What happens if you forget to cancel your reservations?

[ski diva]

So a number of resorts require reservations to either ski or park. Has anyone here made reservations, failed to show up, and forgot to cancel? Were there any repercussions?

For example, this year Killington is requiring parking reservations. A first-time no-show will receive a warning email, second-time will lose their next parking reservation, and third-time and beyond will lose all remaining reservations currently booked.

Anyone have any experiences they'd like to share?

 

[SallyCat]

I had a reservation at Okemo last Friday and didn't show. (Well, I showed up to the insanely crowded parking lot and turned around and went home).

I didn't think until later that being a no-show might have consequences.

I have not, though, heard anything from Okemo or Epic, and I don't see anything on my account about that reservation.

 

[WhyKnot]

I've been cancelling day of when I can't make it, if work comes up or I didn't sleep or whatever else comes up, and also because of checking ski reports/trails open (or not) and conditions/or if I am seeing a mess / overcrowding, and try to do it by noon. I did wait once later than that, later in afternoon, heard nothing. I know not exactly your question. Due to reasons people would legit cancel - such as even going to resort and not liking what they see crowds-wise or parking issues - I can imagine leniency. Ps On a related "reservations" note, not sure what math VR is using to "reduce capacity." Hoping the sometimes overcrowding clears up once more lifts/terrains open and Holidays over.

 

[Sandrinjo]

I have epic pass and decided to stay home a week ago without canceling the reservation, and nothing really happened. I am still able to make my reservations and didn’t get any message from epic

 

[SMichael08]

So a number of resorts require reservations to either ski or park. Has anyone here made reservations, failed to show up, and forgot to cancel? Were there any repercussions?

For example, this year Killington is requiring parking reservations. A first-time no-show will receive a warning email, second-time will lose their next parking reservation, and third-time and beyond will lose all remaining reservations currently booked.

Anyone have any experiences they'd like to share?

This is the same policy being implemented by Mt. Bachelor. Thus far the ski areas near Portland (Timberline, Meadows, and Skibowl) haven't been taking parking reservations. From the various complaints I see about all of the above, there are pros and cons to both approaches.

 

[marzNC]

This is the same policy being implemented by Mt. Bachelor.

Mt. Bachelor and Killington are both owned by Powdr. All Powdr locations are using the same parking reservation system and policies, regardless of region. Only difference as far as I can tell is that Killington is the only location where a reservation is required even if only dropping someone off.

Little Cottonwood Canyon near SLC has been interesting to watch. Snowbird is using parking reservations while Alta is simply using info on their website and social media to update people about parking status. Parking is first-come, first-served, and free. Once parking is full for Alta (all parking lots plus roadside) then cars are being stopped at the base of the canyon. At that point, need to have a lodging reservation or other legitimate reason for driving up and not parking. So far, Alta parking has been full between 9:30 and 10:00am on a few powder days. Spaces opened up by 1:00 or 1:30. UTA bus service from the city is available, with limited capacity.

 

[marzNC]

Based on what I've read, for Epic reservations it takes a pattern of multiple cancellations over 2-3 weeks before there are consequences.

 

[ling]

And in the Vail language, cancellation and no-show are treated similarly.

So “forgetting to cancel”? No difference for Epic pass holders.

 

[ski diva]

Vail has now changed its policy regarding cancellations. If a passholder either cancels or is a no-show for 2 days in a 2 week period, they will now only be able to make a week-of reservation one day in advance for a period of 3 weeks.

This is a real problem. What if you fall suddenly ill or are in a car accident or have some other sort of emergency? If you cancel more than 2 days in a 2-week period, you suffer the consequences. Anyone else think this is harsh?

 

[SallyCat]

Vail has now changed its policy regarding cancellations. If a passholder either cancels or is a no-show for 2 days in a 2 week period, they will now only be able to make a week-of reservation one day in advance for a period of 3 weeks.

This is a real problem. What if you fall suddenly ill or are in a car accident or have some other sort of emergency? If you cancel more than 2 days in a 2-week period, you suffer the consequences. Anyone else think this is harsh?

I wonder if you can call them in the event of extraordinary circumstances and receive some leniency? I've been making reservations for the day after an overnight shift; if we are slow and I get some sleep, I can keep the rez, if we get slammed and I'm exhausted, I'll often have to cancel. These are all weekday, non-holiday reservations, so I can't imagine it's a big problem for Vail. But I don't see a way around the possibility of last-minute cancellations that are not in bad faith, just a result of unpredictable circumstances.

