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The summer season is almost over, now the mountain railways must prepare to break new ground again. This is Corona’s first winter sports season.
The last winter is having an effect. All the ski areas were closed since mid-March, the season would have continued for a few more weeks. The number of visitors fell 19 percent compared to the previous year, the lowest level in 15 years. A lot of money was lost.
Customers also suffered the damage. Especially those who bought an annual pass. Anyone who wanted a refund was told this or something similar: “According to the terms and conditions, this is not foreseen.” But the vast majority of customers would have understood, at least the mountain railways said at the time, in solidarity with their favorite ski area, as they said.
Relying solely on this solidarity is too risky for the pre-winter Corona ski areas. They promise protection against a pandemic, all without surcharges, but otherwise in different ways. Especially since some have already noticed some uncertainty. Customers withheld advance sales.
The details are mostly devilish when it comes to refunds. So how exactly do hedges work?
In Arosa Lenzerheide For one-day and multi-day tickets, the purchase price will be refunded in full if the blockage occurs again. This is how it was done last winter and has been tested, the spokesperson said. So far, very clear. It gets more complicated with annual entries.
A refund is not planned. Clients receive a credit. This allows you to buy the next annual pass at a lower price. The average daily price you pay for an annual ticket is credited for each missed day. So if an annual pass costs CHF 1,000 and this “year” lasts 260 days and 13 days are canceled, you still have CHF 50 in credit.
Adelboden Lenk it will also have pandemic coverage. In the Bernese Oberland there is talk of a “refund rule”. Details are currently being worked out. Advance sales won’t start until early October.
On the contrary, things have long been regulated in the ski area. Andermatt, Sedrun and Dissentis. There is a money-back plan for annual tickets, which is staggered over time. If the second lockout occurs before the start of the winter season, customers will receive the full purchase price; closing occurs before mid-January, still 60 percent. And so on until the end of February. After that there is nothing.
The season ticket refund is also available in the Valais Alps in the ski area. “4 valleys”. The amount paid depends on the category of the card: for example, adults or seniors. On the other hand, the duration of the confinement is crucial. If everything was closed for 21 to 50 days, an additional 200 francs will be refunded to an adult card. However, if the closure lasts from 81 to 100 days, 800 CHF will be refunded.
Mountain railways also know that most customers prefer to get their money back. The fact that some still prefer to offer a loan is explained by the impact of a second blockade. Income breaks down. Invoices still need to be paid this way. The money runs out. If you still refund season tickets, it becomes even tighter.
What consumer protection considers crucial
That is the view of the mountain railway. But customers don’t have to let that soften them up. You can, but you don’t have to. Sara Stalder, CEO of the Consumer Protection Foundation, says: Returning money is the best and legally the correct procedure. «It is not necessary to accept a credit. But you can do it out of good will. “
Yet something else is decisive, says Stalder. Well before the season, it should be clear how a new lockout would be handled. So that customers can decide which ski tickets to buy and where. Stalder: “Mountain railways must inform in advance: aggressively, understandable and transparent.”
