually 40% normally, but increases to 60% on long weekends.
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Post by glasseye on Jun 30, 2011 23:09:45 GMT -8
Reserved deck space for route #3 sailings westbound as of midnight 1 July:
7:25am -- 35% committed. 9:40am -- 25% committed. 12:00pm -- 25% committed. 1:35pm -- 30% committed. 2:15pm -- 0% committed. 3:45pm -- 30% committed. 4:30pm -- 0% committed. 5:50pm -- 30% committed. 6:35pm -- 0% committed. 8:40pm -- 10% committed. 10:35pm -- 0% committed.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 1, 2011 16:40:37 GMT -8
I've merged the recent discussion (separate new thread) into this existing thread.
....the volume of historic discussion just keeps on growing. Soon, we'll have all the answers here, haha. ;D
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 18, 2011 22:18:06 GMT -8
Dont know where else to put this but when is BC Ferries gonna have a debit option for vehicles at the toll booths??? Get with the times and have a debit option!
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jul 18, 2011 22:50:04 GMT -8
Dont know where else to put this but when is BC Ferries gonna have a debit option for vehicles at the toll booths??? Get with the times and have a debit option! It would take too long to process debit transactions at vehicle booths...
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Post by Dane on Jul 18, 2011 22:56:49 GMT -8
Do BCFS's CC transactions use PIN numbers yet. Because they're going to have to start in the semi-near future, at which point debit will take an additional few seconds.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jul 18, 2011 23:26:50 GMT -8
Do BCFS's CC transactions use PIN numbers yet. Nope. Because they're going to have to start in the semi-near future, at which point debit will take an additional few seconds. Interesting. What is the reasoning for this?
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Post by lmtengs on Jul 26, 2011 9:59:01 GMT -8
I suppose this could go here:
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Post by Dane on Jul 26, 2011 15:12:20 GMT -8
Regarding PINs, it is a security thing related to the chip. I will Google it and try to find the start date. It was delayed by a year, last year IIRC
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 16, 2011 10:32:54 GMT -8
Here's news that's relevant to how we pay for our trips and various discounts available. - Sail Pass and Circle-Pac are no more..... from a BCF media release:
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Sept 16, 2011 15:22:09 GMT -8
They said on Twitter that Experience Card rates are the same price, I want to see some math behind that.
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Post by Scott on Sept 16, 2011 22:03:14 GMT -8
This is very disappointing news to me. How much does it cost to produce a SailPass? It's a piece of paper that is filled out by ferry attendants, and I can't see how there would be any behind-the-scenes costs to keep it running. The CirclePac, I can sort of see, since it's a bit complicated when the ferry attendants are doing all the paperwork - I'm sure it could be simplified.
This will mean even fewer ferry trips for me, especially to some of the more out-of-the-way places like Powell River or the smaller islands.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 23, 2011 9:09:07 GMT -8
How much do you have load on your experience card to get foot passenger savings? Is it 40 or 45 or 50?
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 23, 2011 12:11:59 GMT -8
How much do you have load on your experience card to get foot passenger savings? Is it 40 or 45 or 50? $50.00 for foot passenger savings. It's $90.00 to get vehicle and foot passenger savings.
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Post by Dane on Oct 23, 2011 15:37:14 GMT -8
Reaching back a bit...
I am sad about the SailPass being gone. It will essentially end any recreational ferry traveling when I was in BC. Simply cannot afford to do it any other way. Obviously I will still take trips for enjoyment and what not, but I am disappointed.
Cannot be too upset though. As much as the SailPass was great it was hardly a necessity for BC Ferries to offer.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 15, 2013 20:50:14 GMT -8
I dont know if this has ever been asked before but can you use your experience card if you have foot passenger savings to pay for your adult fare if your in a vehicle and then just pay normally for your vehicle??? Or do you actually have to be a foot passenger??? I kinda doubt you can do this but I thought I would check!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 21:29:52 GMT -8
I dont know if this has ever been asked before but can you use your experience card if you have foot passenger savings to pay for your adult fare if your in a vehicle and then just pay normally for your vehicle??? Yes, you can. I have done this before to avoid paying 95 or 55 bucks to reload the card.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 10, 2013 17:20:20 GMT -8
I'm surprised that no one has already posted about this, but there's a comment by Mike Corrigan in the inaugural issue of On Board Magazine about a new check-in service.
Has anyone heard about ACE already or know the specifics of what it is about?
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 10, 2013 18:25:58 GMT -8
Has anyone heard about ACE already or know the specifics of what it is about? ACE will replace the antiquated POS system.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 6, 2013 12:14:10 GMT -8
Regarding the buy-in $ levels of BCF Experience cards: - from some April 2013 Ferry Advisory Council meeting minutes
This is just info being disclosed at FAC meetings, so take this with a grain of salt: - But I found the "Price of 2 sailings on Route-3" to be interesting; I didn't realize that was how they set the buy-in level.
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