Fastrack - more being sold?

[Ian]

It is amusing that at a time where the park is trying to cut costs and make savings wherever possible they will pay for a staff member to stand at each ride entrance selling Fastrack tickets. Surely the more cost effective solution would be to try and cut the number of staff doing this job and just use the existing centralised sales point in almost ever area.

For areas lacking such a facility why not give tickets to more outlets? Places like Katanga Cargo for example. Using existing staff, who are making money from sales of merch and food and drink and ask them to offer another service. It'd come at the expense of printing a simple Look At Me notice which can be stuck on the door saying "Fastrack tickets are now available from here for the following attractions: x, y, z".

Better still (Though no doubt the initial costs would put Merlin off investing in them) install a few touchscreen info points near various attractions, which allow guests to purchase the tickets. I'd no doubt cost a lot less each day than paying a human to stand around selling them. It works fine for Disney doesn't it? Just stick 3 or 4 touch ticket machines in each area, under a shelter like the lockers have, with a list of attractions, and time slots to choose from. These can then be purchased and printed on the spot.

As the time slot system is now coming in Towers could really splash out and have an LED display put in on the Fastrack attractions (Or use the scrolling signs available on the ride entrances) to display the next timeslot tickets are available for. This then updates when the stock of tickets for that time have been sold, and moves on to display the next. Now we're having a wireless network installed throughout the park this would be easier than ever! They could even integrate it into the app, and offer e-commerce tickets through it. Tap a few buttons, prompt for payment (PayPal could be included to speed up the process), then display a barcode or QR code which can be scanned by the member of staff at the Fastrack entrance. It could even have Push notifications to alert the user when their ticket is valid, and when it is about to expire.

At the moment Fastrack is such a shoddy, hashed together system which effectively penalizes other guests for not paying extra. With a bit of investment and planning the system could be turned around to make it a much more user friendly and effective process. The use of timeslot ticketing seemed like a step in the right direction, but if these upsellers are handing out "offline" tickets valid at any time of day it completely undermines the timeslot system :-\

Sort. It. Out.

 

[BigAl]

This kind of reminds me about a couple of weeks back when I was in Chester. There was a guy with a market stall that was covered in nasty, cheap hats, scarves and general tat. He was stood in the middle of the street with a whistle in his gob and whenever someone walked near him he'd go right up into their face with the whistle, deafen them, do some weird jiggle and ask them if they'd like to buy one of the many pieces of crap that he had on offer.

I never thought I'd see or hear anything similar going on at Alton Towers. ???

 

[Dave]

This week has been the busiest of the season so far, hopefully they will see the impact the current quota of FT is having on Sub-Terra and will adjust accordingly.

I agree with Ian though they need a better system for FT.

 

[Alastair]

This week has been the busiest of the season so far, hopefully they will see the impact the current quota of FT is having on Sub-Terra and will adjust accordingly.

I agree with Ian though they need a better system for FT.

You wouldn't have thought this week would be the busiest given it isn't in any school holidays - would've thought Easter would have been busier. Regardless, all that needs to be done is FT's to be removed from sale on-park - and only available online; that would solve all of the problems instantly.

 

[Dave]

Its the school trip rush, traditionally very busy.

As much as we hate FT its popular and makes money, they are never going to stop selling it on park. They need to look at quotas and timed tickets.

 

[Thomas]

I adore Alton Towers, because it is a great social leveler. When you're on Nemesis, your money, class and financial power stand for nothing. Instead everyone is equal. Everybody when on Nemesis is having the same experience, the same fun, the same excitement. When Fast Track is introduced, a class system emerges. A class that can afford to skip the queue and those that are unable to. Is this really a fair system?

I understand the need for Merlin to make money, I see why they sell fast track, but why can't they do so in a fair way? A way which is free and beneficial to all guests rather than just those that can afford it. I'd love to see a Disney style free Fast Track, but it'd never happen.

I understand a few of you may view this as a very socialist post on the subject of queue jumping at Alton Towers, but I can't see why it has to happen. Fast Track is awful and I detest it.

If it is to exist on a pay scheme however, why can't you buy it from more places? Does Fast Track really need dedicated booths? The one located in Forbidden Valley strikes me as odd, why can't the nearby food stall or NST:UNIT sell them?

Seeing as we're in 2012, why don't Merlin use mobile phones, with the new wifi installed as a way to beat the queues and sell fast track? Sort of like e-tickets used by National Express? Surely a location based service advert as well would rake in some money, a message which said 'you're close to Nemesis Sub Terra, queue time is currently 50 minutes, beat this queue with Fast Track from as little as £8'

Sorry if this post isn't as coherent as others. Fast Track gives me the rage.

