Letters / Whit aboot dis fir NorthLink’s consideration?

Why mosst aa traivel bookeens be peid fir at da exact sam time it’s bookit? Why no lat fokk book noo an pey laetter? Whit wye cannen we lat fokk book in advance fir free (nae peyment up front) an pey whin da prices is set? Dis wid be in addeetion tae da current system whar bookeens (ithin da period whar prices is already set) gits bookit an peid fir at ee time.

Say you lat fokk book traivel (cabins, vehicles, shairs, etc) ootbye whit is noo a cliff-aidge, as far in advance as dey laek fir free, on a first come first serve basis – as lang as dey submit dir contact details (email, phone number, etc).

Whin Transport Scotland sets dir yearly prices, NorthLink could send fokk wi advance bookeens a email wi a invoice tae pey fir whit d’ir bookit at da new prices. If dey pey it, dey git whit d’ir bookit. If dey dunna pey it ithin a set time frame (a week, a fortnicht, whitivver is tocht ti be raisonable), dey loss dir bookeen an so onybody idder can book da sam cabin/vehicle spaess/shair an pey fir it at wance.

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Dis wye, fokk git tae plan dir traivel in advance ithoot a cliff-aidge. If fokk irna serious aboot dir bookeens, dey git pitten back tidda gineral public’s avaelibeelity afore lang. NorthLink gits dir money at da richt price jüst da sam as dey wid idderwise, an herdly ony laetter as dey widda døn idderwise. An I hae nae doot at free bookeens at lapse wid shün git snappit up efter da fact. An, da Shetland public micht avoid wan mair source o unneccesary stress at seems tae be idderwise creepin inti ivvry aspect o island life eenoo.

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You could add some leemitations ti dis so at fokk dunna tak da proverbial wi excessive bookeens – mibee pit a leemit on da number o simultaneous bookeens ee body can mak at ee time in a set time period.

Dis notion isna unique – fir example, wi a quick saerch I fan at dis traivel agency caaed Yatra in India at lats you dø a version o dis caaed “Hold for Free” wi saets on da plane. 

NortLink micht say at da admin o dis wid be ower muckle hassle – ti dat I say:

1. De’r nae raison why maist o dis couldna be automatit in dis day an age o computers. An especially whin you lat enthusiastic members o da public step in an help you mak yir ain bookeen system halfwyes kirsen.
2. If da bookeen system wis fairer it micht encourige fokk laek me at’s entirely pitten aff Nortlink. If it wis onywyes fair I micht consider da boat ower da plane, becis I dunna consider it at aal fair eenoo.
3. Dis is a lifeline service. Da Shetland public süd come first, no Serco’s profits. Døin dis micht ging some wye tae repairin da poor reputation da company is airned itsel an da Northlink brand ower da last twartree year.

Hit’s no rocket science – so whit exactly is stoppin NorthLink fae døin it?

Roy Mullay
Muckle Rø

NorthLink opens 2026 booking schedule – but prices to rise too