Commercial Saver fare

Q. What are Commercial Saver fares?

A. Commercial Saver fares allow customers to save with a 33% discount per foot ($5.00 per foot). Commercial Saver fares include a free reservation and are available on select sailings for vehicles over 5,500 kg registered GVW. The offer is not valid for buses or vehicles over 9 feet wide.  

The promotion is available on select sailings on the following two routes (for travel in either direction):
 

• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point) 

 

Q. What are the benefits of the promotion? 

A. Commercial Saver fares reduce the cost of travel for commercial customers who are able to travel at less busy times, and can pay in full at time of booking. Commercial Saver fares are not available for purchase at drive-up terminal ticket booths. Lower fares on select sailings will help spread traffic out more evenly throughout the day, reducing sailing waits for customers who travel on our more popular sailings.

Q. What are the change and cancellation policies for Commercial Saver fares? 

A. The following change and cancellation policies apply to Commercial Saver fare bookings:

• Change or cancel four days or more before departure for a full refund.
• Cancel booking three days or less, up to 11:59 pm the day before departure for a full refund, less a $25 cancellation fee.
• Change booking three days or less, up to two hours before departure for a $25 change fee, plus pay the difference in price at the terminal, if changing to a sailing where there are no Commercial Saver fares available.
• $100 cancellation fee will apply to cancellations made on day of departure.
• $100 no-show fee will apply if booking is not redeemed on day of departure.

Q. What routes does the promotion apply to?

A. Commercial Saver fares are available on select sailings on the following routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, for travel in either direction:  
 

• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point)

 

Q. What sailings will the over-height Saver fares be offered on? Will it be early morning and late evening sailings only?

A. Commercial Saver fares will be offered on less busy sailings that are not expected to sell out, including early and mid-morning sailings, late evening sailings, as well as various Saturday and Sunday sailings. There will be a limited number of Commercial Saver fares available on these sailings. If there are no Commercial Saver fares available when you select your sailing time online, that means there are none available on that sailing or they have already sold out.
 

Below is a guide of where to find Commercial Saver fares:

Note: not all sailing times are guaranteed. Saver fares are limited and may sell out.

 

ROUTE (direction specific)	COMMERCIAL SAVER FARE AVAILABILITY
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay)	Mid-morning sailings Evening sailings
Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Vancouver (Tsawwassen)	Mid-morning sailings Late evening sailings
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Nanaimo (Duke Point)	Early morning sailings Limited afternoon sailings Late evening sailings
Nanaimo (Duke Point) to Vancouver (Tsawwassen)	Early morning sailings Limited afternoon sailings Late evening sailings

Q. Why aren’t Commercial Saver fares available on all routes?

A. We first rolled out Commercial Saver fares on two routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. We’ll be listening to your feedback to inform how we expand Commercial Saver fares to additional bookable routes in the future. This promotion aims to move Commercial customers who have flexibility in their travel plans to less busy sailings, on specific major routes between Vancouver and Vancouver Island, where there is capacity available. Shifting traffic on these popular routes will provide additional capacity on peak sailings and provide greater travel certainty for all customers.  
 

Q. I have flexibility with my travel dates. Can I view a Commercial Saver fare calendar to see availability by week or month?

A. The best way to view Commercial Saver fare availability is by exploring surrounding dates while you are in the booking process. At this time, our system is not set up to display Commercial Saver fare availability by month. Commercial Saver fares will be offered on less busy sailings, including early morning and late evening sailings, midday sailings during the week, as well as Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning sailings.  
 

Q. How can I provide feedback?

A. Your feedback is important and helps us improve your online experience. Contact us here.

Q. How do I book a Commercial Saver fare?  

A. You can book a Commercial Saver fare online. Select vehicle type “Over 5,500 kg registered GVW”, input your vehicle height and length, and then you will arrive on the sailing selection screen. (Note: Commercial Saver Fares are not available for loads over 9 feet wide.)

Select "View fares" on the right side under the price to see all available fare types for each sailing. If a Commercial Saver fare is available on that sailing, a Saver tag will display above the price on the right hand side (example included on the right). After expanding to view all fares, it will appear at the top of the list.

Choose the fare you want to book using the "Select" button, then complete your booking and credit card payment. TC and deferred payment not accepted.

 

Q. Can I travel on a Commercial Saver fare without booking in advance? What if I want to pay in cash at the terminal?

A. Commercial Saver fares must be booked and paid for in advance, in full, and are not available for purchase at drive-up terminal ticket booths. If you would like to pay in cash, you can still pay for our existing At Terminal fare at the terminal ticket booth when you arrive.

