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AIBU?

to think a ski company offering to pay any fines imposed by schools is wrong

159 replies

bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 08:21

The times today have an article about a "A ski company is encouraging parents to take their children on holiday during term time by offering to pay any fines imposed by schools or local councils."

AIBU to think this is wrong on every level? It promotes parents to break the law. It discriminates against those without children having to pay a higher price than those with children for the same dates. I could go on....

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bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 08:29

Its advert reads: “Are schools in the UK taking the piste? We think so. Especially with record snow levels across Morzine.”It goes on to outline its special offer, stating: “Book a week with children [and] we will, if you receive a fine from your school/local authority, pay the fine on copy of a receipt from yourselves.”
Lee Quince, the owner of MountainBase, said: “Ultimately, the decision is down to parents.”

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WeLikeToParty · 14/03/2014 08:37

I haven't read the article but just a quick question; how does it discriminate against people without children when they can go on holiday whenever they like and not get fined? Ultimately people without children would pay the same prove as people with children ....

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WeLikeToParty · 14/03/2014 08:38

Must proof read *price not prove

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sooperdooper · 14/03/2014 08:40

I can't see how it discriminates against those without children, they pay the same price whatever, don't understand what you mean at all

I'm surprised no other companies have thought of this tbh!!

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 08:45

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fairyfuckwings · 14/03/2014 08:45

I think it's grear PR. As you do you clearly!

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 08:46

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bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 08:47

We like to party

Firstly you are assuming people without children CAN go on holiday whenever they like. This is not the case, people work in many sectors that require them to only take holiday during peak times.

More fundamentally they are offering to pay fines for parents so presumably that means the holiday would be taken outside of peak times and be at the reduced rate anyhow.
The fine will be paid by the holiday company which will pay it from it's profits from all it's customers.
So the fine will be paid by people who are holidaying alongside the family but are without school age children (not fair) and people who choose to do the right thing and not take their children out of school and save and pay the full cost (also not fair).

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dogindisguise · 14/03/2014 08:49

I think it's bad that they're encouraging parents to break the law. If parents wish to holiday in term time they should be responsible for paying their own fines! Skiing is expensive and I doubt there are many people that can't afford the fines.

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 08:51

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bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 08:56

But Kim they are effectively giving a cheaper price for the same dates depending on whether you have children and break the law!


The school fine is totally unrelated to the holiday.

If someone chooses to take unpaid leave from work in order to get a cheap holiday I would not expect the holiday company to subsidize that person and I can only imagine the uproar from parents if they did!

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bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 08:58

It is effectively a cash back offer for only one group of society.

I think it discriminates. Not sure why others can't see that.

It is very narrow minded to think the only group in our society that are limited in holiday choice or costs are parents.

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 09:00

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 09:01

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bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 09:03

Yes of course supermarkets have loss leaders.
However, there is free choice to buy whatever you want, there is not a cash back deal for one group who incur costs in a totally unrelated area of their life.

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 09:05

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TarkaTheOtter · 14/03/2014 09:06

It's the same as them offering a slightly cheaper child's ticket but better pr. I don't think it's discrimination as adult tickets will be the same "cost".

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bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 09:06

Actually Kim I'm not sure businesses can do what they want.
If they were offering the same cash back deal but only if you were female do you think it would be ok?

I think fair trading should mean that customers shouldn't unwittingly be contributing to other peoples fines.
Not everyone booking will know upon booking

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mummymeister · 14/03/2014 09:06

It was inevitable and surprised that no one else has done it yet. will probably see it for uk offers soon I would expect. tourism businesses are seeing lower numbers book due to the Gove changes and as a business they have to do something about it. would suggest again that everyone prices up the holiday that they took last year in school hols with the price of an identical holiday this year. prices in school hols will go up to cover the loss - simple economics as Kim 147 says you either buy the product or you don't. great publicity idea though.

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bottlenecker · 14/03/2014 09:08

But not ALL children will get the deal, only ones who have been pulled out of school unauthorised.

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 09:08

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Nataleejah · 14/03/2014 09:08

I think its great!

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meditrina · 14/03/2014 09:09

It shows how much notice holiday companies (or this one at least) are taking of the debate about reducing the price difference between term time and peak time holidays. They are instead choosing to increase it by making term time even cheaper.

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kim147 · 14/03/2014 09:10

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TarkaTheOtter · 14/03/2014 09:11

It's not an unrelated cost. It's a cost of going on holiday. If you don't get fined you don't get the deal, but you also don't have the cost.

Or are free transfers discriminatory against people who live close to the airport.

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