When a sailing on a Southern Gulf Island route is full, or cabin space, lounge seating, or vehicle space on a Northern route is sold out, you can request to have yourself added to a waitlist in case of a cancellation by another customer.
We strongly recommend making a booking or a waitlisted booking as we book 100% of our sailing capacity on these routes and only hold back a small percentage for emergency vehicles or medical unplanned events.
Please note you will be limited to one confirmed booking and one waitlisted sailing per direction, to ensure fairness for all customers.
Waitlists
Everything you need to know about waitlisted travel on bookable Southern Gulf Islands and Northern routes
Southern Gulf Islands waitlist
Planning your trip
How far ahead should I book travel?
We strongly recommend booking as far in advance as possible to ensure your desired travel dates are available (at least 4-6 weeks ahead of any long weekend). Booking is generally open 6 months in advance.For information about last minute medical-related travel, see our Medical Assured Loading page.
How often do other customers cancel?
For our Southern Gulf Island routes, customers may change or cancel travel due to weather, illness, or a change of plans. Customers who cancel their fully prepaid booking more than 7 days in advance of travel are not charged a cancellation fee. This frees up space for customers on the waitlist. If a cancellation occurs, and your waitlisted booking can be confirmed, you will see your booking status in your BC Ferries online Account under My bookings change from ‘StandBy’ to ‘Confirmed’. If your waitlisted booking changes from StandBy to Confirmed and our office is open, you can call 1-888-BC FERRY to provide payment. We will proactively contact customers throughout the day to let them know they are confirmed and request they contact us to provide payment. If the cancellation occurs the night before departure, when our Customer Service Centre is closed, you can make your payment at the terminal.
If you do require firm travel plans, we recommend choosing an alternate date/time or route where possible.
Why do we use the word "products"? What are they?
“Product” refers to the items you are booking on the sailing. We have a variety of vehicle products (standard, oversized, motorcycle, semi-trailer, etc.), passenger products (adults, children, infants, BC Seniors, etc.) on our Southern Gulf Island routes.
How do I add customers to a waitlist as a travel agent?
Complete our agent waitlist form to add customers as a travel agent.
Time of booking
How do I request to be added to the waitlist?
If the sailing you want to book does not have any space available, fill out our waitlist form online to request to be added to the waitlist. If your request is time-sensitive, call customer service at 1-888-BC FERRY. If you have a vehicle and driver booking and you want to add additional passengers, but the space is not available, use this form to request to add additional passengers. Remember to include your existing booking reference number on the form, so we can add the waitlisted passengers to the correct booking.
Before you travel
How will BC Ferries contact me if my waitlist request gets confirmed?
Each day our Customer Service team advises customers who have been upgraded and now have a confirmed booking. You will be emailed an itinerary asking you to call 1-888-BC FERRY to make payment or release the space to another customer on the waitlist.
If you don't get a confirmed cabin prior to travelling, is there a way to check on board if any are available?
Check with the chief steward to see if there is space available if you do not have a confirmed cabin.
My sailing I'm on the waitlist for is coming up and I haven't received a confirmation. Do I still show up to travel?
You may still be upgraded from the waitlist overnight before the day of your desired sailing. We recommend checking your status in your online BC Ferries Account here before proceeding to the terminal. You can also check to see if we sent you an email the morning of your desired travel day confirming your booking.
If you are waitlisted for both a cabin and a vehicle, you will receive separate pre-travel reminder emails for each.
If you have not received a confirmation email for a waitlisted sailing, it is advised you check in at the terminal 3 hours before the sailing departure.
If you have a confirmed booking and are only waitlisted for a cabin, you should check in 2 hours before the sailing departure.
When you travel
I want to bring additional people in my vehicle beyond what I specified on the waitlist. Can I do this?
If your waitlisted booking has been confirmed, and you arrive at the terminal with additional passengers, there is a risk they may not be able to travel with you if the sailing is sold out.
If you want to add passengers or change the length of your vehicle, call us at 1-888-BC FERRY in advance of your travel date to see if your changes can be accommodated.
What changes can I make to my booking when I check in?
For a list of changes accepted at the terminal, please see our booking cancellation and change policies.
Northern waitlist
Planning your trip
How far ahead should I book travel?
We strongly recommend booking as far in advance as possible to ensure your desired travel dates are available (especially during peak periods like summer, holidays and special community events). Booking is generally open 6 months in advance.
For information about last minute medical-related travel, see our Medical Assured Loading page.
How often do other customers cancel?
Customers may change or cancel travel due to weather, illness, or a change of plans. Customers who cancel their fully prepaid booking more than 30 days in advance of travel are not charged a cancellation fee. This frees up space for customers on the waitlist. If a cancellation occurs, and your waitlisted booking can be confirmed, you will see your booking status in your BC Ferries online Account under My bookings change from ‘StandBy’ to ‘Confirmed’. If your waitlisted booking changes from StandBy to Confirmed and our office is open, you can call 1-888-BC FERRY to provide payment. We will proactively contact customers throughout the day to let them know they are confirmed and request they contact us to provide payment. If the cancellation occurs the night before departure, when our Customer Service Centre is closed, you can make your payment at the terminal.
If you do require firm travel plans, we recommend choosing an alternate date/time or route where possible.
Why do we use the word "products"? What are they?
“Product” refers to the items you are booking on the sailing. We have a variety of vehicle products (standard, oversized, motorcycle, semi-trailer, etc.), passenger products (adults, children, infants, BC Seniors, etc.), and amenity products (cabins, lounge seats) on our Northern routes.
Time of booking
How do I request to be added to the waitlist?
If the sailing you want to book does not have any space available, fill out our waitlist form online to request to be added to the waitlist. If your request is time-sensitive, call customer service at 1-888-BC FERRY. If you have a vehicle and driver booking and you want to add additional passengers, but the space is not available, use this form to request to add additional passengers. Remember to include your existing booking reference number on the form, so we can add the waitlisted passengers to the correct booking.
Before you travel
How will BC Ferries contact me if my waitlist request gets confirmed?
Each day our Customer Service team advises customers who have been upgraded and now have a confirmed booking. You will be emailed an itinerary asking you to call 1-888-BC FERRY to make payment or release the space to another customer on the waitlist.
If you don't get a confirmed cabin prior to travelling, is there a way to check on board if any are available?
Check with the chief steward to see if there is space available if you do not have a confirmed cabin.
My sailing I'm on the waitlist for is coming up and I haven't received a confirmation. Do I still show up to travel?
You may still be upgraded from the waitlist overnight before the day of your desired sailing. We recommend checking your status in your online BC Ferries Account here before proceeding to the terminal. You can also check to see if we sent you an email the morning of your desired travel day confirming your booking.
If you are waitlisted for both a cabin and a vehicle, you will receive separate pre-travel reminder emails for each.
If you have not received a confirmation email for a waitlisted sailing, it is advised you check in at the terminal 3 hours before the sailing departure.
If you have a confirmed booking and are only waitlisted for a cabin, you should check in 2 hours before the sailing departure.
When you travel
I want to bring additional people in my vehicle beyond what I specified on the waitlist. Can I do this?
If your waitlisted booking has been confirmed, and you arrive at the terminal with additional passengers, there is a risk they may not be able to travel with you if the sailing is sold out.
If you want to add passengers or change the length of your vehicle, call us at 1-888-BC FERRY in advance of your travel date to see if your changes can be accommodated.
What changes can I make to my booking when I check in?
For a list of changes accepted at the terminal, please see our booking cancellation and change policies.
Other common waitlist questions
Waitlist questions