Editor:
I sent a letter to BC Ferries re the above in connection with a personal experience of mine.
The contents were: in your BCF annual report 2013/14 on page six you commented favourably on the customer satisfaction survey ‘overall satisfaction travelling with BC Ferries” at a rating of 4.17 out of 5 (Rte. 3 – 3.96).
However, when it comes to the nitty gritty the results are mediocre only with “value of money for fares” it is a mere 2.93 out of 5 (Rte. 3 - 2.79).
I explained that last Wednesday, Aug. 27 I travelled to Lion’s Gate Hospital to visit my wife with a reservation for the 5:50 p.m. return sailing, which because of the Q/Surrey repairs was revised to 6:35 p.m. The ferry was late arriving at Horseshoe Bay at 5 p.m. I asked the purser to make arrangements for the protection of my reservation, which “expired” at 6 p.m., but she said nothing can be done. Travelling 130 km, costing me $65 for fare and reservation and a mad rush to hospital and back I managed to see Marlis for five minutes.
Is this value for money? My answer is no. Judging from the multitude of complaints from ferry travellers most of them are of the same opinion.
I suggested that reservations should be honoured up to 30 minutes to the estimated sailing time.
Jakob Knaus, Wilson Creek
