Go! With the BC Ferries app

What are the new features and benefits of using the app?

The app was designed with convenience and personalization in mind. With enhanced designs and new features like travel preferences, it will make planning and booking ferry travel quicker and easier than ever before.

• Personalized experience
  • Set up travel preferences on your frequently travelled routes to get quick access to schedules and current conditions.
     
• Simplified trip planning
  • Updated designs for schedules and current conditions make it easier to plan your travel. Travel preferences provide quick access to the route information you need, no searching required.
     
• Faster bookings
  • With booking preferences set, fewer clicks are required to make or modify a booking, saving you time. With the new Express book feature, you can quickly jump to the next available sailing.

 

• Seamless check-in
  • Access your upcoming trips on your app dashboard for seamless check-in at the terminal.
    
     

Are ferry fares and availability on the app the same as what is shown on bcferries.com?

Yes, the app displays the same fares and availability as bcferries.com. Availability is updated in real-time on both the app and the website.

 

Does the app use the same data as bcferries.com for schedules and current conditions? Is the information current?

Yes, the app has been integrated with existing backend systems, which means the data used for current conditions and schedules is consistent with the data that appears on bcferries.com. Schedules and current conditions information on the app is up-to-date, but you must be connected to Wi-Fi or use cellular data to access the most recent information. If offline, app may reflect outdated information, so we recommend connecting and refreshing the app to see real-time details.

 

Are any of the website features not available on the app?

At this time, the following features are not available on the app and must be accessed on the bcferries.com website:
 

• Creating an online account
• Subscribing/unsubscribing to Service Notices, News Releases, Business Opportunities
• Making BC Ferries Vacations hotel and ferry package bookings
  • You can still view your existing Vacations bookings on the app, but will need to make any new bookings by visiting the website, giving us a call at 1-888-223-3779 Ext. 3, or emailing vacations@bcferries.com.
• Making commercial vehicle bookings using a business account with a CTC/TC card
• Experience Card or Assured Loading information and account management 
   

The app contains links to many of these website features, or you can access them directly through your device browser. The app will continue to be improved as more features and functionality will be added in the future. 

 

Why can’t I see all of my bookings on the app?

The app will display all bookings within the next 45 days. To view later bookings, use the advanced search function. You can search by booking reference number or departure date to locate future bookings.

 

What devices can I use to access the app?

Mobile devices and tablets can download the app, either through the App Store or Google Play Store. The minimum OS (operating system) versions required to access the app are as follows:
 

• iOS: minimum version 10.0
• Android: minimum version 5.0 (Lollipop)

For tablet users, tablet landscape view is not currently supported in the app. If you are using a tablet, use the app in portrait view only.
 

I received an error message while trying to make or modify a booking on the app. What should I do?

If you receive an error message while trying to make or modify a booking, please reach out to our Customer Service Centre team by phone at 1-888-223-3779. Customer Service Centre hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm.

 

Are there plans to release new versions of the app in the future?

Yes, we are continuing to make improvements and add features. Like most apps, it will evolve with new functionality, starting with key features. We will make continuous improvements based on feedback from customers and evolving digital trends.

 

How can I provide feedback on the app?

To provide general feedback on the app, please write to us here. (To understand why we’re collecting your personal information, view BC Ferries' Website Privacy Statement.)

Do I need a BC Ferries account to use the app?
 

We encourage you to create an account to take full advantage of the app’s new features. With an account, you can book ferry travel and personalize your experience by setting up travel preferences. To login, use your existing account credentials, or create a new account.

If you do not have an account, follow these simple steps to get started:
 

1. Create an account on bcferries.com.
2. An account activation link will be sent to your email. Click on the link within the email and login on bcferries.com to complete activation. 
3. Close the window on your mobile browser.
4. Open the app and enter your new login details. 

Customers without an account will still have access to current conditions and schedules.
 

I have a subscription only account. Why can’t I make bookings on the app?

To make bookings on the app, you need to upgrade your account from a subscription only account to a full account. To do so, visit bcferries.com from your desktop and login to your account. Once you are on the “My account” page, select “Upgrade account”. Fill in the required fields and click “Submit”. You will then see a completion message, meaning your account has successfully been upgraded to a personal account. You can now use the app to make bookings

What are travel preferences?

