Epic or Ikon: Which Multipass Offers the Best Perks?
This article originally appeared on Ski Mag
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Which multipass you spring for is likely to be determined more by your location and travel plans than by the perks either Epic or Ikon offer. That said, both passes come with a host of discounts and benefits that can make a tie breaker that much easier.
We took a close look at which passes offer which perks, and which of these added value items are the most appealing. Here's what we found.
Which Passes Offer Which Perks?
Epic Pass
Buddy Passes
Buy now to get 10 Buddy Pass tickets, offering up to 45 percent off window rates. Vail hasn’t announced the date when that offer expires, but as some point this spring, Epic Passes will only come with six Ski With a Friend tickets, which offer a lesser discount depending on the resort and when during the season you want to use them.
Pay Over Time
Ikon has offered it for the last couple of seasons, and Epic jumped on board last year, offering four pay-over-time plans in three-, six-, nine-, and 12-month options. You don't have to put any money down. The FlexPay plans populate when you put a pass product in your cart.
Pass Insurance
Epic Coverage is included in all passes and covers qualifying personal events including injury and job loss.
Resort Discounts
All pass holders get 20 percent off lodging, dining, lessons, and more at Vail Resorts locations in North America. Learn more here.
Skiing Deals
Use your 20-percent discount on guided cat skiing in Keystone and heliskiing in Whistler Blackcomb.
Ikon Pass
Spring Skiing
If you didn't buy a 2022-'23 Ikon Pass, you can still squeeze in some spring skiing this season with purchase of a 2023-'24 pass. Skiing is available at 12 resorts this season, up from 10 last year.
Friends and Family Tickets
Ikon Pass holders get 10 friends and family discount lift tickets (25 percent off window rate), while Ikon Base pass holders get eight.
Kids' Pass Discount With Adult Purchase
Get $100 off a child (5-12) pass when you buy an adult Ikon, Ikon Base, or Ikon Base Plus. Good for up to two kids' passes for a total discount of $200.
Pay Over Time
You put zero down and split payment over three, six, nine, or 12 months with Ikon's payment plan. Available for a limited time, so act fast.
First Tracks
Get on the slopes an hour before the masses at select resorts once a month from January through March.
Outside+ Membership and Retail Discounts
New for 2023-’24, Ikon Pass holders receive a complimentary one-year Outside+ membership (disclaimer: Outside+ is an offering of Outside Inc., the company that owns SKI), plus discounts at The North Face and Smith Optics.
Resort Discounts
Get 15 percent off food and beverages, retail, and services at 15 resorts.
Which Season Pass Offer the Best Perks
Ikon Pass. Both passes have some pretty nice perks, with the best of them being the discounted Buddy and Friends and Family tickets. Epic's offer expires at a not-yet-announced date this spring. Ikon doesn't take away its F&F tickets, but its renewal discount will disappear.
Overall, we give a slight edge to Ikon in the perks categories thanks to First Tracks, the child pass discount. and spring access. Especially if you don't have a current season pass and want to make some spring turns, Ikon suddenly looks pretty attractive.
Best of the Rest
The remaining multipasses--Indy Pass, Mountain Collective, Powder Alliance, and Power Pass--don’t offer nearly as many perks and Epic and Ikon, but Indy and Mountain Collective have a few worth mentioning:
Indy Pass
25 percent discount on tickets for additional days beyond what the pass gets you
Payment plan
Lodging discounts
Two trail passes per person at Indy Pass Nordic resorts
Japan travel deals through Japan Ski Tours
Mountain Collective
No blackout dates
50 percent discount on tickets for additional days beyond what the pass gets you
Power Pass
Kids 12 under ski free, with no blackouts, at all nine mountains
spring skiing with 2023-’24 pass purchase
payment plan
three blackout-free days to partner mountains
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