Skiing is always better with a friend, and the Epic Pass wants to make that easier by introducing new discounted companion tickets.
The "Epic Friend Tickets" offer 50% off the price of lift tickets for companions during the 2025-26 season, according to Vail Resorts, which owns the Epic Pass. All 37 of Vail's North American resorts will accept the new friend tickets.
"If you ski or ride, chances are someone brought you into the sport, and we want to make it easier for you to pay it forward," Rob Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts, said in a statement shared with TPG.
According to the company, Epic Pass holders who purchased their pass before April 14 will receive 10 friend tickets, while skiers who purchased a pass after that will receive six. These will replace the previous "Buddy Tickets," which Vail said typically offered fewer savings and varied depending on the resort.
Passholders can redeem their friend tickets through the Epic Pass website. To activate the ticket, they can use the My Epic app or visit the resort ticket window in person.
Additionally, your friend will be able to apply the full cost of their redeemed Epic Friend Ticket to the price of a 2026-27 Epic Pass.
"By making it easier for our Pass Holders to share the ski experience with friends — through savings across not one, but two winter seasons — we hope to help spark traditions that will inspire groups of friends to return to the mountains for years to come," Katz said.
The Epic Pass offers unlimited access to over 40 mountains and restricted access to many more worldwide. It is currently on sale for $1,075, but Vail Resorts said the price will increase after Sept. 1.
Vail also offers other options, such as the Epic Local Pass ($799), which includes unlimited access to 29 mountain resorts, and the Epic Day Pass (from $58 to $838), which is geared toward travelers who plan to ski for one to seven days. (While the Epic Pass and the Epic Local Pass qualify for Epic Friend Tickets, the Epic Day Pass is not eligible.)
Vail owns and operates 42 different mountains across North America, Europe and Australia, including Whistler Blackcomb in Canada, Park City Mountain in Utah, Breckenridge in Colorado, Stowe in Vermont and Crans-Montana in Switzerland. The company also partners with dozens of other resorts across the U.S., Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy.
In Australia, Vail offers similar "Bring A Mate" tickets, which include up to 50% off single-day lift tickets at Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham.
Related reading:
- What's the best ski pass this season? Comparing Epic, Ikon, Mountain Collective and Indy passes
- Plan your ski trip using points and miles: How to book flights, hotels, lift tickets and more
- The best ski resorts in the US for your next trip to the slopes
- 12 best family ski resorts in the US
- Best credit cards to use on ski trips
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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