To think parents lying about their child's age to get cheaper tickets is wrong?

[Liketochat1]

The swimming thread got me thinking about a chat I was having the other day. Parents were saying they lie about their child's age to get cheaper or free tickets to parks, zoos, shows etc... They claim their children are under 5, 3 or whatever when they aren't.
AIBU to think this lying is wrong and unfair or is it just to be expected?

I've done it, especially when ds was only a bit over the age limit, I agree secretplans the prices that are charged in places like Lego Land for children are ridiculous.

It's not something I could possibly get bothered about. And I'm wondering if those getting all morally outraged just have larger children and can't get away with it?

Yes I've done it and no I don't think it's morally wrong. Why is it free for my child to do something one month and £18 the next? There's got to be some benefit to being a short arse!

But Boggler you wouldn't go into a shop and steal a dress you thought was an extortionate price, you just wouldn't buy it. Surely it's the same with admission prices, if you can't afford them, you can't go.
Actually, PVL my children are pretty short for their age. I guess I just don't like lying. I'm rubbish at it in any case.

It's not at all the same thing as stealing a dress. You're exaggerating.

I do it all the time. Not especially bothered if people think its stealing or not, although to me its not quite as bad as outright stealing because at least I am paying something.

I did it the other day in a softplay centre, and was then stung £2.50 for a cup of Nescafe and £3 for cheese on toast, swings and roundabouts.

We did it regularly when our Dc were younger. A "family" ticket generally only covers 2+2 and we were 2+4. Our children were always small for their age.

It is fairer to charge by height. That way usually you find that if the limit is say 1 metre that is also the height limit on most of the rides. What really bugs me is paying for a 3 yo to find they aren't actually tall enough to go on anything at all.

As all these places consider that a child of 10/ 12/ 14 should pay the same price as an adult I don't think it hurts their profits too much if a number of 3 yos get in without paying. Perhaps we shouldn't be paying for entry for pre school children at all?

I've never done it. I took DS to London 3 days after his 5th birthday and stumped up the childs ticket price (he was free before 5).

But if they charged everyone to just go into the shop even if they weren't going to buy a dress are you saying you wouldn't even think about 'lying'? Because places like Alton Towers charge everybody to enter regardless of whether you go on the rides or not.

Ive done it, it pisses me off that they can charge adult prices from 12 upwards . I usually buy a family ticket which is cheaper .

Pvl- I don't think it's exaggerating. I think it's looking at it from a different angle.
Theme parks are providing a service and manufacturers are providing goods. Both need to be paid for by the consumer. It is up to the service provider or the manufacturer to set their price and up to the consumer to decide whether they want to pay that price. It's not up to the consumer to cheat or steal to get what they want.

It's still up to you whether you decide to go into Alton Towers or not Lee and whether you choose to go on any rides or not again is up to you.

I did it for a few months when my dd had turned 5. Mainly on the bus. Not once did anyone question it.

My sis wouldnt get away with this as my nephew would tell everyone he was 4 months before he actually was.

i haven't done it yet
but i do agree that charging anything more than a token quid or for under 5s is on most occasions a rip-off.
TBH we just tend to avoid those places completely.

I do it at theme parks when dcs are under the height for any rides. we went to legoland and chessington last year, ds2 is 4 but under 90cm, so cant go on half the rides. i said he was under three and didnt feel guilty at all.

In other places I dont do it as both dcs get full enjoyment for their age IYSWIM

Have done it, Object to my 11 and 12 yo being called adults, they aren't!

I'm imagining you have a fair income and one child under 3.

Liketochat1 , you do have a knack of starting controversial threads.

It's like you know exactly what threads to start on MN.

Try P & C parking if you want a bun fight

The only fair way would be to price scale on height and age and slide by percentage of rides/attractions that are available.

It's unfair to charge full whack for a short three year old who can't go on anything but nothing for a tall 2 yo, but since these places often also have '... under whatever can't go/ must be accompanied...' rules as well as the height/age entry that should be the criteria.

So if the criteria for a ride is 3yo and 100cms, then 3 yo who is over 100cms should pay for that ride, where a 3yo who is only 90cms should not. It wouldn't be hard to work out what percentage of rides those two groups can both access and charge that percentage. I'd like to see charging like this full stop because as a very short adult, there have been time I'm not tall enough for things!

YANBU, it's lying, stealing and I don't do it.

ginnybag- couldnt agree more as a short adult and mother of short children!!

I've only done it once, with dd1, and technically she was only 2 when we got there, but 3 when she left, the benefit of being born in the afternoon!

I would love to do this - my local theme park charges adult prices for kids 4 and over (£32) which means last year we could (just about) afford to take our 2 dd's (now 2 and 4) but this year we can't. Only annoys me as the majority of the rides have height restrictions much larger than a 4 yr old so seems unfair to have to pay full when they can't get full use of the park. However I am a bit of a coward and wouldn't dare because I would get caught and be mortified

I did it recently by accident! I was booking travel soon after my eldest's 16th birthday, and booked travel as i always had - 1 adult / 2 children. It was only when the tickets arrived that I realised what I had done.