 

[santacruz skier]

I wonder if you can call them in the event of extraordinary circumstances and receive some leniency?

That is if you could get through to a person.

 

[Abbi]

Sounds pretty tough .... but that also suggests people were abusing the registrations. And that doesn't mean here, but Vail-wide. Otherwise they wouldn't have bothered to add that rule to the moving target rules that reign all of everything in Covid 2020.

 

[SallyCat]

That is if you could get through to a person.

That is a true fact!

 

[ling]

If a passholder either cancels or is a no-show for 2 days in a 2 week period, they will now only be able to make a week-of reservation one day in advance for a period of 3 weeks.

2 consecutive weeks or ANY 2 weeks?

 

[ski diva]

2 consecutive weeks or ANY 2 weeks?

Consecutive.

 

[kiki]

Definitely feels harsh.

It may result in folks who are feeling sick going to the ski hill so they don’t lose their rights, and then potentially spreading sickness.

also, I know for me, some days the roads are not safe. Last season there was definitely a couple of times where I turned around due to the road conditions, and now the fear of losing my rights for several weeks if I try to do the safe thing is worrysome.

 

[newboots]

I can hear it from here! - the outrage on Facebook being hurled at Vail.

There is likely no way to do this that won’t harm some folks. We pay $$$ for these passes and feel entitled to good service. It really stings to be treated like high school students cutting class.

 

[Susan L]

Only 1 ski area here (NM) requires reservations. How they set up a season pass this year is you buy a season pass with low upfront cost, then each time you ski, you pay a small amount for the day depending on age ($15-$30), after you have skied 10 days, the daily ticket price will go down with the pass. But you pay something for your reservation each time. Cancellation is 24 hours before the day of skiing to get a refund or too bad. I like this policy since tickets/capacity is limited this season, plenty of people will not be able to get a reservation for a given day. They are only asking for people to cancel early enough as a courtesy to others who wants to ski but weren’t lucky enough to snatch a spot early on.
This reminds me of how golf is at my country club (and the reason I left). Members have access to unlimited golf. Due to the club offering too many memberships and covid limiting the number of available tee times, everyone needs to reserve tee times this season (I used to be able to walk-on anytime). Everyday, there will be people who wants to play but couldn’t get a tee time and they’d stalk the tee sheet for last minute openings. But there are selfish people who got tee times but didn’t care to cancel when they weren’t going to play so their slots would be unavailable to others who are on standby. It happens so often at this club but yet the club is not doing anything at all to stop this. Yes, it is mismanagement by the club but also just unfortunate that many people only think about themselves and didn’t care enough to realize there are others, willing and ready, to take the tee times in a moment’s notice if only they were made available.

 

[marzNC]

Only 1 ski area here (NM) requires reservations. How they set up a season pass this year is you buy a season pass with low upfront cost, then each time you ski, you pay a small amount for the day depending on age ($15-$30), after you have skied 10 days, the daily ticket price will go down with the pass. But you pay something for your reservation each time. Cancellation is 24 hours before the day of skiing to get a refund or too bad. I like this policy since tickets/capacity is limited this season, plenty of people will not be able to get a reservation for a given day. They are only asking for people to cancel early enough as a courtesy to others who wants to ski but weren’t lucky enough to snatch a spot early on.

Interesting. That's a variation on what Thredbo in Australia did for the 2020 season. Although Thredbo chose to cancel and refund all season passes. Passholders got increasing discounts for tiers of day ticket purchases, so the daily cost could end up similar to the payback on having an unlimited season pass. Don't remember the cancellation policy.

 

[WhyKnot]

People can write NH and VT or other states' AGs - or dept of consumer affairs - if so inclined. Especially VT as what VR is flat out not following their ski rules which say to allow lenient cancellations if not feeling well (also the lack ethics of changing rules, not being clear (using words that don't actually mean anything such as multiple and repeatedly) and etc - I've been in this conversation with them and FB has a lot of info for anyone interested, I've already spent bunch of time on this so just wanted to share the idea of contacting states regulatory depts (also CO or UT or anywhere you might be inclined even with quick email or form on their sites) VR should put health and safety first (illness and blizzards as well as not feeling comfortable if crowded, etc ), and also should not be penalizing people who cancel at resorts that all ready have slots). With hope things can change-- Happy New Year all!