Half Term Holiday Rip-Off

[woe10]

The great half-term holiday rip-off: Brits are charged up to NINE times more for flights during the break with package trips also hit by staggering price hikes

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-4171412/Holidaymakers-charged-9-times-half-term-flights.html

[Snowdrop]

Read on sky news the other day that something like a third of uk councils have suspend fining parents for taking their children on holiday during term time and that quite a number of councils had also cancelled imposed fines. 

[Ggarlo]

Don't post on here very much, but been coming here since 1991 many, many times since our twins were 8, (probably 28 times).  They are now almost 36 and both run their own businesses now.  Did keep them off for a day or so at the start or the end of the school term a couple of times, but basically thought for the short 11 years of schooling they get, we could manage to put their education first as responsible parents so paid the ridiculous price!!  This is not a new phenomenon at all by any means!!!! Dont think it will ever change, so if you want kids and cheap hols, think twice. 😅

[Johnrgby2]

Read on sky news the other day that something like a third of uk councils have suspend fining parents for taking their children on holiday during term time and that quite a number of councils had also cancelled imposed fines.

The reason for that is sometime last year somebody in the UK appealed to the high court against aforesaid fines and won, I do not believe the council appealed the decision.
At the end of the day, it is a rip off as Woe says, and the UK goverment should step in and ban it, I accept that hotels all over the world hike their prices, but when the golden goose stops laying it is time to take notice.

[Swordy]

It said on last evening's Midlands Today that a High Court Ruling is expected this week on the legality of these fines.   

[woe10]

The Father is in court this morning to clarify the word "regularly".

[spirefolks]

Half term price hikes are a pain I agree, but having spent 15 years in travel let me try to explain.
It comes under the old saying that you must make hay whilst the sun shines or to put it another way supply and demand.
There are many more weeks when the kids are at school than not and flights running throughout both holiday times and non holiday times and yes it probably does cost the same to operate a flight in holiday times and non holiday times eg its the same start point, destination, distance, amount of fuel, wages etc. But, believe it or not some flights operate at a very low margin out of holiday times, e.g I saw a flight from FUE to MAN with Condor the other day at £9.99, it is not possible to operate an entire flight at that price and keep trading so to make up for it when the flights are busy, the airline charges more, simple economics. The only way to "make it fair" would be to charge the same price all the year round, so for example

2 weeks all inclusive with flights in school holiday time, 2 adults £4000 total
2 weeks all inclusive with flights in term time 2 adults £2000 total
2 weeks all inclusive with flights with no school holiday loading 2 adults £3000

see what happens! Those people lucky enough to be able to take their holidays anytime, IE when kids are at school, and can at the moment take advantage of cheaper holidays, suddenly have to fork out to make up the cost of what the tour ops etc are charging at the moment IN school holidays. The T/Os have to make a certain margin or they go bang like XL, Lowcost and numerous others i the last 15 years.
Now I have kids and I still stick to the school holidays, but I will be watching the result of this supreme court ruling with interest. I no longer work in travel and I also agree that holidays in school holiday times are expensive, but I wouldnt call it a rip off, just plain simple economics of business.       

[PHo]

A rational analysis at last. It is not a rip off, just supply and demand.

[Archer]

I agree. Not an ideal situation, but no-one can keep expensive aircraft, staff and slots available just for the peak season. And prices have to be adjusted down to attract customers on off-peak and shoulder times.
If not then peak fares would be astronomical!!

[Ggarlo]

Exactly my thoughts and agreement with the last 3 posts. Although I totally disagree with the fines especially if the parent is being responsible and only asking for a couple of days here and there,  I doubt the hike in prices will ever change, its pure and simple supply and demand!! Anyway, now being 62 and an unfortunate grandma who has been told I can't have my pension now till I'm 66 (which is yet another big bugbear for many like me who feel 'ripped off' yet again 😭) i for one am more than very grateful for my cheaper out of school holiday deals.

[Ivemovedon]

I stand corrected if I am wrong here. From info sources i have heard from, European countries other than the UK don't suffer from these dramatic peaks and troughs in flight prices. In fact flights are far cheaper all round whatever time of the year..... rather than supply and demand I'm more inclined to lean towards woes rip off Britain scenario. Whether its higher fuel costs, higher airport tariffs or greater aircrew wage demands that are responsible for flight prices we always seem to get a raw deal in the UK. None more so than parents with kids of school age.

[Ggarlo]

Could be right there.  Had we not had to pay the extortianate costs over those years for the 4 of us we may now well have that coveted apartment or villa on our favourite island. 

[spirefolks]

I think that other european countries do not suffer the peaks and troughs as you call it because on average the price is higher all the time but more constant. Market forces in the UK demand that holidays be as cheap as possible whereas our European friends pay the value of the holiday as is. Thats not fact, just my summizing from 15 odd years in travel

[Ivemovedon]

Perhaps I'm looking at it from too personal a point of view. My daughter and her husband have two kids and a reasonably modest income. Why on earth should they be forced to pay extortionate prices which they can ill afford,  to fund off peak £9.99 freebies for pensioners and the childless. Or failing that take a chance on compromising their children's education by holidaying in term time. It's total nonsense, and supply and demand or not the airlines and government should sort the problem. The bottom line is that a lot of parents can't actually afford those prices so probably don't go.. unless they have a grandparent willing or daft enough to stump up the extra dinero...a grandparent a bit like me.

