Why do 16-18 year olds have to pay adult rates whilst students are concessions?

[xavierfondue]

Please, will someone tell me if I have got this all wrong?

I have a girl in sixth form and apparently she has to pay full price as she is now classed as an adult. She doesn't have a student card as that is for proper students, ie 18+. The only discount we seem to get is on her 16-25 railcard, otherwise I end up lying through my teeth saying "Yes, she's still 15."

The cinema is especially annoying - I said that she was still at school but because I couldn't prove a valid ID card for her, she had to pay the full rate.

Am I missing something? I've googled this and the only card seems to be the NUS card which, of course, she won't get until she's at college or uni.

I hope I'm wrong - otherwise sixth formers are completely penalised which seems very unfair.

thanks bruffin ill look into it. i aint bothered about trains he dont use them

Oh, interesting about the NUS card, I'd no idea sixth-formers could get one. DD's school bus pass is the same regardless of age, as one would hope.

does everyone have to pay for the NUS card?

There is an NUS card and an NUS discount card. The discount card is about £12 but as I said up thread,soon pays for itself.

Our local cinema is a VUE and they have "teen"rates for 16 to 17 year olds which are slightly less than "student" rates.

I suspect the age 16 cut off for child fares dates back to a school leaving age of 15. Mine had to carry ID from being 13 to prove they were under 16.