AIBU to think people must be a bit naive

[bicuriousgeorge]

to think that petitioning the government to fix holiday prices during school holiday's is a good idea.

I mean we live in a free market, why would we want government intervention on what a company can charge for something? If they did intervene where would price fixing stop?

As a general ruling fixing prices tend to result in a reduction in supply.

[WoodBurnerBabe]

I'm not sure how the government could even achieve such a thing. How can they tell a private company what to charge?!? It annoys the hell out of me how expensive holidays are, but we just have to suck it up. As an aside, how about going after companies that charge an extortionate amount for a 3rd child? We have 3, and most charge the 3rd child almost as much as an adult.

As a result, we have spent the last 3 years holidaying with family in the UK, which is likely to continue for many years. Kids don't seem to mind, to be honest...

[Grennie]

Yes people are being naive.

[bicuriousgeorge]

The reason I write this is that people seem to think that having a holiday is a right not a luxury.
It's nice to go abroad but not a right.

[Grennie]

Anything we buy is more expensive at times of high demand. If you want to holiday in the middle of January, of course you are going to pay less than those holidaying during the school holidays. Since the Government can't even manage price fixing on basics such as gas and electric, it is not going to manage it on holidays. I predict a Government token appeal to the industry.

[CoffeeTea103]

It's both naive and stupid. Won't happen.

[Ilovexmastime]

YANBU, it's incredibly naive.

[Joysmum]

I've always found it hilarious that people think this would be fair!

It only benefits people with kids who go on holiday during school holidays. Anyone else would need to subsidise those with children because holidays at other times would need to increase as a result.

Surely the best bet would to be allow local authorities to set their own Holliday dates so that cluster schools share the same holidays but those from different areas break up at different times.

I also am in favour of reducing down the length of the summer holidays. The kids don't benefit from such a long break.

[ImperialBlether]

Woodburnerbabe try eurocamp. My family used to love it. You can take up to four children so you can have another if you like!

[bicuriousgeorge]

I am honestly surprised by the replies agreeing
Where are all the people starting these silly petitions?

[DolomitesDonkey]

I think the words you're looking for rather than the nice gentle euphemism of naive are : dumb, pig ignorant, bored, idle and cause-addicted.

[Callani]

The funniest thing I find about the whole thing is people are expecting the government to fix the prices of their FOREIGN holidays!!! Haha, good luck with that one!

[morethanacondiment]

Of course you are YANBU, and I am dumbfounded by people (seemingly intelligent friends!) demanding government regulation. And I'm saying this as a person working in a term-time only job, and married to a teacher

[Trooperslane]

It can't be done - price fixing is illegal and any business found even discussing it is liable for a fine of up to 10% global turn over

Even tobacco price can't be fixed and there's no argument about how harmful it is.

[OpalQuartz]

I agree with you.

[ohhifruit]

I don't think they're naive but rather stupid and lacking in any notion of the world working outside of their own back gate.

[LtEveDallas]

People don't understand that even if the Government could get involved, all the holiday companies will say is "We don't put the prices UP in the School Holidays, we REDUCE the prices outside of the school holidays"

Then they holiday companies would put the prices up all year round and make lots more profit.

[longfingernails]

For an example of price fixing, search for the great Venezuelan Bog Roll shortage. In their infinite wisdom, the socialist government decided to fix prices of toilet paper; and were then utterly bewildered when they ran out...

www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-27/venezuela-is-running-out-of-toilet-paper-.html

There is no way for governments to fix the price of holidays, apart from tinkering at the edges with green taxes and the like.

[bicuriousgeorge]

Callani that's hilarious and so true.

And it's just another one of those 'it's the government's fault' init.

[Scholes34]

Can't afford foreign holidays in school holidays with three children, so we've had many years of camping in this country. You can have lots of enjoyment couped up in a tent playing cards whilst it's raining outside, drawing lots to see who's going to have to do the next round of teas whilst holding a golf umbrella over the gas stove.

[BlueSkySunnyDay]

For that reason I didn't sign that one - the suppliers "season" was reduced massively when we were discouraged from taking term time off, they have no choice but to make their money within that window. How people can think it's a con I don't know, i'd be surprised if any of them were making the same kind of profit they did when they had a longer holiday season.

I do think not allowing time out was done without thinking about the knock on effect to businesses both within the UK and abroad. Let's face it the people taking their children out regularly are still doing it anyway!

Of course it had no effect on the politicians making that decision as their kids go privately so have longer holidays anyway.

[bicuriousgeorge]

longfingernails fantastic

[bicuriousgeorge]

Blueskysunnyday

"Of course it had no effect on the politicians making that decision as their kids go privately so have longer holidays anyway."

That's a very strange thing to say.

[Bonsoir]

In France the winter and spring school holidays are staggered into three zones in order to make the tourist season longer. That is government intervention that is possible.

[Joysmum]

Given that in the odd year when we've been in a position to have a holiday in school hols pretty much everywhere is fully booked, prices can't be too expensive.

Reduce prices won't increase the numbers of holidays available.

[WoodBurnerBabe]

ImperialBlether thanks for the tip - will have a look at them. But no more kids here, I don't think although if we had a little accident I wouldn't be unhappy