State ferry system raising cancellation fees

A picture of the state ferry Fairweather by Issac Taylor is posted at the Petersburg terminal in 2013. Ticket-holders will soon pay more to cancel tickets. (Photo by Ed Schoenfeld/CoastAlaska News)
A picture of the state ferry Fairweather by Issac Taylor is posted at the Petersburg terminal in 2013. Ticket-holders will soon pay more to cancel tickets. (Photo by Ed Schoenfeld/CoastAlaska News)

The Alaska Marine Highway System will soon charge more for canceling reservations.

The fee increase begins Oct. 1, the same day the winter ferry schedule begins. That schedule, which reflects state budget cuts, was made public today.

The new fees range from 5 to 40 percent of a ticket’s value, depending on the time until travel begins. Those booking more than a month in advance and canceling within a day face no fees.

Current policy charges a 15 percent fee for cancellations made within two weeks of sailing.

A ferry press release says no-shows and canceled tickets cost the system money. The closer a cancellation to sailing, the harder it is to resell that ticket.

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