Raw Deal Across the Single File
"Raw deal across the single file
SINGLE parents are often paying adult prices for their children's holidays because tour operators are refusing to recognise family units that do not consist of mothers and fathers, according to Britain's leading lone parent group.
Gingerbread has called on Britain's "Big Four" tour operators Airtours, JMC, First Choice and Thomson - to offer more trips based on a single adult travelling with children. At present each offers a small selection of such holidays, but not enough, says Gingerbread.
other problems are that single-parent families are often exempt from deals offering "free child places", and attractions such as theme parks usually offer "family tickets" on the basis of two adults being with children. Such tickets can end up being more expensive for single- parent families than buying individual tickets.
"Lone-parent families are getting a raw deal," said Amanda Ball, Gingerbread's chief executive. "Prices are relatively more expensive, but there is obviously only one income.
In conjunction with Eurocamp, a camping specialist, Gingerbread this week published a survey which found that the travel industry, needs to do "much more" to recognise single-parent families' needs.
There are 1.7 million such families in the UK - a figure that has trebled in the past 30 years.
"Each time I've been on a package holiday to the Mediterranean with my two children I've had to pay an adult price for one of them," said Lionel Rimmer from Frodsham in Cheshire.
Eurocamp is offering an additional £100 discount, on top of its £65 discount, for one-parent families, to coincide with the publication of the survey. Families must become members of Gingerbread which organises group meetings for single parents. Membership is £5 a year.
The "Big Four" said they are trying to do more for lone parents but foreign hoteliers are reluctant to offer rooms for lesser amounts."
From The Times, Saturday June 23 2001