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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Kids go free...unless your single.

45 replies

superstarheartbreaker · 23/08/2013 09:26

AIBU to feel that this is a bit discriminatory?

Just had a fab holiday with Thomsons , just dd and I. I was told that if I book next year early enough then kids under 11 will go free. So I phoned up Thomsons and they said that unless there are two adults then dd can't go free.

As a single parent I am more hard up than a couple I assume. I am able to holiday as my gran left me some cash so I am fortunate but I am on a low income otherwise. I think it's about time that companies acknowledge that single parents represent 25% at least of the population.

I suppose their logic boils down to money.

OP posts:
Trills · 23/08/2013 09:30

Of course their logic boils down to money.

They are a business. They are there to make money.

I think it's silly to claim discrimination when you simply don't qualify for a special offer.

Trills · 23/08/2013 09:31

Would it make sense for people without children to complain, because they don't benefit from "kids go free" so they are subsidising other people's children?

GetStuffezd · 23/08/2013 09:32

Find a mate to go with you.
And try being single and childless - there is close on bugger all aimed at us! Smile

101handbags · 23/08/2013 09:34

I don't have any children but holiday often with DP. You holidaying with your daughter and wanting her to go free is exactly the same as me holidaying with my partner and wanting him to go free. BTW I have no objection to these offers for those that qualify, but at the end of the day they are a business not a free holiday charity.

Meglet · 23/08/2013 09:36

That would piss me off. I'd avoid using them anyway.

But sadly it does come down to money.

deepfriedsage · 23/08/2013 09:37

That's how they make money, sorry.

mcmooncup · 23/08/2013 09:38

Family tickets piss me off at tourist attractions too.
Always a 2 adult assumption, I have never seen a single parent option.

ParkerTheThief · 23/08/2013 09:39

It's not really discriminatory. Surely the reality is buy two full price, get one free.
You're only buying one, so you don't qualify.

SoupDragon · 23/08/2013 09:40

You would think that, given they can offer 100% off the cost of a child's holiday if there are two adults, they could offer 50% off if there is only 1 adult.

livinginwonderland · 23/08/2013 09:40

Take a friend?

The offer is there so they get the money from two paying adults. If only one adult pays, they lose money.

Trills · 23/08/2013 09:41

National Trust property near me has family tickets with 1 adult and family tickets with 2 adults.

Trills · 23/08/2013 09:42

For hotels I would assume that the deal is "pay for 2 adults, and a child can stay in your room for free". But you have to pay the whole cost of the room (2 "adult prices") to qualify.

If they did "1 adult - one child half price" then they wouldn't be getting the full payment for the room.

MidniteScribbler · 23/08/2013 09:44

Think of it as "buy two, get one free". If you're only paying for one, you don't get the one free.

SmileAndPeopleSmileWithYou · 23/08/2013 09:46

You could argue that a two person family have to pay for two full price tickets and a child, whereas you only have to pay for one full price ticket and a child. So if they get the child ticket free and you don't it will still cost you less as children are generally cheaper.

Also, you can't assume that two adults are better off than a single parent. Even if their income is a bit more they have to pay more to keep two adults in clothes/food etc. They could end up with less disposable income than you.

I know this isn't the case for every two parent family but offers like these cannot be expected to cater for all families and incomes.
If they attract a 2 adult family then they make more than they do from you, even with the child free.

Sirzy · 23/08/2013 09:59

A lot of attractions have family ticket options based on 1 parent.

QueenofKelsingra · 23/08/2013 10:05

same as most attractions family tickets are 2+2 - we have 3 so very few offers available. companies cant cater to everyone's individual circumstance (and DC2 and 3 are twins, so we didn't 'chose' to have 3 before you say you didn't 'chose' to be a single parent). annoying as it may be, offers are usually aimed at the majority/norm as perceived by the companies.

Original poster
superstarheartbreaker · 23/08/2013 10:07

I would go on holiday with a friend but tbh it's very hard to find other single parents who have the means. Plus I like going away alone, I don't want to compromise on holiday and just want to do as I (and mostly dd wishes) selfish

OP posts:
0utnumbered · 23/08/2013 10:12

I think a lot of people confuse what is 'nice' and what is 'fair'. It isn't nice for single parents to be excluded from offers but it is fair from a company point of view, they need to make money to keep on trading and the only way they are going to make a profit is it people are paying. A company like this won't get donations or government funding so they cannot afford to be charitable.

Like others have said, can you take a friend or relative so you can get the offer? Or look around for another company who does do one adult one child free? I've refused to do into certain soft play places as they have charged for my 2 month old baby as well as my 2 year old. No objection to paying for the 2 year old as he will play or even for myself as I will often go in with him if he's too scared to go down a big slide or something on his own but my little baby will sit in his pram and sleep, he's not using the facilities. There are other places that won't charge him

JessicaBeatriceFletcher · 23/08/2013 10:14

YABU

loopyluna · 23/08/2013 10:17

I saw quite a few family tickets at various attractions this summer, for either 2 adults + 2 children OR 1 adult + 3 children. As I was usually on my own with 3 DC it was perfect.

Back to OP, it is a shame they can't offer such good deals to single parents. I understand the room issue but are they offering free flights for children with 2 parents? If so, they should be able to at least discount your DD's flight?

Hopasholic · 23/08/2013 10:17

It rarely work out with package companies anyway. If you are 2adults and 2children and one kid goes free, they just hammer you with an under occupancy charge anyway which cancels out the offer.

I never do packages as i want a 2 bed apartment as a minimum. Thomson will base this as 6 people sharing like to see 6 adults in poky 2 bed

It's not discrimination Hmm

Sirzy · 23/08/2013 10:20

I am going on a cruise next year as a single parent so having to pay full for me and DS (who will be 4) it's annoying but understandable as they don't want to miss out on the money by having a cabin 'under occupied' it has always been the case that if a room isn't full there is a surcharge

kali110 · 23/08/2013 10:21

Yabu. Not all deals suit everyone, doesn't mean its discrimination just because it doesn't suit you.

gordyslovesheep · 23/08/2013 10:24

it is a pain but that's the way it is - My dd1 is always an adult on holiday! still it means her sisters are reduced and sometimes free

orangepudding · 23/08/2013 10:25

Package holidays always have odd exclusions.

Years ago I went on one with Dh, a 4 year old and a 1 year old. it was cheaper to pay for 4 year DD as an adult rather than a child!

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