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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Charged more for being a single parent - again!

93 replies

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 11:34

Name changed for this as I've ranted about this elsewhere so probably outing! I also KNOW I am not being unreasonable- just posting here for traffic.

I've always been aware single parents lose out on holidays abroad and on family tickets for attractions but the other week I was searching for hotel accommodation and when I went back to look at place I was interested in for a second look I noticed the price was quite a bit cheaper. Then realised that I'd entered 2 adults (as that's always the default) and 2 kids instead of one adult and 2 kids. It was actually cheaper, not the same price as it works on holiday to have the extra adult even though it INCLUDED a cooked breakfast. I considered just booking for 2 adults then saying one couldn't attend on arrival but ended up finding and booking somewhere else

Well I've just booked camping and received a second more detailed invoice to the original booking reference. The campsite gives a price for 2 adults (actually it states 2 people) then charges extra for dc over 5. They've charged me for 2 dc despite me only using one of the 2 person allocation on the original tariff. It's not a lot but it's the principle and I'm going to challenge it. It's made me realise how often this must happen and I might not have even noticed. I wonder how often they've got away with this. Same with the hotel, had I not accidentally put the wrong adult number in I'd never have realised.

Anyone got any other examples of ridiculous cost discrimination for single parents? Or have I just been unlucky?

OP posts:
smileyplant · 03/07/2021 12:36

My mum used to just put us down as two adults + child as she was Mrs plant and my brother always showed up as Mr plant even though he was about 7. No one ever questioned it bizarrely.

cornflowersandpoppies · 03/07/2021 12:36

If isn’t right or fair at all. Hate stuff like this.

Ariela · 03/07/2021 12:39

My friend always books 2 adult 1 child rather than 2child 1 adult, and the kids share the double (or quite often twin beds).

Isn't this a well known way to do it?

Original poster
rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 12:43

@Ariela

My friend always books 2 adult 1 child rather than 2child 1 adult, and the kids share the double (or quite often twin beds).

Isn't this a well known way to do it?

No - I expected 2 adults and 1 child to cost the same as 1 adult and 2 children- that's fine. I didn't expect that 2 adults and 1 child would be cheaper where the base cost for an adult is more, and I certain didn't expect 2 adults and 2 dc to be cheaper than 1 adult and 2dc even where meals are included. Clearly in the last to know 🙈
OP posts:
Getawaywithit · 03/07/2021 13:00

Maybe it's because they think 2 adults to 2 children is less disruptive than 1 adult to 2 children? Perhaps even based on their experience?

Confused. Single parents are not some kind of homogeneous group - one problem, they’re all a problem.

I had it once with ABnB. My mum had just died and I wanted a few days at half term with my kids. Booked somewhere for me and 3 children. Owner wanted a previous review of me as an accommodation user. I couldn’t give him one because I hadn’t used them before. I just cancelled and booked elsewhere. His loss.

Milliepossum · 03/07/2021 13:04

I was charged more for health insurance when widowed, so it cost more for the same policy for 1 adult and children as it did for 2 adults and the same children. How does that work? It’s disgusting.

Juniperr · 03/07/2021 13:06

I was in the process of booking a holiday online with Jet2 a couple of years ago and I had an issue so I had to do a live chat with them.
Once the customer advisor got all the information for the booking I was trying to make she said that I was able to get a single parents discount and it took about £200 off the cost of my holiday so it’s worth speaking to companies directly as I didn’t know it was a thing. I’m not sure if it’s just jet 2 or all companies offer it but it’s with a go.

itsgettingwierd · 03/07/2021 13:09

I've had this before.

Just ds and 1.

We generally are lucky with hotels though as boom a twin room which means under occupancy but I do have to check quite for 2 ads match for 1ad and 1ch as a few times it's been more expensive.

Air tours use to do single adult price holidays.

SerendipityJane · 03/07/2021 13:09

Try being disabled, if you really want to fall between the cracks ...

Blossomtoes · 03/07/2021 13:11

I've paid adult price for 2 adults (well 2 people) then an additional 2 children. 2 adults and one child is cheaper than 1 adult 2 children as I've paid for 2 people then 2 dc on top

So book for two adults and one child. Play the bloody system.

motogogo · 03/07/2021 13:15

It's worse if you have a dependent adult, we can't even book a hotel room for 3! No hotel has ever turned down our request when we called but you can't get the cheaper online rates.

Remember when you get a discount for 2 adults and 2 kids it's offered because they have calculated that they will make their discount money back through the stuff etc you are going to buy, or in the case of holidays, alcohol - I was told this was the case 10 years ago when I looked to book for my then children and myself, single parents aren't profitable. I got better rates booking independently, and for attractions mine had blue Peter badges

Original poster
rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 13:16

@Blossomtoes

I've paid adult price for 2 adults (well 2 people) then an additional 2 children. 2 adults and one child is cheaper than 1 adult 2 children as I've paid for 2 people then 2 dc on top

So book for two adults and one child. Play the bloody system.