 

[Scott]

Fastrack - more being sold?

The thing is, it originally was free! It was very advanced and a fantastic idea... However, monetizing it makes lots of money for the park and for Merlin as it is something that gives them 100% profit. Like I've said before, I am against paying for it, but from a business perspective it's hard to say no to.

Hopefully with the wi-fi now coming in, new options like the ones suggested above will come in and make the system better. It would also help if there was uniformity with timeslots and things.

 

[Meat Pie]

It's ironic really. Fast Track was first introduced as a free service to help prevent congestion in the queue lines but ever since it was turned into a profitable commodity it has had the exact opposite effect. However, that is in the park's interest as if there are longer waiting times, people will be more willing to pay out for the legitimised queue jump service that is fast track. It's a vicious circle.

I don't really have a problem with people selling them at the ride entrances as at least that way, the whole immoral affair is then put on display for everyone to see.

 

[T]

Fastrack - more being sold?

Whilst visiting over the weekend, There wasn't anyone selling FT on ST I'm the afternoon. The queue was 3/4 full, however I joined the Single Rider queue and was on within 15 minutes (with the person I visited the park with).

However, after a mornings swim in the Waterpark and lunch in Flambo's, I took a quick trip into the park to ride Nemesis , and whilst walking past ST, the member of staff on the entrance was pushing FT left right and centre. There was a small queue forming in front of him, as he was attempting to sell tickets to everyone he could!

I am not a fan of this pushy technique. If I want FT I will buy it ahead of the queue. Don't push it on me! It not only creates a feeling of annoyance for the normal queue line visitors, but it also creates anger towards those using FT.

Sort it out!

 

[Rob]

I personally have no problems with fastracks themselves. If people want to pay to skip the queues then that is fine. I also think that they are useful for those who can only go to the park on days that are almost certainly going to busy but who also want to get on lots of rides. I bought BGW's unlimited quick queue when I went last summer as I wanted to get on the rides multiple times whilst I was there. However the numbers of fastracks sold should be strictly limited so that they do not have a big negative impact upon the main queue.

Now, I strongly oppose the selling of fastracks at ride entrances. That is in my opinion completely wrong. It is like a force selling tactic that should never be used. It wouldn't surprise me if they do inflate the times on the queue boards purely to sell more fastrakcs at ride entrances.

 

[Meat Pie]

The way I see it, if you're fine with people buying fast track then you have no right to complain about queue jumpers. They're one and the same.

 

[Scott]

The way I see it, if you're fine with people buying fast track then you have no right to complain about queue jumpers. They're one and the same.

Would you have said the same during the early days of free fastrack?

 

[DiogoJ42]

The original system was not about jumping queues though, it was about managing the queue to keep it as short as possible for everyone. the current system penalises those not willing or able to pay.

 

[Meat Pie]

Probably not, as that is an equal opportunity option. Anyone could get one if they got to the right place at the right time, however introducing money into the system creates a two tier system for those wealthy enough to afford it, and those who are not.

Queue jumping is abhorrent as it is someone having a complete disregard and consideration for others, as is the current fast track system.

The old fast track system was purely about alleviating excessive queues which is considerate and beneficial for everyone.

Edit: Diogo sums it much more eloquently then I just did in this post.

 

[Rob]

The way I see it, if you're fine with people buying fast track then you have no right to complain about queue jumpers. They're one and the same.

That is in my opinion an unfair statement. Queue jumpers are people who break the rules of the park by pushing their way through a queue to get to the front. Fastracks are perfectly legal and cost the user. If fastrack numbers are managed sensibly then there is not a problem. Fastracks can have many benefits. Say you are visiting Alton Towers as a theme park enthusiast living in the USA. It is your first visit to Towers and you want to make the most of your time there to ride the very good line up of attractions the park has to offer. You are making your visit in the month of August, the only time you could go and it is a busy period on park. Fastracks could be of great use and benefit in this situation. Now I know a situation like that is rare but it is just an example.

In my opinion one of the best fastrack systems out there is the queuebot which is used at Six Flags parks amongst others. They work very well indeed.

 

[Meat Pie]

The way I see it, if you're fine with people buying fast track then you have no right to complain about queue jumpers. They're one and the same.

