To be furious about these prices

I used to be a travel planner so happy to offer some ideas if anyone wants them?

Europe has abundant great campsites with waterparks attached. They are around 40euros a night in August if you bring a tent with entry to everything included (pools, slides and more). They often have tents available to book if you don't fancy putting your own up. Now is a great time to get camping equiptment in the sales or second hand. Camping is going to be the cheapest option but many sites have lodges and cottages available onsite too.

If you want some pointers, the RCN sites in France, Netherlands and Germany are well run, have wifi, electrical hook up and many have a TV cable available, all in the middle of a forest.

Theres a few great theme parks you can tie in for a stay. Disney is the most obvious but consider Efteling too. It take 2-3 days to see it all. Restaurant prices aren't ludicrous either.

Hope that helps, very happy if anyone wants to PM me for other ideas or resorts that are still hot but not well known so cheaper.

Unless it's a housing market in which case they do all sorts of nonsense.

Affordable. Shared ownership.. schemes to get you to save a deposit.

Well how about you buy your own airline and run it on this basis? Or a hotel, or resort, or anything really. Do your bit.

You’re booking your May holiday now? You should’ve been on it last year when the flights became available. Only way to get affordable flights on any airline.

it’s teachers I feel sorry for in this scenario.

For parents, Having school age kids is only a small part of your holidaying life anyway. there’ll (hopefully) be years to go off peak after they have flown the nest.

Teachers are stuck with this their whole career

I have family abroad, sometimes I go in school holidays, depending on them, flights always more, priority boarding more, one of those things, accept it

Just because it's 'how it's always been' and it's capitalism, doesn't mean that it's acceptable.

And although I do understand what PP have said regarding airlines not making profit during off-peak, i do think that's just an excuse.

I do not know a single adult without children who prefers going on holiday during school holidays. All childfree people i know go on holiday at all other time of the year, not because it's cheaper, but because they do not have to commit to annual leave during school holidays and they don't want to go to any destination that's got hoards of families.

If I booked a mini break or holiday without children, I would not be flying anywhere during August, if I don't have my own DC with me then I certainly want to relax somewhere with lots of children/families.

Flight costs should be evened out over the year. I really don't think they'd lose profit, and is is penalising people who want to be 'responsible' by not taking their children on holiday during term-time. I accept that I may have a naive POV. People will always book flights outside of school holidays, for work, to see family.

My friend who teaches history at a large comp teaches 400 kids every fortnight. Can’t see that going down very well.

They want child free holidays

Yeah, I dont see why they shouldn't 🤷‍♀️

Why?

they could just run an extra flight couldn’t they, if the demand is so high

What with a plane made out of Playdough? Where do think the cost of that extra plane they ‘just’ use at peak times would come from?

Folk would rather not have children when off peak travelling

There's only so many holidays available at any time of year.

Or do you want hotels and holiday apartments to be built that are only going to be occupied for a few weeks a year?

Supply and demand.. i.e. more people wanting the product at a specific time will make the product more valuable.

I personally think it sucks most for the teachers and would support a huge change in the educuation system where attendence is treated like a job and pupils can apply for leave at any time of the year. Though teachers might not support this as they would get the same leave as every other profession.

Also there’s issues with reduced airspace due to international tensions, which means that the airspace available for domestic flight paths is reduced. Do people not follow this kind of thing in the news? It’s been heavily discussed!

Can your child's teacher take a couple of random weeks off too as they are tied to higher prices all their working life, not just for a few years?

I think you're just making expensive choices OP. I just booked a week in a lovely boutique style hotel on nearby Levkas island with Jet2 holidays, including flights from NotLondon, bags/ seats booked etc, transfers, B&B accommodation, for less than the cost you're quoting there for just flights. Saturday for 7 nights in May half term.

Economics, plain and simple, as at other times of the year prices fluctuate. You'll be expecting Mother's Day flowers even though they will be half the price the following Sunday.

Look it at over your lifespan. You benefit from cheaper than market value flights for many more years than you’re penalised.

It's certainly bloody annoying, OP. My youngest will be leaving school at the end of next year. Unfortunately though, I've been a teacher for 30 years and will still be bound to school holidays until I retire!

First post nails it.

Try being a teacher

I read once the higher prices are actually nearer the true cost the cheaper cost just to get you in .think easyjet can it really be say £49 pounds to say amsterdam probably not.thats probably just raxes

Because they want to maximise profits. Children should be allowed say 2 weeks off during the school year IMHO. Other countries don't have these draconian rules in place.