 

Q. Can I pay for a Commercial Saver fare with a gift certificate?

A. Gift certificates cannot be used to pay for Commercial Saver fares online. However, bookings and payment can be made with a gift certificate at the Terminal Administration office a minimum of two hours in advance of travel, subject to Saver Fare availability.

Note: Bookings cannot be made at the vehicle or foot passenger ticket booths.

 

Q. I purchased a Commercial Saver fare, but on the day of travel I arrived late and had to change sailings at the terminal. Why is the price different?

A. Commercial Saver fares are only available on select sailings, subject to availability, when booked and paid for in advance. If you arrived late and missed your sailing, you can use your Commercial Saver fare towards the purchase of an At Terminal fare by paying the difference in price at the ticket booth.

No deferred payment method can be used if you purchased a Commercial Saver fare. The regular per foot price will apply for all At Terminal fares. Your Commercial Saver fare must be put towards travel on a different sailing on the same route, on the same day, for travel in the direction originally booked.

At Terminal fare conditions apply, so you will be boarded after reserved customers in the order you arrive on the next available sailing, where space is available.

 

Q. Can I apply a Commercial Saver fare to a Thru fare to the Southern Gulf Islands?  

A. You cannot apply a Commercial Saver fare to a Thru fare. A Thru fare is a separate fare product only valid for travel to and from the Southern Gulf Islands via Swartz Bay.

If you are travelling thru fare, book a Reservation Only between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen

 

Q. Is there a Seniors’ discount for Commercial Saver fares?

A. BC Seniors travel free on select routes Monday to Thursday. Seniors who book a Commercial Saver fare from Monday to Thursday will only be charged for the cost of the vehicle. 

 

Q. What vehicle types qualify for the Commercial Saver fare discount?

A. Commercial Saver fares are available for Semi-trailer, Semi A/B train, Straight truck/commercial vehicle and other vehicles that fall under the “Over 5,500 kg registered GVW”. Over wide vehicles and buses are not able to book Commercial Saver fares at this time. Commercial Saver fares are not available for vehicles over 9 feet wide.

 

Q. Are Commercial Saver fares available for buses?

A. Commercial Saver fares are not available for buses or commercial vehicles over 9 feet wide at this time.

Q. If I book a Commercial Saver fare, can I change my sailing? What is the cut-off time for making a change?

A. You can change your sailing up to four days before departure at no charge. A $25 change fee will apply to changes made three days or less, up to two hours before departure, plus any difference in price if a Commercial Saver fare is not available on your new sailing.

If there are no Commercial Saver fares available, you can use your Commercial Saver fare towards the purchase of an At Terminal fare by paying the difference in price, for travel on the same day, from the same departure terminal. The At Terminal fare must be purchased at the ticket booth, no deferred payment method can be used.

Set up a BC Ferries account online to create and change bookings with ease. Bookings made online (as a guest or logged in customer) can be adjusted using the edit your booking link found in your booking confirmation email.

If you’ve made a booking as a guest through the Customer Service Centre, you will need to contact the Customer Service Centre to modify your booking. If you have an account, you can log in to make any changes. 

 

Q. Can I cancel a Commercial Saver fare booking?

A. Yes, you can cancel your booking four days or more before departure for a full refund. You can cancel three days or less, up to 11:59 PM the day before departure for a full refund, less a $25 cancellation fee. If you cancel on the day of departure or do not show up for your reservation, you will be charged a $100 fee.

 

Q. What happens if I have fewer/more passengers than what was booked and paid for online?

A. If you check-in at the terminal with fewer passengers than you booked and paid for, and the booking has not been changed prior to check-in, the ticket agent will issue you a refund for the difference, automatically processed to your original form of payment.

If you check-in at the terminal with more passengers than you booked and paid for, the ticket agent will charge you the additional passenger fare(s).

Please update the number of passengers online or by contacting our Customer Service Centre up to one hour before your scheduled departure time.

 

Q. What happens if my vehicle is different from what was booked online?

A. To streamline terminal check-in, please update the length or type of your vehicle online in advance of checking in for your sailing. You can also do this by calling the Customer Service Centre up to one hour before your scheduled departure time. Wait times to reach an agent can vary throughout the day, from under 10 minutes to up to 90 minutes. Save time by making changes to your booking online.  

Subject to space availability, if you have booked a Commercial Saver fare you can:

• Change the size of your vehicle and either pay or receive a refund for any price difference

View a full list of our booking cancellation and change policies

If you arrive at the terminal and your vehicle height is different than what you reserved online, your reservation will not be honoured. You will be boarded after reserved customers in the order you arrive on the next available sailing, based on space availability.