 Poster: A snowHead
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Back on topic, I think TOs offering to sort out lift passes (and ski hire, lessons) is an essential part of a ski holiday. If you are a beginner you have no idea how any of these work, and the last thing you want to do is find there is a 30 minute queue for the lift pass office when you only have 15 minutes before your lesson starts.
For people who have their own gear, don't need lessons, and know exactly where their accommodation is relative to the lift system (so whether the nearest lift they drop down to has an office or not), getting passes from the TO may be more useful rather than essential. Such people are more likely to (a) remember the poor practices of 25 years ago, and (b) look on the service primarily in financial terms (local currency or decent exchange rate), and whether they will be delivered in time for first lifts!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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By adding the insurance to your lift pass any requirement for immediate payment is removed and the cost (about €2.50 a day) is less than the excess on most policies - so it's a no brained IMO.
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So that is €500 Iv'e saved in the last 10 years alone.
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With carte neige (in France, not sure if there are equivalents elsewhere), the pisteurs will take you directly to the resort medical centre / hospital, by whatever means necessary, no questions asked. Without it, you might need to present them evidence that you can pay before they will move you from the piste. Say a credit card, or get your insurance company on the phone, or as a minimum present them with your insurance details.
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OK I have limited experience having been blood wagonned off only once, but the pisteurs took be straight to the medical centre with no questions asked. It was the same when my wife needed recovering. I paid for the recovery the next day using a credit card, so not there and then. I did the same with the medical bill. Since the insurance company ripped me off with the exchange rates I should not have done that but send the bill immediately to the insurance company to pay.
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I think it is mainly of benefit to French residents, who won't have travel insurance for skiing in France. For others I see it mainly as a peace of mind thing, but essential for the few who (until the end of this year) have to rely on EHIC because medical issues prevent them from getting full travel insurance.
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I have friends who do this thinking travel insurance is a waste of money. Another British friend, who lives in France, has to ask very precisely for piste insurance as the sales staff look at him wondering why.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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The more things are needed and the less knowledgeable the punter the more value a TO can add. And inherently the more they can profit margin, or skim if you want to use a more derogatory term.
I think I started to resent it as I started to need their services less but equally some of them were shysters or sh*t at it.
These days my standard ski holiday is so simple to use a TO would be unnecessary, give them little profit margin.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@spyderjon, I can see your point but paying for emergencies before sorting it out later with the insurance is surely the raison d’etre of credit cards.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Simple answer:
1 - It's value added to the customer. They get their pass on arrival and don't have to queue at the pass office before hitting the slopes.
2 - The tour op gets a % of the price in commission. If the pass company deals with all the arrivals then they need more staff to deal with the transactions. Having tour ops deal with some of the admin burden reduces the pressure and costs for the lift pass company. It's not underhand it's being commercial.
As with all moans related to Tour Ops getting passes wrong or not giving good advice, find a reputable independent and use them. They will help with questions about what pass to buy.
Assuming there are any reputable TO's left next winter of course.
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