A DISCOUNT system for North Stradbroke Island residents using the barge will be scrapped on February 1 ahead of a new price structure on March 1.
Stradbroke Ferries decided to axe its Frequent Floater system after island residents were using it to book discounted trips for family and friends.
The new fare structure will be based on one-way journeys and will offer varying ticket prices at different times of day and year.
Straddie Ferries chief executive David Thomson said the differential pricing fare structure was similar to that used by airlines.
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“We are trying to benefit customers who change their travel behaviour to correlate with our spare capacity,” he said.
“Ticket prices will vary depending on time of day and demand so people will have the flexibility to book different priced one-way trips.”
Only vehicles registered to an island address will be eligible for the island resident discounted ticket and there will no longer be return tickets.
The move, which only allows two cars from an island address to get the discount, has raised the ire of absent landlords and large island families.
Mr Thomson said island households with more than two cars wanting the discount would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Point Lookout property owner Pat Hoffie said a trip to the island would cost her an extra $37 after the discount for land owners was abolished.
Currently the discounted island return ticket is $112 and the full fare return ticket is $149.
“Ultimately, this extra cost will be passed on to the tenant or those who are renting out holiday premises,” she said.
“Straddie Ferries has a monopoly but land owners and residents hoped the company would act in the best interests of the island’s economy.”
According to the Straddie Ferries website, travel undertaken up to and including January 31, will accumulate points towards the final Frequent Floater balance, and will be registered against the Frequent Floater number.
Residents who want ongoing discounts after the Frequent Floater program, must register with the company.