Should holiday companies be banned from increasing prices during school holidays?

This isn't an issue which affects me personally as I don't have children, but it affects several people I know.

For example, one of my colleagues at work went on holiday with her family a week before the half-term holiday even though it meant the children missing a week of school, as she wouldn't have been able to afford to pay the higher prices during the half-term holiday itself. Also, my sister is going on holiday with her family a week after the half-term holiday, for the same reason.

The schools and education authorities often complain about parents taking their children out of school to go on a family holiday. However, the government has done nothing to stop the holiday companies from increasing their prices during the school holidays, so I don't see how they can blame parents for doing this.

Surely holiday companies are discriminating against families with children by increasing their prices during school holidays?

It's all about supply, demand and capacity. In the US, we tend to think the market should work that way.

It's not discrimination. People that don't have children may not be able to afford it either.

So, you're encouraging a price ceiling.

Price ceilings cause a shortage, because lots of people (demand) want a limited amount of vacation spots (supply). The market price is where the equilibrium is between the supply and demand curves. If you set a price ceiling, then lots of people will want to pay the mandated lower price, but there won't be spots to go around. Some people will save money, but the rest won't get a vacation at all.

It's not discrimination, it's economics.

Not at all!

Its all about supply and demand. Besides, there is no 'right' to have a holiday away from home every year. Why not put money aside and say, go on one every other year? Besides, if it was cheap, places would run out, then we would have other complaints!

People should think about this kind of thing before they embark on having kids. If the kids are getting in the way of holidays, what where they thinking of when planning a family.

Taking kids out of school is not on either. Thats incredibly selfish of parents to do that.

It really is a me, me, me and i want it now society.

No.

Increased demand + equal supply = higher prices

The answer is a definate YES

This should be looked at. Of course there is supply and demand but a hike of 拢400 for a two week holiday going one week later is outrageous!

I'm taking my child out of school at the end of term and although I probably will have to pay a fine for doing it it will still work out much cheaper. Also, it's not as if the kids do much in the last couple of weeks of term. Last year (and this is secondary school) she had a sports day where she sat in the boiling sun all day, came home with sun stroke and hated the day. She spent another day watching films as the school was getting ready for the summer break. In all, they had about 2 hours of lessons each day which were mainly doing inane puzzles more suitable for six year olds - a complete waste of time! Even her teachers have said she will gain far more worthwhile experience travelling than sitting in a classroom bored out of her mind for the last two weeks of term!