Wightlink – Part of Island Life?
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, 27th July 2011, 14:05
I was wondering if anyone knows the reason why there is such a vast difference in prices depending on how long you decide to stay away from our Island using Wightlink?
Surely, it is one journey out and one journey back? I can’t see any justification for the massive rise in costs for the extra days.
How can this be financially justified by Wightlink. (I haven’t checked, but I guess that Red Funnel are the same)
Duration prices from:
Day Return £35.50
1 night away £53.00
2 nights away £64.50
3 nights away £71.00
4 nights away £75.50
5 nights away £81.00
6/7 nights away £91.50
3 Responses to “Wightlink – Part of Island Life?”
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Village
- - Cowes Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society
- - Cowes Amateur Winemakers
- - Cowes Heritage
- - Cowes Radar Ex-Employees Association
- - Cowes-Deauville Twinning Association
- - Friends of Northwood Cemetery
- - Friends of Northwood House and Park
- - Medham W.I.
- - Newport Rowing Club
- - Northwood Floral Art Group
- - Northwood Village Produce Association
- - Northwood W.I.
Parish Council
i can’t talk about wightlink because i run Red Funnel. However what you mention is a hot topic.
We sell day returns, short breaks (1-4 nights) and extended stays(5+). The idea is that the regular price is the Extended Stay, but to encourage people to travel more a discount is provided for short breaks and day returns. The company needs £xm of revenue to provide the service – if you just charged the day return price you wouldnt make the revenue required (we have tried!), if you just charged the extended stay price you wouldn’t get anyone going just for the day – hence the 3 price levels.
Prices also vary on: time of day, time of year – ie busy times cost normal price and quieter times get a price discount to encourage use. Finally they vary on amount of space left (ie the earlier you book the cheaper it is) and busy sailings cost the most.
Essentially we are using price incentives to encourage people onto the quieter sailings – otherwise, if we just had the one price, we would be sold out in busy times and have no one at all in quiet! IE those who can be flexible are rewarded for it by price incentives.
Looking on the internet booking page all the various prices are very clearly laid out.
Hope that helps
best regards
James Fulford
CEO Red Funnel
Collect up all the cross Solent tubs…….weld them together and make a ‘bridge’ !!!
Wightlink dont need a reason to justify the high price as they are in a position of power and call the shots.