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Post by Harbourlynx Kid on Sept 20, 2004 21:00:22 GMT -8
We understand that problem, and there is actully a solution coming very soon, right now there is 2 Dog Crates, for rent on any sailing, if you reserve, and a small shuttle service (City Center Shuttle) the will soon allow you to phone them, and they will pick you, and your dogs up, and transport you straight to harbourlynx
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Post by Ian on Sept 25, 2004 8:34:51 GMT -8
Just wanted to add something about the message up above 2 or 3. The reservations are a joke, my family and i got there at 5 minutes before the cut off when we got to the both the woman said we were in the grace period for the cutoff but we would be fine she said the grace period was 4 minutes. She held us there at the both for 5 minutes and told us we'd have to what to hours cause the grace limite was up so we waited 2 hours cause of sailing waits. sometimes ferry workers can be mean.
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Post by NMcKay on Sept 25, 2004 12:30:55 GMT -8
yeah. i dont try to understand BC Ferries. But i dont care now. cause im a harbourlynx convert.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Sept 26, 2004 23:05:35 GMT -8
Thanks for the tip about the trial rent-a-kennel program. It's not yet mentioned on the web site, but we will call HL for info.
As for reaching HarbourLynx, we will happily pay for parking in downtown Vancouver. It is up to Translink to adjust *their* pet policy someday; thereby saving all of us fuel and time .. but HarbourLynx seems to have the right attitude to customer service.
People travelling with dogs are a big segment of non-business travel -- and that means filling boats on off-peak days. So, though HL can do us a favour by making pet travel easier; it may really be a sound strategy for HarbourLynx. Everyone wins.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Sept 26, 2004 23:23:14 GMT -8
On the point made earlier: last year, we arrived at Long Harbour 5 minutes late for our 45-minute check-in .. still 40 minutes before Q of Nanaimo's 3:30 pm sailing.
A pleasant but strict agent sent us to purgatory: the "stand-by" lane, with the badge of dishonour -- a paper on the windshield with our arrival time and a priority number.
Happily for us, we were boarded anyway. I do understand the enforcement of reservation times. If 45 minutes really means 40 minutes -- then it'll become 30, 20, 12, and no minutes.
Non-res passengers will line up on busy days .. and see late res people fly past at the last moment, sailing after sailing. Not fair.
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Post by Ian on Sept 27, 2004 15:24:10 GMT -8
I thought it was outrages when people would be stuck in a sailing wait at the terminal for hour on end and people would phone the terminal 30 minutes before and get on before us.
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Post by NMcKay on Sept 27, 2004 20:17:35 GMT -8
I just talked with him about the pets (dogs) and right now you can reserve 2 dog carriers for the small fee of 5$ each. right now the only parking is in the terminal @ Canada Place, But im sure it would be no problem to have your dogs brought in at the Helijet entrance (down at the bottom of the seabus terminal) and then loaded right onto the Pet crates for thier trip to nanaimo. right now the pets stay in an areea called the "Dog kennel" Crude, but effective, they end up staying in the rear of the ship on the aft upper lounge.
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Post by Dave on Jan 30, 2005 18:07:26 GMT -8
hate to break it to ya HL kid but BCF is the ESSENTIAL service of this coast.
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Post by Dave on Jan 30, 2005 18:29:52 GMT -8
They were originally started to simply connect highways...they've gone furthter for passengers now as they are privatised. Everything is getting better ;D
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Post by Balfour on Jan 30, 2005 19:42:02 GMT -8
I agree! Last year I was returning from Skeeter with my Venturer company on our bikes, we arrived at DB, and at the ticket booth, they gave us free cookies and water. After we payed for our tickets Me and one of my venturers started discussing how well BCF is run as a private company. I am very pleased how well run the BCF is now.
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Post by NMcKay on Jan 30, 2005 19:43:39 GMT -8
i know right nowe BCF is essential. but they dont try to go that extra mile for the consumer. Harbourlynx is going to be around for a long time. trust me. my dads working too hard to let it die. ANd im sure in the next little while HL will expand. and slowly consume BCF from the ground up
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Post by Balfour on Jan 30, 2005 19:47:01 GMT -8
Riiiiiiiiiight! Whatever floats your boat. The only way for HL to Consume BCF is if it was to have a passenger/vehicle ferry.
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Post by Dave on Jan 30, 2005 20:30:10 GMT -8
BCF is not going to let the HL take over it's service. Even as a private company, we know that. HL won't even look at a car ferry, what makes you think theyll buy them?
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Post by Dave on Jan 30, 2005 20:31:59 GMT -8
And plus. It took BCF 40 years to achieve its fleet (30 anyways) and that is incredibly fast compared to other ferry operators around the world. It was because they were government operated and in 60 or so years, the gov't will continue to run the fleet.
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Post by NMcKay on Jan 31, 2005 0:47:20 GMT -8
what makes you think they are doing Pass only?