Travel preferences are a new feature unique to the app, available for logged in users only. Travel preferences allow you to save your frequently travelled routes, so you can quickly and easily access your choice of current conditions and schedules. On bookable routes, you can also save your vehicle and passenger information for a faster booking experience.

 

How do I create a travel preference? 

To create a travel preference, you must be logged in. From the home screen, select “Add new preference” under “My travel preferences”, then follow the steps outlined:
 

• Give your preference a personalized nickname (optional)
• Add your route details (departure and arrival terminal)
• Click “Save route”
• Optional: add passenger and vehicle details for a faster booking experience (on bookable routes only)

Once saved, your new travel preference will appear on your app dashboard, and at the top of the current conditions and schedules pages.

 

When I make a booking from a saved travel preference, can I modify any of the details for my booking before I check out?

Yes, it’s easy to modify a saved preference before you complete a booking. Select “Book this route” from one of your preferences, then tap on the pencil icon on the right side of your screen to edit your route, dates, passenger or vehicle details. The adjustments to your preference will only be applied to your current booking. To edit a saved travel preference, see below.

 

How do I edit a saved travel preference?

To edit a travel preference, click on the blue gear icon beside “My travel preferences” on your app dashboard. Click into a saved preference, then select “Edit/Delete”. From there, you can adjust any of the fields and click Save to update.

What is the Express book feature? How do I make an Express booking?

Express book is another feature that is unique to the app, introduced to save you time and make booking simpler. To make an Express booking, select “Book this route” from one of your travel preferences. On the book sailing screen, you’ll see the next available sailing listed under the route details. By selecting “Express book now”, you are selecting the next available sailing and can bypass the sailing selection screen and quickly jump to the fare selection screen. After selecting a fare type, you can checkout using your saved payment information.

How do I turn on notifications to receive alerts through the app?

The first time you login to the app, you will be prompted with a pop-up asking whether you would like to receive notifications from the BC Ferries app. If you select allow, alerts will be turned on. If you didn’t enable alerts the first time you logged in, you can do so at any time by following these steps:
 

• iOS devices:
  • Open up Settings, then click Notifications and scroll until you find the BC Ferries app. Click on BC Ferries, and then click the grey toggle to turn notifications on. The toggle will turn blue when notifications are enabled. You can update the banner style, sounds and badges below.
     
• Android devices:
  • Open up Settings, then click Notifications, then into App notifications. Scroll until you see the BC Ferries app, then tap the grey toggle next to it to turn notifications on. The toggle will turn blue when notifications are enabled.

What alerts can I receive through the app?

Turn on alerts to receive timely push notifications on your device for the service notices you subscribe to, as well as upcoming sailing reminders for all of your bookings. You must be connected to Wi-Fi or use data in order to receive these alerts.

To add new routes or update your existing service notice subscriptions, open “My settings” from the hamburger menu in the top right corner of the app. Click “Manage subscriptions on bcferries.com”, and then make updates within your web account and save changes.

At this time, service notice alerts are set up by route, and we’re unable to distribute service notices for individual sailings. This has been identified as a future enhancement on our digital roadmap, as we continue to work on improving communication tools and the overall customer experience.

 

I no longer want to receive service notice alerts on my phone. How do I turn them off?

Open the hamburger menu in the top right of the app, and select “My settings”. Click on the blue toggle beside service notices – the toggle will turn grey when service notice alerts are disabled.

If you want to make changes to your service notice subscriptions, log into your account on bcferries.com and open up “My subscriptions”.

At this time, it is not possible to receive service notice alerts exclusively on the app. If you are signed up for service notices, they will be sent to your email automatically.

We are working to fix any technical issues reported by our customers while using the app. For the smoothest experience possible, ensure you have the latest version of the app downloaded on your device.

Below are recommended solutions for you to try if you encounter a technical issue:

 

I experienced a crash while using the BC Ferries app on my Android device.

Try closing other apps on your phone that are not in use and then try loading the app again. Some earlier generation Android devices need extra freed up memory to run several apps at once.

If this doesn't fix the problem, try deleting the app from your device and reinstalling it.