 Poster: A snowHead
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With the priority queues you just move through and regroup once through the checkin barrier. There is no more obligation to fill empty seats than the classic pass holders.
Their value depends on when you are going. Once into April I wouldn’t bother and if you want an extra full or half day’s skiing then buy a restricted area pass.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@turms2, if this is for your April trip I wouldn't bother.
At Christmas (not as busy as Feb HT or new year but still quite busy) we found it moderately helpful sometimes but it's not a biggie.
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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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nope, it is not in Half Term. Mid April probably.And i think it is not necessary but maybe i will buy the option for skiing a little bit when we arrive there.
However how is this working? as a single lane ? then its a single lane and not express lane...why do i have to pay more?
PS the kids want after ski school enjoy skiing all together. And being in the lift together is also a part of this. 
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@turms2, it is not a singles queue but a priority or express queue. Once through the barrier you join the others who have queued for longer. Sometimes 5 minutes more.
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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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@johnE, ok thanks. However the difference is around 100 Euro.
The offer for Saturday 1day pass is more tha 100 Euro (for the 4 of us)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| johnE wrote: |
| @turms2, it is not a singles queue but a priority or express queue. Once through the barrier you join the others who have queued for longer. Sometimes 5 minutes more. |
Yes, but does that mean the four of us can use the express lane and take a 4-seater lift together?
Or is it like the ESF school lane, where one child gets paired with three or five others on each chairlift?
Anyway, it’s not that important. I think I’ll go with the Essential pass regardless.
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@turms2, It can depend on the lift.
Vagere, a cable car, for example: There is a long back and forth railing style queueing system as standard and then two straight filters - one for essentials and one for ski school. However once through the lift pass gates there is a boarding area where you can easily gather. And of course your skis are off so it's easy to shuffle around. That said, it it is busy, loading is a bit of a scramble so takes a bit of effort to stay together.
As another example the Peisey chair lift, the standard is your normal funnel type arrangement leading to the lift pass gates. Next to the funnel are two single line lanes for essentials and ski school. They all converge before the gates iirc but anyway the important thing it's a bit less easy at chair lifts to gather and get lined up together.
Derby iirc had/has a filter in the middle of the funnel which made it especially difficult.
Because my kids are older now and we are not fussed it doesn't matter to us. When they were younger we had to make sure one parent was with each, if we couldn't get on together.
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All of which is to say they are not strictly singles lines but it can be tricky, especially when busy to get together. Slightly worse than normal as obviously when busy that can be an issue anyway.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Our experience of the priority lines so far are that they basically just bypass any queue before the pass readers. In other words, if there is a long wait to *get* to the pass readers, the priority line helps you. But, once through, you join the scrum between the pass readers and the chair/gondola itself. So it can be pretty helpful when the lines are long (it's saved us a little bit of time even though this is a quieter period), but it doesn't force you to split your group.
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| turms2 wrote: |
| johnE wrote: |
| @turms2, it is not a singles queue but a priority or express queue. Once through the barrier you join the others who have queued for longer. Sometimes 5 minutes more. |
Yes, but does that mean the four of us can use the express lane and take a 4-seater lift together? |
I mean, you could, but it would be massively irritating to everyone else queuing for the lift. But then again, no more annoying than you going through the "normal" lane and then standing around waiting to get all 4 of you on one lift  Assuming you're 2 adults and 2 children, surely you can cope with splitting into 2 pairs?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
I mean, you could, but it would be massively irritating to everyone else queuing for the lift. But then again, no more annoying than you going through the "normal" lane and then standing around waiting to get all 4 of you on one lift
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Precisely and of course you would not let an unfilled lift go up before you just because you want an exclusive lift for your family.
@Layne, the Derby lift had abandoned priority lanes at Christmas. They never really worked there anyway.
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Or is it like the ESF school lane, where one child gets paired with three or five others on each chairlift
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The skischool lane does not mean that there is only one person from that lane allowed on any lift. In fact ski school classes often go up on the same lift together. With little children the instructor would place each child on a lift with accompanying adults on the side designated for little ones so they are assisted by the lifties and helped by the adults on the chair (and the kids are usually fun to talk to, much more informative that adults on the chair)
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Ok...generelly speaking i dont have a Problem if we will go 2+2
If we will finally decide and go to les arcs it will be mid April so i think i will stay in the simple lane and we will go all together.
Maybe in Half Term if the queues are huge worths it to Split, or maybe as long as the Kids are in the ski school.
But i consider to see it as a Single lane and not an express lane.
Btw in chamrousse the made it one kid from school with three from the normal lane. Probably because the queus after the Lunch break were huge
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| gendal wrote: |
| Our experience of the priority lines so far are that they basically just bypass any queue before the pass readers. In other words, if there is a long wait to *get* to the pass readers, the priority line helps you. But, once through, you join the scrum between the pass readers and the chair/gondola itself. So it can be pretty helpful when the lines are long (it's saved us a little bit of time even though this is a quieter period), but it doesn't force you to split your group. |
I think herein is the point
E.g. in chamrousse the ESF lane was all way long till the lift.