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Post by cascade on Jan 31, 2005 10:59:40 GMT -8
Well Habourlynx Kid,
We are on the block looking at things - abit short run Cars & Pass - plus I can add that a number of Heavy weight European players are doing their sums for the major routes. David Hahn stated in Nov 2004 - InterFerry Conf - that a number of routes are up for bid - but if you read the Legal doc's you will find out that ALL the routes are on the block. BCFTA own the terminals NOT BCFS - and the Government can issue as many Licenses to any Operator as they like. Who's pockets are deeper???
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Doug
Voyager 
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Jan 31, 2005 18:25:54 GMT -8
Now hold on Harbourlynx Kid. You think Harbourlynx is going to take over BC Ferries?  Well take into consideration that BC Ferries carries more passengers in a day than Harbourlynx carries in probably two months. Tell me, how many employees does Harbourlynx have? BC Ferries exceeds 4700 and you think a company that was started just over a year ago (passenger service) can take over the second largest ferry operator in the world which was started 45 years ago (car service)?  |
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Post by Dane on Jan 31, 2005 19:10:08 GMT -8
It may just be me but I think HarbourLynx was making a joke that was misunderstood....
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Post by NMcKay on Jan 31, 2005 20:24:47 GMT -8
it started out as a joke. and well...things have gotten outta hand. its take just over 1 year for harbourlynx to devolp a better Customer service reputation that has taken BCF 45 years. I know that it wont be anytime soon that HL takes over BCF. if anytime at all. and well, that doesn't mean anything. 4500 Employees may be awesome, but considering the fact that those 4500 employee became that way after the BC government took over (and it still running the show from behind a figurehead) and althought Hl may only top out @ close to 40 Employees (dont know exact number) that doesn't mane anything. Translink currently employes close to 6000 People,a nd yet they can still get taken over if someone had the right mind to challenge tham. HL doesn;t right now. because the damn company is still try to F*****G SURVIVE!!
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Post by Ian on Jan 31, 2005 22:19:36 GMT -8
I hope harbourlynx becomes a large prospering company of auto and passengars ships.
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Post by NMcKay on Feb 1, 2005 1:03:46 GMT -8
there was always an idea to buy one of the FC's
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Post by Steve on Aug 16, 2005 0:24:10 GMT -8
HL kid id like to prove you wrong on all of your points: the nanaimo ridership on BCF is not down, up rather. HL smoother ride? as if. BCF is way more comfortable. Youre crammed in that little dingy of yours like you are in a plane too. LOTS more space on the BCF. slow 22 knots? 22 knots fully loaded that is. BCF employees NOT happy? man, get your facts straight cause apparently you don't know crap about BCF. hl consuming BCF? i wouldnt be surprised if hl went bankrupt. but smoother ride, i guess thats why every seat has a barf bag behind it. one foggy day the HL will probably accidently ram the side of the new west or something and will look a flattened pop can.. of course all the hl workers are happy. you carry so few of passengers there are never any problems for the crew to deal with. get your facts straight.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Aug 16, 2005 1:46:32 GMT -8
I totally forget even seeing this topic in the past, but because it has been bumped forward I will comment... i know right nowe BCF is essential. but they dont try to go that extra mile for the consumer. Firstly, I find this comment appaling... BC Ferries, and more so the employee's bend over back wards to go the extra mile for their passengers. Like all businesses that deal with the public, you get two different views... However, considering all that the employee's do on a daily basis to keep everything running smoothly and safely, I find that comment to be very vulgar on your behalf... Where did you base this information from..? |
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Aug 16, 2005 1:49:31 GMT -8
For your information, one very mean act was committed to a BCFS employee while shopping a grocery store not too long ago... While loading groceries, the employee got punched in the face and suffered a broken nose, due to the BCFS parking decal in on the employee's rear view mirror. The person who punched the employee told the injured worker he missed the boat the other day, and that it was BC Ferries fault for him missing it...
These sort of acts are starting to become all too real to BCFS workers, and are totally unacceptable. This shows that there are some people who hold such a grudge towards BC Ferries, that they are willing to injure BC Ferries employee's for their own "personal gain"...
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Post by Quinsam on Aug 16, 2005 7:24:01 GMT -8
That is too bad, sodding people just injure innocent BCFS Workers and then say they did it just because they missed the boat. I would choose the Mill bay and/or Quinsam, I like those two and would be nice to have them. I would like to travel on the Skeena or the Cumbie soon, I have been on Quinsam 1nce, but that was 10 months ago.  I wonder if I could have a bcferries vessel, I am currently making an R.C model of the mill bay, it will float good, but is not expected to be finished until september. |
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Well take into consideration that BC Ferries carries more passengers in a day than Harbourlynx carries in probably two months. Tell me, how many employees does Harbourlynx have? BC Ferries exceeds 4700 and you think a company that was started just over a year ago (passenger service) can take over the second largest ferry operator in the world which was started 45 years ago (car service)? 