Well I know that now but the breakdown of cost was only explained after booking and paying. It said base price was based on 2 people but didn't give any indication what that base price was or how much the child supplement was until I received the full invoice the next day.
OP posts:
motogogo · 03/07/2021 13:18

@SerendipityJane

Nightmare isn't it! Struggling to get the new "carers card" currently.

Original poster
rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 13:21

@motogogo

It's worse if you have a dependent adult, we can't even book a hotel room for 3! No hotel has ever turned down our request when we called but you can't get the cheaper online rates.

Remember when you get a discount for 2 adults and 2 kids it's offered because they have calculated that they will make their discount money back through the stuff etc you are going to buy, or in the case of holidays, alcohol - I was told this was the case 10 years ago when I looked to book for my then children and myself, single parents aren't profitable. I got better rates booking independently, and for attractions mine had blue Peter badges

Oh I can imagine- must be very frustrating. I kind of get the making less money on the bar, but in the case of the campsite there isn't really anything to upsell once there. Maybe ice creams and fishing nets in reception so kids will make them more if anything. There isn't a bar etc on site
OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 03/07/2021 13:36

@Blossomtoes

I've paid adult price for 2 adults (well 2 people) then an additional 2 children. 2 adults and one child is cheaper than 1 adult 2 children as I've paid for 2 people then 2 dc on top

So book for two adults and one child. Play the bloody system.

Vague memories of times when it was cheaper to buy a return with discount for a single journey instead of a one-way ticket ....
TheSockMonster · 03/07/2021 13:42

That’s bonkers! I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all OP!

BadNomad · 03/07/2021 13:42

I always thought it was the number of children that affects the cost of things rather than the number of adults. 1 adult and 2 children costs the same as 2 adults and 2 children but less than 2 adults and 3 children.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 03/07/2021 13:42

And re the hotel bars - there's no guarantee people will use those surely and this particular situation was one free adult breakfast more, but costing less. I didn't book it so i'm less annoyed but the camping has made me irrationally cross. Sorry for ranting

Oh, absolutely - and you have every right to be annoyed about it. I suppose they just work to averages, though, based on the customer dynamics.

I've heard of church groups having their bookings declined or being charged more when wanting to hire function rooms with attached bars, because the proprietors know from experience that they're unlikely to do a storm in bar takings - which, for many, is the main source of income from function rooms and the hire charge is only really nominal.

Blossomtoes · 03/07/2021 13:42

Vague memories of times when it was cheaper to buy a return with discount for a single journey instead of a one-way ticket ....

Yep, there are loads of train anomalies. Some journeys are cheaper if you buy two or three tickets to cover various legs. I made friends with the lady in the booking office here and she’s saved me £££££

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 03/07/2021 13:46

They should just do it by room size/number of beds, as they do "sur le Continong". Although it's so long since I've been on a holiday in mainland Europe, I may have got that wrong!

ChrissyPlummer · 03/07/2021 13:47

Try being single….I once wanted to book a tour-type holiday but the price as I was single at the time was almost double the advertised cost!

That’s why I prefer Premier Inn type pricing; pay for the room, however many (up to their max) are in it. 1 person £90, 2 adults £90, 1 adult, 1 child £90.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 03/07/2021 13:49

Vague memories of times when it was cheaper to buy a return with discount for a single journey instead of a one-way ticket ....

I remember that bonkersness. I wonder if they had any reason or if it was just pure unfettered madness. I suppose, if one leg of the trip was far more popular than the other (such as on a mountain railway, say), their thinking might have been that they still had the costs in bringing the same train all the way back again, so in their thinking, they were making better use of capacity (not strictly logical, though) - and of course, people would just buy the return ticket and then only use half of it.

MyMushroomsInATimeSlip · 03/07/2021 13:49

@Jaxhog

Maybe it's because they think 2 adults to 2 children is less disruptive than 1 adult to 2 children? Perhaps even based on their experience?
Is it your view Jaxhog that single parent families are disruptive? I'm asking as you are the one to raise this as a suggestion.

This viewpoint is disgraceful.

Original poster
rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 13:50

@BadNomad

I always thought it was the number of children that affects the cost of things rather than the number of adults. 1 adult and 2 children costs the same as 2 adults and 2 children but less than 2 adults and 3 children.
But why? Why would they not just count one child as an adult to fulfil the 2 full price spaces - so 2 adults and 1 child would/should cost the same as 1 adult and 2 children. It's 3 people whatever way round and to charge one child as an adult fulfils the 2 more expensive places. There's no reason 1 adult and 2 kid should cost more than 2 adults and 1 kid. If it's a room for 4 with an occupancy supplement then both groups should pay it again the cost should be the same, not more. My current example isn't a room for 4 though. It's for 2 with add ons
OP posts:
Original poster
rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 13:53

That’s why I prefer Premier Inn type pricing; pay for the room, however many (up to their max) are in it. 1 person £90, 2 adults £90, 1 adult, 1 child £90.

Agree room rates are better but the larger rooms in PI are priced based on 4 sharing not 3 so still often works out pricey when you are 3. It just isn't broken down and rubbed in your face 😆

OP posts: