Cineplex Entertainment, Canada’s largest cinema operator, has decided to apply a new reservation fee of $1.50 to each ticket purchased on its mobile application and on its website.
The company says it needs to invest more and develop [son] digital infrastructure.
However, Cineplex says purchases made in person at the box office will not be subject to the fee, while members of the Scene Plus rewards program will receive a $1 discount per ticket.
People who subscribe to CineClub, the company’s monthly subscription program, will not have to pay this fee.
A long-standing practice for shows
Service fees are a long-standing practice in the entertainment industry. To collect more revenue, service fees are added in various forms to tickets for concerts, plays or sporting events.
When Cineplex introduced online ticket sales several years ago, it charged a processing fee for each ticket. Eventually, the company eliminated this fee to encourage moviegoers to purchase tickets in advance.
More recently, Cineplex introduced a $2 surcharge to sit on premium seats at a few of its busiest theaters. It also added an additional $1 fee to reserve seats at screenings of Star Wars: The Last Jediin 2017.
The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