If the express lane stop to the pass Readers and after that there are some more Meters till the lift entrance that is another Thing...anyway will check it if we go
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
But i consider to see it as a Single lane and not an express lane.
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Are you referring to the les arcs priority lines? If so, it really is not a 'single line' in terms of 'you sit by yourself once you're through'.
Sure... it's a single line in terms of you have to go down one after the other to get to the dedicated priority pass reader... but you're then dumped into the melee between the pass readers and the chair/gondola itself. There is no one-to-one mapping between priority line and seat on the chair... there's the usual European ski resort lift queue chaos in between.
It's easy to reassemble some or all of your group, notwithstanding the general etiquette, priority or not, about not screwing around with the loading and letting empty chairs go up
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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i saw some videos from the lifts in Les Arcs. Indeed after the pass readers you are with all the others.
If there is not soooo full , it is possible to reassemble , especially in low season. But i do not think it will be so necessary to go from the priority lane
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Poster: A snowHead
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We are here now. And the priority lane has helped a couple of times today, maybe saving 5+ mins on a couple of lifts. But peisy has dead quiet (12 noon) so no need to use it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can anyone recommend good slopes to practice carving? I’m thinking wide blues of consistent gradient that go on for a decent stretch.
I’ve been using the lower part of Edelweiss and Dente du peigne in Arc 2000, but would like to mix it up.
Have a les arc / la plagne pass so open to all suggestions.
Cheers
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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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Belette (red) or Renard (blue so maybe other skiers less predictable?) under the Derby chair. You see a lot of people practising their carving on Belette when going up on that chair.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sun 19-01-25 21:19; edited 1 time in total
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The lower 2/3 rds of Mont Blanc is very good for huge carves. Over in Vallandry Belmont and Renard are also worth doing. If you want something a tad steeper then Clocheret and Combe (in Vallandry) are very wide and a fairly gentle for red pistes.
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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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Am I understanding correctly that if I buy a 3 day lift pass and select the start date as 26 Jan, I can also access the lifts from 1230 on 25 Jan?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Ski Tyke wrote: |
| Am I understanding correctly that if I buy a 3 day lift pass and select the start date as 26 Jan, I can also access the lifts from 1230 on 25 Jan? |
No, you only get the extra afternoon for 6 day and longer lift passes.
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Back from a great time in Les Arcs last week.
We stayed in the Belambra Clubs "L'Aiguille Rouge" in Arcs 2000, booked through Sunweb. Absolutely brilliant value. The rooms are basic but adequate and the food was surprisingly good. It's ski out and travellator back in.
We didn't have a bad lunch all week. Both Les 3 Saveurs (above the top of the Peisey lift) and La Fragola Di Neve (bottom of Derby lift) were particularly good for sandwiches, burgers, etc. The Altiport self service was also good but a bit more expensive on the last day.
The light show at the top of Varet is well worth a visit. Far better than we could have guessed.
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| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| Ski Tyke wrote: |
| Am I understanding correctly that if I buy a 3 day lift pass and select the start date as 26 Jan, I can also access the lifts from 1230 on 25 Jan? |
No, you only get the extra afternoon for 6 day and longer lift passes. |
Ok, thanks for clarifying. That makes sense.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I’ve just noticed that lifts with priority lanes are marked on the piste map with a little +. Just shows how bad I am at studying the map.
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How suitable is the red portion of the aiguille rouge (from top of Lanchettes to villaroger) for low intermediates at present? Eg somebody comfortable on the top portions of the reds in peisey and 1800, etc but doesn’t really like the scratched out bits at the bottom or eg the polished mountain track back to the vanoise in la plagne. Is it more like the former or the latter in effect? (Fully expecting the answer to be… “nice at the top, scratchy as you down. What did you expect?!” But figured I’d ask anyway..!)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Glendal. I was going to post this today as we did that this morning. And I would call myself a decent intermediate with a dodgy knee and a sense of self preservation!!
Lanchettes lift and the Aiguille rouge. The top part, eg the part you HAVE to do was IMHO absolutely like the Grande Meziers or the top part of Peisy/vallandry reds. You then meet with a choice of continuing red or taking the blue. We continued on the red for a portion, and this was a LOT steeper, but well pisted. I had to remind myself I am totally capable of skiing it and took my time to focus on good turns. It was no problem. We then switched to the long ‘path’ blue through the trees which was stunning. Amazingly mostly empty, it had been posted overnight and it was perfect conditions. But a long steady path down.
We were not planning on going to Villeroger but changed our minds and it was lovely this morning.
I seem to recall the bottom section often isn’t pisted and I even in my good younger skiing days had a full on meltdown and cry on the moguls.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@gendal, there is a mogul field that can be avoided just below plan des violettes that can be bypassed on the blue piste. Similarly the section below the Solliet can be very firm, but there will be a sign at the top warning you if it is and it can be bypassed on the blue piste.
The section from the top of the lanchettes lift to plan des violettes cannot be bypassed and is generally good and on the lower difficulty range of reds.
If they are comfortable on the top bit of Claire blanc then they should be comfortable on any piste in les arcs.
