Vail Sued in Class Action Over Inflated Ski Pass and Lift Ticket Prices

The two biggest ski companies in America are being sued for allegedly inflating prices and forcing skiers into expensive mega passes.

A class action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver on March 23 accuses Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company of violating federal and state antitrust laws through an anticompetitive scheme that has driven up the cost of skiing across North America.

The 74-page complaint, brought by four skiers — three from Colorado and one from Massachusetts — alleges that Vail and Alterra have cornered the market on destination skiing by acquiring or partnering with nearly every major resort in the country. According to the lawsuit, they then set single-day lift ticket prices artificially high — sometimes over $300 — to push customers into buying their respective season passes: Vail's Epic Pass and Alterra's Ikon Pass.

Vail Resorts currently owns or operates 42 ski resorts and contracts with partners at about 30 more. Alterra owns or operates 18 ski areas and contracts with partners at roughly 70 more. Out of about 486 ski areas in the U.S., the lawsuit argues the two companies have effectively locked up access to the most desirable mountains.

For the 2026-27 season, a full Epic Pass starts at $1,089 for adults and a full Ikon Pass starts at $1,399. The complaint notes that Epic Pass prices have risen about 37% over the past six seasons, while Ikon Pass prices have gone up about 40%.

The lawsuit also points to statements from Vail Resorts CEO Robert Katz, who previously told the New York Times that the company's lift ticket prices have been "intentionally" aggressive to push customers toward the Epic Pass. According to Vail's own investor reports, passholders who commit before the season make up about 75% of the company's annual visitation.

Vail Resorts said the claims are "without merit," pointing out that the Epic Pass was launched in 2008 to make skiing more accessible and that the company has introduced lower-priced options like the Epic Day Pass and Epic Local Pass. Alterra declined to comment.

The lawsuit was filed by DiCello Levitt, Berger Montague PC, and Salahi PC. It seeks damages on behalf of potentially millions of skiers and snowboarders who purchased lift tickets or season passes from either company on or after March 23, 2022.

Who's Eligible

If you purchased an Epic Pass, Ikon Pass, or any lift ticket or season pass product from Vail Resorts or Alterra Mountain Company on or after March 23, 2022, you may be part of this class action.

What Happens Next

There's no settlement yet. The court has not certified the class. This is an active lawsuit, so there's no claim to file right now — but if you bought a pass or ticket from either company in the last four years, this is one to watch.

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