to still book our DS (16) as a 15 year old at a Premier Inn?

[VioletOrange]

I’m probably going to get a flaming for this but here goes.

We only have DS, he can’t stay in a PI by himself until he’s 18. If we booked him in as an adult, as he’s classed as one now he’s 16, we’d have to pay for another room. So for now, while we can still just about get away with it, we book him in as a child stating he’s 15.

In one PI where we’ve stayed many times over the years, a couple of the regular staff are aware but they’re ok with this. He doesn’t get up for breakfast so doesn’t benefit from the ‘kids eat free’ deal.

AIBU to carry on doing this for as long as we can get away with it? Not that he’ll likely still want to come away with us in the next few years.

My personal opinion is that on the one hand they class 18+ as adults but want to charge a 16 year old adult prices.

I think you’ve forgotten the scrambled eggs. Honestly, that is the straw that breaks the camels back!

🤣ODFOD!

I’ve spoken to MNHQ, they’re tracking your IP address, expect a knock on the door any minute now.. 👮‍♀️

😆 Sorry, it’s my thread.

😂!

I'm afraid I do believe that this kind of thing is a socially acceptable form of stealing, the problem is because it relates to wrongfully obtaining a non physical asset people will insist that it's victimless and no harm has been done.

Hotels are businesses and make their money from letting out rooms in the same way that a shop makes money from selling physical objects. Both set their pricing in a way that will make them profit but will also entice more customers. So Premier Inn will set certain pricing policies to attract families with children (often losing money on the children that stay) and shops may well sell loss leading products (i.e products that they actually make a loss on) to get people to come to the store and hopefully spend more money. The rules are often very clear on these kinds of promotions and there is nearly always a cut off point where the deal stops (i.e. the child turns a certain age or a customer can only buy a certain number of products before a certain date).

Like any other offering from a shop or other business, if you reach the cut off and find that the promotion no longer applies to you then you are free to take your business elsewhere and find a better offering. What isn't ok is to to lie in order to make yourself eligible for a deal that simply doesn't apply to you anymore. You benefitted from the deal when your child was the right age and made hay whilst the sun shone but now you are no longer being treated as a family with young children as your son is now too old. Be grateful that you were able to get the great deal for as long as you have rather than expect that this should be 'normal' when it is clearly a time limited deal.

But surely, in our case especially where there is one child, this would mean taking up another room which two/three other paying guests could occupy. Two further breakfasts, evening meals, drinks at the bar. Swings and roundabouts?

Really well with premier inn good nights sleep guarantee 😂

😂

Well said, @Bumpitybumper

Excellent response @VioletOrange

But surely, in our case especially where there is one child, this would mean taking up another room which two/three other paying guests could occupy. Two further breakfasts, evening meals, drinks at the bar. Swings and roundabouts?

That's for PI to decide, not you. Clearly they've evaluated the potential outcomes of their policies and established them for a reason.

No one is forced to patronize them.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Smirking and boasting about it, too, eh?

Great example that sets for said offspring.

"It's ok to rip off others, son, just try not to get caught."

Jeez - Did absolutely no ones parents bring them up at honest nowadays?

Completely agree. Why is being honest, and raising your kids as honest, sneered at by so many on MN?

Well if they were really that bothered, they could you know bring in a very simple system like proving your date of birth?

I wonder if PI have realised that actually having the odd over 16 year old in the same room as parents is actually a non issue.

I think it’s wrong for them to force this issue TBH, would by 16 year old want to be in a room alone in a place she wasn’t familiar with…. I doubt it.

How dare PI decide that she should?

And before you say use else where, it’s not always that easy as greedy PI have the monopoly on the most popular areas for their hotels.

Honestly with a £375 million profit last year, I wouldn’t worry about their business model being messed with.

All those excuses for cheating.

Yeah all children will be fraudsters and thieves! Without a doubt!

@Zebedee999

The moocher, gimme-freebies mentality is amazing, isn't it?

No excuse from me! The reason I would do it is because I can.

@BlastedIce

Maybe they don't ask for date of birth because they expect people to be, you know, honest???

What a concept.

Given their profits I think they are probably quite business astute and realise that this goes on all the time?

I reckon they’re all good!

"Character is what we do when no one is looking."

Justifying fraud "because they can afford it" is ... sad and grim. Stealing from shareholders isn't funny or clever.

You have proper made me chuckle with that! 😃😃😄

Honestly, spend as much time volunteering with a charity as you have on this thread, that’s a deserved cause, not PI!