That is in my opinion an unfair statement. Queue jumpers are people who break the rules of the park by pushing their way through a queue to get to the front. Fastracks are perfectly legal and cost the user. If fastrack numbers are managed sensibly then there is not a problem. Fastracks can have many benefits. Say you are visiting Alton Towers as a theme park enthusiast living in the USA. It is your first visit to Towers and you want to make the most of your time there to ride the very good line up of attractions the park has to offer. You are making your visit in the month of August, the only time you could go and it is a busy period on park. Fastracks could be of great use and benefit in this situation. Now I know a situation like that is rare but it is just an example.

In my opinion one of the best fastrack systems out there is the queuebot which is used at Six Flags parks amongst others. They work very well indeed.

Just because something is legal does not necessarily make it morally justifiable.

Say you are some poor kid who has saved up for weeks to go to Alton Towers and much like the wealthy American tourist, you want to make the most of your day but just because you are poor, no-one's giving you a helping hand. Despite this you try to make the most of it anyway, but while you wait patiently in line for your turn, you see that American and all the other wealthy fast trackers pass you by and get quicker access which you had no chance of ever getting despite having already paid the exorbitant entry fee. Are you going to tell that kid that that is fair?

Bought Fast Track immediately priorities it's wealthier guests, and I think that is nasty.

 

[Rob]

The way I see it, if you're fine with people buying fast track then you have no right to complain about queue jumpers. They're one and the same.

That is in my opinion an unfair statement. Queue jumpers are people who break the rules of the park by pushing their way through a queue to get to the front. Fastracks are perfectly legal and cost the user. If fastrack numbers are managed sensibly then there is not a problem. Fastracks can have many benefits. Say you are visiting Alton Towers as a theme park enthusiast living in the USA. It is your first visit to Towers and you want to make the most of your time there to ride the very good line up of attractions the park has to offer. You are making your visit in the month of August, the only time you could go and it is a busy period on park. Fastracks could be of great use and benefit in this situation. Now I know a situation like that is rare but it is just an example.

In my opinion one of the best fastrack systems out there is the queuebot which is used at Six Flags parks amongst others. They work very well indeed.

Just because something is legal does not necessarily make it morally justifiable.

Say you are some poor kid who has saved up for weeks to go to Alton Towers and much like the wealthy American tourist, you want to make the most of your day but just because you are poor, no-one's giving you a helping hand. Despite this you try to make the most of it anyway, but while you wait patiently in line for your turn, you see that American and all the other wealthy fast trackers pass you by and get quicker access which you had no chance of ever getting despite having already paid the exorbitant entry fee. Are you going to tell that kid that that is fair?

Bought Fast Track immediately priorities it's wealthier guests, and I think that is nasty.

Who says that everyone who buys fastracks is wealthy? That is a very wild assumption you have made there. People choose to spend the money they have in all sorts of different ways, buying a certain product does not immediately classify that person as wealthy. Back to my example, the American tourist does not have to be wealthy either. I went to the USA last year and visited 3 theme parks using unlimited fastracks for one day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and using Six Flag's queue bot system choosing the option that cuts 75% of the queue or something like that. Now just because my friend and I saved up for this and wanted to make the most of our time at these parks that we may never get to visit again, does this make us wealthy? Of course not. Did we feel that the parks were nasty providing us with these options? No.

As I said, if fastracks are managed then they are not much of a problem. They become a problem once they are oversold.

 

[Meat Pie]

Whether it fits your relative perception or my relative perception of wealth is neither here nor there. There are vast numbers of people who cannot afford to buy it and those people are excluded. If you buy fast track, you become an elitist deciding to take an option which is closed to many. That is not fair. You may not find it a 'problem' but all those people unable to purchase that 'option' have to suffer the consequences of those selfish few who do buy the tickets.

The old fast track system is far superior because it isn't driven by profits meaning there is no economic discrimination and there is no incentive for the park to distribute more then are necessary.

 

[Alastair]

This is one argument that I am finding very difficult to pass judgement on. Both of you have very valid points - I'm not sure which one I support though! Whilst I have used FT in the past, I felt guilty having done so, especially when you pass people in the queue who you know have been waiting already for longer than you will have to in total. I think that it does essentially discriminate against those that can't afford to pay for it, as they will have to wait in the normal queue and can't enjoy the benefits of FT. On the other hand, it is very useful for making the most of a trip, even despite the cringing that goes on when you walk down the line.

 

[Benzin]

All this talk of class and wealth differences is making me think if the Tories are also being blamed for this...