Parents pay a premium for travel during the school holidays ? whether it be a staycation or trip further afield ? but could all that be about to change" Rhiane Kirkby investigates
It?s a fact that the cost of the average trip increases massively outside school term time, with the price of package holidays rising by 50 to 100 per cent. The increase in airfares is even more extreme, with some seats costing three or four times as much.
So why is the travel industry able to increase prices to such an extent" Travel journalist, Simon Calder explains ?the average holiday firm or airline trades at a loss for most of the year, but more than makes up that shortfall when schools are out. But excess profits aren?t being made as most holiday companies are low-margin businesses.? That said, it?s easy to see why most parents feel aggrieved at having to pay far more for the same flight or holiday than people who are able to travel during term time. The situation was made worse in 2013 when the then Education Secretary, Michael Gove cracked down on parents taking their children out of school, imposing fixed-penalty fines of £60, which increased to £120 after 21 days, if unpaid. Until then head teachers had been allowed to grant up to ten days leave for family holidays during term time in ?special circumstances? but many parents mistakenly believed this was an entitlement. The change prompted petitions from parents and calls from teaching unions and the Local Government Associa...