In Switzerland, skiing is still considered a national sport and a leveller. Everyone orders the same fries and schnitzel in the mountain restaurant, attends the same ski camps, skis down the same slopes and stands in line at the lift together. Anyone who wants to push ahead quickly makes themselves very unpopular. The mountain railways in Laax GR and Crans-Montana VS shake up this world view. If you buy a more expensive ski pass here, you have the license to queue up and can save yourself the queue at the ski lift.
In Crans-Montana, this premium day ticket costs 188 francs. The premium annual subscription costs 1,999 francs instead of 1,400 francs. The “NZZ” got an idea on site and found that the premium drivers are not only well received by the other guests. Whoever has the day pass for the fast lane gets angry looks. ‘I resent that. A ski lift should be equally accessible to everyone,” David is quoted from Liverpool in the “NZZ”.
Situation comparable to flying?
But there are some skiers who have fewer problems with the two-class society on the ski slopes. After all, you know this from traveling by train or flying. If you pay more, you travel in first class with wider seats, fly with more legroom or enjoy the concert from the box.
However, the situations do not appear to be entirely comparable. There are no direct disadvantages for the other guests when flying or on the train. But on the contrary. The more expensive 1st class seats are financed across the board by all others. At the ski lift, the premium drivers condemn everyone else to having to queue longer. This makes the topic more emotional than other premium offers.
Crans-Montana also offers cheap tickets
This seems to make many premium guests feel guilty. Hardly anyone wanted to comment on the “NZZ”. “I respect the others, so they should respect me too. Maybe the troublemakers should just work a little more to be able to afford the great offer,” one is quoted as saying.
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However, the Crans-Montana mountain railways also pride themselves on offering particularly affordable day tickets. Thanks to the dynamic price model, bargain hunters can get a day pass for as little as 15 francs.
All other destinations in Switzerland do without two-class tickets. However, this is also closely related to the fact that many areas have massively expanded their transport capacities in the last fifteen years and the queuing times have therefore fallen massively. (smt)
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