Three years after adopting a pricing plan that adds a surcharge for passenger, vehicle and stateroom fares on popular sailings, the Alaska Marine Highway System has decided to suspend the program for its fall/winter schedule.

The ferry system's "dynamic pricing" added 5% to 50% to ticket prices, depending on the percentage of a ship's capacity already booked - similar to airlines raising prices as flights fill up.

The Alaska Department of Transportation announced the decision last Friday to suspend the surcharges.

"Dynamic pricing works when we can offer passengers the ability to plan ahead to...