[Ggarlo]

Ha ha, that hits a chord double fold for my daughter.  Granddaughter is 7, her husband is a Head Teacher, however, as one is in school in Merseyside and the other in Cumbria, they more often than not can't go away as a family anyway as their half terms, Easter Hols etc are so different its not possible. Only that dreaded 6 weeks expensive, over crowded school summer holidays is an option. Do hope they bring back that option they used to have of the Head being able to sanction 10 school days a year for absence for an annual holiday without being fined. Here's hoping.

[spirefolks]

My take is . I see no problem in taking children abroad during school time because as a parent I have always tried to make my children's holidays both fun and also learn something. I insist my children try to speak a little of the local language, which let's face it is Spanish as we mostly holiday in Fuerte'. I encourage them to buy things to get them used to different currencies. We like to get off the beaten track and visit the places where the locals live. I appreciate there is an element of people who come for 2 weeks all inclusive and never see any of the island other than the road from and to the airport, but I see travel as an education as well as much needed family together time which the British way of life caters little for any more.

[Ivemovedon]

Lot more enjoyable for the kids than sitting down all day learning algebra. Only trouble is how much is a pint of milk in Spain or how to say please in Majorero may not be one of the questions on the test sheet.

[spirefolks]

I was suggesting the life skills learned are the important elements.

[spirefolks]

And by the way my eldest daughter did gcse Spanish last year and got an A. And was confident enough to curtail her holiday in Fuerte' and fly home by herself to get her results. I know adults who struggle to do that without panicking. All life skills learnt by going on holiday.

[Ivemovedon]

What you are forgetting here is kids are not a one size fits all  regarding education. Some can miss a week or two and catch up no problem. Others are not so fortunate and would stggle. How do I know?...I was one of the kids in the 60'  who did the struggling.

[spirefolks]

That's a good point and that is the crux of the court case. Should head teachers be able to give permission for kids who have a generally good attendance level and are achieving decent grades time off in term time.
We are getting a little off topic here now but also take my situation. I now work on the railway and my company gives set holidays so if I get allocated term time and others have school holidays and won't swap I am effectively stuffed. This is also a problem for such as Policeman, Fireman etc. It wasn't thought through by Mr Gove when he came up with this marvellous plan.

[Ggarlo]

And of course all the Head Teachers and Teachers themselves have to pay the price. As in the case of my Son-in-Law who as a Head himself cannot apply for 2 weeks off in term time LOL.

[Ivemovedon]

Some see airline and holiday companies as indulging in the practice of supply and demand and others like myself regard it as profiteering at the expense of those least able to afford it. Bit like brexit really ...we all have our opinion.

P.S. Who cares about the teachers ...they get a couple of months off every year.

[Jock719]

And of course all the Head Teachers and Teachers themselves have to pay the price. As in the case of my Son-in-Law who as a Head himself cannot apply for 2 weeks off in term time LOL.

Must be awful being a teacher, 6 weeks off every summer, every Xmas off, every Easter. Poor souls. Oh yes. Every weekend off....

[Ivemovedon]

Mind you they need the time off these days. Check out the assault rate statistics by pupils. They could offer me 6 months off and still wouldn't do the job.

[Ggarlo]

I could really tell you some tales!! But, I'll get me coat and leave it there and sign out again.

[RVEEE]

As far as I'm concerned it's S&D writ large.

Accommodation, flights, whatever have a demand only in the holiday season, but have to be maintained all year round. Mortgages, rates, wages have to be paid even if no-one is holidaying.

So in March the place would be empty if the price wasn't slashed. Holidays are sold at a loss (I know, I've been there). Come July, the prices have to be hiked to see any sort of a profit over the year as a whole. It's not a rip-off. On the contrary, you could much easily argue that anyone holidaying in March at discount rates is ripping off the owners & travel companies.

But it's all an equation, one balances out the other. If holidays weren't taken at some sort of a price out of season the peak periods would cost even more.

[Ivemovedon]

Wish someone would point me in the direction of all these give away flights and holidays. Whatever time of the year.

[spirefolks]

At the risk of attracting criticism after today's ruling on holidays in term time, whilst I generally agree with the decision, I absolutely believe that there should be some flexibility in the headteachers locker to allow this in certain circumstances. I appreciate there is some give in the case of funerals etc but I feel that each case should be viewed on its own merits. As I stated before I work in an industry whereby I get set holiday dates. If I don't get allocated holiday dates in the school holidays it means now I cannot take my kids away. Now I feel this impinges on my right to a family life. I work bloody hard, as do others, and my time with my children is extremely precious to me and them. I already miss most plays, performances and sports activities due to work so my two weeks is crucial family time. I don't think it is unreasonable of me to feel this way. So whilst I agree that it's prudent to stick to school holidays,  I hope that some level of flexibility needs to be used. I wonder how schools would feel if parents all turned up with a £60 fine for each pupil affected by inset days. Sauce for the goose.....

[suendrob]

The Father is in court this morning to clarify the word "regularly".

'
The father in question owns and runs one of those  'PPI reclaim' companies. He also offers other 'services', including - - - school holiday penalty get-offs.

Am I the only one thinking that he took his child away from their schooling, just to push for a test case for his business?

The law will not change because of this ruling. It simply defines the word  regularly in the context of this particular law. This law can now be enforced in the way it was originally intended.

It does seem incredible that a new law can get through committees etc, both houses of Parliament and Lords, with an ambiguous wording.

After all his efforts, he hasn't done much for his business!