Editor:
Re. letter from Melanie Lucia “vice president customer experience” (Coast Reporter Feb. 16) about how many emails are or are not sent to BC Ferries customers:
Having an app to provide the excuses given by the ferry corporation does nothing to improve the service that they are well paid to provide.
The app advised late morning of Feb. 17 that the two early evening sailings between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay by the Queen of Cowichan were cancelled “due to a medical emergency.” As the ferry had not even run yet, we were left puzzled as to how the sailings could be cancelled by an event that couldn’t have yet happened. This excuse was right up there with the one provided earlier this winter that the 7:40 p.m. ferry (in that ballpark time wise) from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale was cancelled due to fog, when the half of the rest of the fleet had cancelled due to high winds.
If BC Ferries actually spent its money on service and facility and vessel maintenance and not pretend it is a travel agency, it wouldn’t have to spend money on unnecessary technology like applications, and so-called terminal upgrades to disarm and off-put people stuck waiting hours and hours for a boat.
Although the woman interviewed at Swartz Bay this summer did have a point – if BC Ferries wants to partner with other tourist businesses (“50 per cent discount if you have to wait more than three hours for a ferry!”), Helijet in Victoria would be an excellent idea.
I’m sure if Heliijet were to expand to the Sunshine Coast they would do a brisk business.
Sandra Anne Dingman
