Hi,

The above (linked) companies currently are offering a 2 for 1 lift pass deal for selected but numerous resorts. When you read the small print the offer is only for LOCAL and NOT AREA lift passes. My understanding is that the overwhelming masses select area passes and I dare say many will be caught out by this offer booking a holiday and then later finding out that they can only secure local passes.

Regardless however it still offers a discount and I thought one may be able to upgrade to an area pass either with the company or in resort with lift provider. When calling the company (Crystal-First Choice) customer helpline to query this they were less than helpful to say the least, very little interest was shown and no answer provided. The jist was buy our pass offer and ask in resort and you may be able to upgrade, but we don’t know and if you can’t, tough. They would not look into it and ask the question for me either (great customer service eh).

Does anybody know if this will be possible or not? No-one will want to take on this offer if they require an area pass and no-one can confirm if this can be upgraded or not?

Look fwd to a reply.

EP

Hi Wendy,

Thanks, would have been nice if they were as forthcoming when I asked these questions but luckily for me you have a bit more clout.

Mind, I don’t agree with their statement entirely as the text clearly referred to local lift passes only and not area at all, and then when I called they actually confirmed it was local only so they aren’t being consistent. I also complained about a month ago when they wouldn’t clarfiy the conditions and threatened to refer them to trading standards as when they first posted the offer when you clicked on the link there was no info on T&C’s and a few weeks later the interface changed and a T&C link appeared.

I’m looking to go to St Anton and that again clearly referred to local pass only, but if they’re now saying area then great i’ll take them up on it.

Many thanks for all your help.

EP

Hi Wendy,

Extract from First Choice website T&C lift pass offer section pasted in below, first bit does say about selected area passes but then further down (i’ve put in italics) under Austria, it makes no mention of Area passes at all so how is a customer to view this? EP

2 for 1 lift pass offer applies to local lift and selected area lift passes only.
Availability is limited and varies by departure date, country, resort and accommodation - please book early to avoid disappointment.
Offer only applies to lift passes of 6 days duration or less and the lowest value pass will always be free.
Offer applies to full fare paying adult passengers only and a minimum of 2 passengers are required per free lift pass. 
Only available with 7 night European Ski holidays using charter flights or selected Eurostar services.
Not valid with short breaks, flight only, accommodation only, self drive holidays or those using scheduled flights.
This offer cannot be combined with any other offer including ski +, group discounts or any holiday that has already been reduced to a special offer price.
Offer applies to new bookings only and is subject to availability and change.

2 for 1 lift passes are available as follows:

Austria and Slovenia - available all season on local lift passes excluding departures on 28 Dec 2010, 4 Jan and 19 Feb 2011.  Offer ends 1st Nov 2010
Tignes (France) - on Espace Killey lift passes available with departures on 20th Dec 2010, 15 & 22 Jan 2011 and 19 & 26 March 2011 when staying in any of our catered chalets or the Tignes 2100
Val d’Isere (France) - on Espace Killey lift passes available with departures on 15 & 22 Jan 2011 and 19 & 26 March 2011 when staying in any of our catered chalets or the Auberge St Hubert.
Les Deux Alpes (France) - available on Area lift passes with departures on 29 Jan, 5 Feb, 12 & 19 March when staying at one of our catered chalets, the Brunerie or the Cortina & Alpina Apts.
Saas Fee (Switzerland) - available with departures on 15, 22 & 29 Jan, 12, 19 & 26 March & 2 April 2011.

EP - don’t think St Anton does a local pass anyway - just the Arlberg ticket, which covers the whole area incl Lech etc. I’ve checked the St Anton website and can see no mention of anything other than the Arlberg ticket http://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/winter/skigebiet/ski-pass-prices.html