Home / Business and Economy / Ski Passes Face Antitrust Challenge
Ski Passes Face Antitrust Challenge
29 Jun
Summary
- Ski giants Vail and Alterra face antitrust lawsuit.
- Allegations claim bundled passes raise costs and stifle competition.
- Companies argue passes offer flexible, discounted products.
A federal judge is currently reviewing an antitrust lawsuit against ski resort operators Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Co. The lawsuit, filed earlier this year in Colorado federal court by four skiers, alleges that the companies are leveraging their dominant market positions and popular all-access "mega" season passes, such as the Epic and Ikon passes, to unlawfully stifle competition and increase prices.
The plaintiffs contend that Vail and Alterra have "exorbitantly" raised the prices of individual lift tickets to coerce customers into purchasing these bundled passes. This practice, they argue, amounts to "tying" under antitrust law, where control over desirable resorts is used to steer demand and disadvantage independent regional ski areas. This alleged anti-competitive conduct violates the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Colorado Antitrust Act.
In response, both Vail and Alterra have filed motions to dismiss the case. They assert that their season passes are simply flexible, discounted products offered within a "fiercely" competitive industry, not an unlawful tie. Vail argues it offers a single product – lift access – across all markets, with guests free to choose single-day tickets, multi-day passes, or full-access season passes. Alterra counters that the plaintiffs' attempt to divide ski areas into distinct market categories defies common sense, as resorts in close proximity would logically compete.
