Ski holidays are all about the pleasure of skiing, immaculate landscapes and... endless queues at the ski lifts. Who hasn't grumbled as the minutes tick by in the blazing sun, stuck in an interminable queue? Faced with this well-known frustration among skiers, a solution is gaining ground in French resorts: the queue-cutting option.
Over the last few years, a number of ski resorts in France, particularly in the Alps and Pyrenees, have introduced this option to avoid long waits at the lifts.
For a supplement of around €40-50 for six days, skiers can now enjoy priority access to chairlifts and cable cars, a real luxury during the school holidays when numbers are at their peak.
The Bows in Savoie pioneered the concept five years ago. Reserved for holders of Essentiel or Premium passes, this option is not available with entry-level passes. As well as priority access, it also offers discounts and privileged access to certain areas and activities in the resort.
A better way of managing crowds on the slopes
But the benefits don't stop at satisfying skiers in a hurry. As Laura Cumin, Marketing Manager for Les Arcs Domaine Skiable, explains in the columns of the Figaro, "This initiative also aims to improve the distribution of traffic on the estate.
At peak times, particularly in the late morning or mid-afternoon, queues form quickly. By offering this option, resorts aim to relieve congestion on the busiest lifts, while maintaining a smooth experience for all skiers.
A service criticised? Not so sure...
The concept, popular with regulars and occasional holidaymakers alike, is now being extended to other resorts.
À Serre-Chevalier (In the Hautes-Alpes region, for example, the service is available for around 50 euros for six days. In the Pyrenees, 14 resorts have just launched this service for the season, offering an interesting alternative to impatient skiers.
While some might see this as an inequality on the slopes, resort managers assure us that it will not have a negative impact on other users. "It doesn't take anything away from the other skiers, the service isn't degraded". explains a manager at Serre-Chevalier. According to him, overall waiting times would even be reduced thanks to this better distribution of flows.
Affordable luxury... but at what price?
Of course, this option comes at an extra cost, and may not suit all budgets. However, for those who want to make the most of their time on the slopes, the extra cost can quickly be justified, especially during school holidays or busy weekends.
Ski resorts are continuing to innovate in order to improve the experience for their visitors, and the queue-breaking option looks set to become a must for the most popular areas. So, are you ready to swap your queues for a few extra euros for endless descents?
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