BC Ferries opening summer bookings early in anticipation of World Cup demand

BC Ferries vessels are seen at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in this file photo. (CTV News)

The cost of travelling between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island is set to increase this spring, and with the FIFA World Cup prompting an expected surge in passenger volume, BC Ferries is giving travellers extra time to prepare.

Fare adjustments taking effect on April 8 will see the cost of travel across the BC Ferries system rise by an average of 3.2 per cent, the ferry service announced Friday.

That shift won’t be distributed evenly across all sailings, however, with BC Ferries increasing the number of discounted “saver” fares available to encourage off-peak travel and distribute demand.

Notable fare increases include a rise in the price of a standard vehicle ticket on routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. The cost of a vehicle and driver on those routes will be $110 when the fare changes take effect, regardless of whether the booking is made in advance or at the terminal.

Currently, a standard vehicle fare is $75 at the terminal and $85 when booked in advance, for a total of $95 at the terminal and $105 online when the $20 fare for the driver is added.

BC Ferries says it is “aligning” the cost of drive-up and prepaid fares with the goal of “encouraging advance booking and supporting capacity planning.”

Fares for foot passengers travelling major routes will rise by $1 to $21 for an adult, and by 50 cents to $10.50 for a child.

Saver fares, however, will remain unchanged, and more than 200,000 additional saver fares will be available, representing approximately 30 per cent of all bookable space on the BC Ferries system.

“On minor and northern routes, fares will increase by between $0.95 to $2.05 for a standard vehicle and between $0.40 to $0.60 for adult passengers, depending on the route,” BC Ferries said in its news release announcing the changes.

The company made Friday’s announcement earlier than it typically would have, citing what it expects to be “an extremely busy summer.”

With the World Cup draw scheduled to be announced next week, BC Ferries will be opening its summer bookings and publish its full summer schedule “several weeks” early to support the anticipated demand.

“Demand for ferry travel continues to grow, and we have set new records for the last two summers,” said Brian Anderson, the company’s vice-president of strategy and planning, in the release.

“The tournament is expected to add a further lift, and early planning will help customers secure the sailings and savings that work best for them. At the same time, operating one of the largest ferry networks in the world comes with significant cost pressures – from maintaining an aging fleet and terminals to rising labour, fuel and parts costs. Announcing fares and opening bookings now gives customers more time to plan and helps us manage demand in a way that supports reliability for everyone who depends on the system.”