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@Lucywuk, @johnE - thanks for this. Super useful! I appreciate your taking the time to write it up. We'll head up tomorrow.
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You know it makes sense.
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| johnE wrote: |
@gendal, there is a mogul field that can be avoided just below plan des violettes that can be bypassed on the blue piste. Similarly the section below the Solliet can be very firm, but there will be a sign at the top warning you if it is and it can be bypassed on the blue piste.
If they are comfortable on the top bit of Claire blanc then they should be comfortable on any piste in les arcs. |
If they are comfortable on Claire Blanc, they should be comfortable on any red piste in the Alps! 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
If they are comfortable on Claire Blanc, they should be comfortable on any red piste in the Alps!
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I guess I should have qualified my statement as being comfortable on most of the "regular" or "sane" reds in those areas... we took one look at Clair Blanc and instantly dismissed it..!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| gendal wrote: |
| Quote: |
If they are comfortable on Claire Blanc, they should be comfortable on any red piste in the Alps!
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I guess I should have qualified my statement as being comfortable on most of the "regular" or "sane" reds in those areas... we took one look at Clair Blanc and instantly dismissed it..! |
Does it ever look like a normal red? Never done it but looks more difficult than most blacks I've ever done!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| stevew wrote: |
| Does it ever look like a normal red? Never done it but looks more difficult than most blacks I've ever done! |
Quite happy to go past it every time. It reminds me of first part after coming out of the Tunnel at Alpe d'Huez.
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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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@johnE, I'd never noticed re priority lanes either. However, after 20 years I rarely look at the map and as I use Ski A La Carte it wouldn't help me anyway.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Mon 20-01-25 23:13; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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How are the express lanes counted?
The essential pass states that u have 13 express lanes included
But often, the scanner of the essential queue is not fenced, and other people are using it as well? For example the essential is totally on the left, but people queueing move over to the left and basically scan the ski pass at the express lane scanner
I dont really get it.
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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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| Kouemaha wrote: |
How are the express lanes counted?
The essential pass states that u have 13 express lanes included
But often, the scanner of the essential queue is not fenced, and other people are using it as well? For example the essential is totally on the left, but people queueing move over to the left and basically scan the ski pass at the express lane scanner
I dont really get it. |
You pass either works on the express lane scanners or it doesn't. If you haven't purchased a pass that works on the express lane scanners you won't get through.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| Kouemaha wrote: |
How are the express lanes counted?
The essential pass states that u have 13 express lanes included
But often, the scanner of the essential queue is not fenced, and other people are using it as well? For example the essential is totally on the left, but people queueing move over to the left and basically scan the ski pass at the express lane scanner
I dont really get it. |
You pass either works on the express lane scanners or it doesn't. If you haven't purchased a pass that works on the express lane scanners you won't get through. |
i get that, but some of the express lanes are not fully fenced. Meaning that u can queue at the regular line, and then move to the side (because, many people) and scann at the express lane. I see many skiiers doing that, and i doubt they all have the essential pass.
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| Kouemaha wrote: |
| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| Kouemaha wrote: |
How are the express lanes counted?
The essential pass states that u have 13 express lanes included
But often, the scanner of the essential queue is not fenced, and other people are using it as well? For example the essential is totally on the left, but people queueing move over to the left and basically scan the ski pass at the express lane scanner
I dont really get it. |
You pass either works on the express lane scanners or it doesn't. If you haven't purchased a pass that works on the express lane scanners you won't get through. |
i get that, but some of the express lanes are not fully fenced. Meaning that u can queue at the regular line, and then move to the side (because, many people) and scann at the express lane. I see many skiiers doing that, and i doubt they all have the essential pass. |
To answer you initial question, the 13 express lanes included refers to the fact that there are 13 lifts in Les Arcs with an express lane, as shown on the piste map.
I'm struggling to understand what you're suggesting is happening. If you don't have the right pass, it won't work with the express lane scanners.
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Some of the express lanes don’t actually go all the way to the scanners they finish just before the scanning station, where that’s the case the scanner ahead of the express lanes isn’t set to only open for those with an Essential pass. But the lane does help skip some of the general melee.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@wills_h, Sorry the priority lanes scanners will only accept essentials lift passes. Quite often you’ll come across people who do not have the correct pass blocking the lane and they will try and force their way back into the classic scanners. But if you have the essentials pass then you can step across to the priority gate later. I have done this, but i cannot recall why.
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As far as I can tell, the benefit of the express lanes is simply that they get you to the waiting area between the readers and the chair quicker than if you'd gone down the normal path. That's it. There's no ongoing priority once you're through the reader.
It's entirely possible that sometimes the priority readers are configured to let everybody through. Who knows... but also who cares? It doesn't really matter. The system works because 1) the number of priority line users is a small proportion of the total and 2) most people in the non-priority line don't even try to use the priority reader, because they know what a hassle it would be if they get blocked.
I'm sure some people try it on and get away with it because of a temporary misconfiguration, but what matters is the ratio of essential/classic holders and the belief by enough classic holders that the priority reader won't let them through so they leave it alone.
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FAQ
