Wightlink provide answers to OnTheWight price change questions

After the reaction this week from Islanders to the much higher prices that some people using Wightlink’s new booking system were getting, OnTheWight wanted to get a better understanding of what was happening with the Wightlink system and why some prices were so much more expensive.

OnTheWight’s questions
Below are six questions that OnTheWight put to Wightlink, complete with the answers they provided.

While the answers aren’t as direct as we’d have hoped, it’s good that Wightlink are engaging – as can also be seen on their Facebook page.

We’ve added a summary of what their answers seem to be saying under the Q&A.

Here’s the full Q&A

• Q: A 5.1m van. Travels three times a week. Booked last week for £60. This week £164.80. Would you imagine this price increase to be possible?

  A: Under the new booking system, vehicles are charged according to how much space they take up on board. Some anomalies have arisen, we are asking all customers with concerns to call us to discuss their individual cases and travel requirements

• Q: Any plans to adjust prices lower?

  A: The new system is revenue neutral, Wightlink is not making money out of the changes, there are both winners and losers.

• Q: Is it right that van booking from the Island have now lost the discount they used to have over Mainland van bookings?

  A: All journeys are charged the same, regardless of where they start. However only Islanders and people with a residence on the Island can buy Multilink passes to travel at a discount.

• Q: Was VAT not charged on small vans 5-6m previously?

  A: VAT is and was charged on freight vehicles. However if vans were shipped from the Island on ‘tourist’ tickets, they did not attract VAT. Now all cars and vans under 5m are zero rated for VAT.

• Q: Did there used to be a 5m+ van size _and_ a 6m+ size? ie the 6m+ has been removed/moved down to the 5m+ ?

  A: Freight and vans over 5m are charged by the metre. There used to be a category for ‘up to 5.5m’. This has been withdrawn. Now, any vehicle between 5.01m and 6m is now classified as 6m.

Here’s our summary /strong>

• On the steep price rises – They might be ‘anomalies’. Contact Wightlink to try and resolve the high prices.
• Apparently no plans to reduce the prices. With new system “there are both winners and losers”
• There is no longer a discount for Island-based ferry bookings
• Freight and vans over 5m are now charged by the metre. The previous ‘up to 5.5m’ category has been withdrawn

Image: nicksie2008 under CC BY 2.0