Vail and Alterra ski resorts face consumer class action over lift ticket prices
A class action lawsuit accuses Vail and Alterra of inflating ski lift ticket prices through anti-competitive bundling practices.Summary
Four skiers have filed a class action lawsuit against Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Co., alleging they are violating federal antitrust law by artificially inflating the cost of skiing and snowboarding. The lawsuit claims the companies, which control 60 ski areas, use bundled multi-mountain season passes to drive up single-day lift ticket prices and limit consumer choice. Plaintiffs allege that a series of mergers and acquisitions over the past 30 years has created a duopoly in the U.S. ski resort industry, dominated by Vail and Alterra. The price of Vail’s Epic Pass has increased by 37% since the 2021-22 season, reaching $1,089, while Alterra’s Ikon Pass has risen 40% to $1,399. Vail has stated the claims are without merit, asserting that the Epic Pass was created to increase accessibility and reduce season pass costs. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and a court injunction to dismantle the alleged bundling practices on behalf of a class of U.S. consumers who purchased tickets since 2022.
(Source：Reuters)