Letter to Editor | How can this be, WSF?

||| FROM STEPHANIE ROSENBLATT |||

Dear Mr. Nevey,

I understand how busy you are yet I’d like to bring an issue to your attention with the current reservation system.

This morning, June 27th, I promptly called WA State Ferry Reservation at 7:00 a.m. and also went online at that time. After waiting a few minutes on the phone I chose to have a call back since the message said “I wouldn’t loose my place in line.” This way I could concentrate on trying to get reservations online. However by 7:03 all the 3:40 reservations from Anacortes to Orcas Island were already booked up.

I received a call back from an agent by 7:18 a.m. and when I asked how could there were no spaces left? She informed me that me that she had just gotten off the line with a person who made 20 reservations for that ferry. She also said that when I chose to have a call back my place on line isn’t saved.

How is this fair to the full-time residents trying to get back home? Can your department have a limit on how many reservations a tourist can make?

I look forward to your response knowing how difficult your job can be with our aging fleet.