Free child places

lou29

My child has now turned 13 and free child places on holidays are very hard to come by for children over 12. My question is would a tour operator know if I lied.

When you book in-store or online they don't ask for the date of birth just the age. I know that when you register passports the dates of birth are on them but would the two systems tally up?

Me and my friend were talking about this the other day and we trawled through Google but found nothing. Can anyone shed any light.

Caz3121

Free child places can be a bit of hit or miss whether they are actually 'free'. With accommodation based on the number of adults, the saving can be more or less wiped out by the under-occupancy charges.
Might be worth having a play about with prices before you decide to take a step which may result in someone coming after you later for more money.
Looks like First Choice and Cosmos do free places for children up to 16

carebear13

i've always been asked to provide dates of birth when i've booked in a shop and now you have to give API before you travel via a link that the TO sends you, not sure how you could avoid it.

baloo

I'd have to agree with Caz3121 - sometimes the "free" child places aren't worth it. For instance last year we a booked our hols with another family. We are a family of 5 and had to book as 5 adults as our youngest is 14 - and in the land of holidays this is classed as no longer a child. Our friends are a family of 4 consisting of 2 adults and 2 kids aged 7 & 12. When we priced a holiday up there's came out at only £200 cheaper than ours - and theirs was with two "free" child places!!
I'd also say have a play around with room options etc - be aware that a lot of hotels charge the earth for a room for 4 people, even if that's 2 adults and 2 children.

stephb34

You might get away with it at time of booking but its doubtful, they then would probably catch you at check in at the airport and if they didn't get you then they definitely would at the hotel, would you want to spend all the time before you go worried in case you were caught and ruin your holiday. If there's more than 2 adults on one booking usually a free child works out dearer. Some hotels the child age is 14 or 16.

nottslass_2

stephb34 wrote: »

You might get away with it at time of booking but its doubtful, they then would probably catch you at check in at the airport and if they didn't get you then they definitely would at the hotel, would you want to spend all the time before you go worried in case you were caught and ruin your holiday. If there's more than 2 adults on one booking usually a free child works out dearer. Some hotels the child age is 14 or 16.

I'm not for one minuite suggesting that anyone tries it,but they dont verify date of births at booking,nor would they know at check in that a "free"child was indeed traveling (it says nothing on travel documentation) and as for the hotel , my children's ages have never ever been questioned and I very much doubt that the hotel would have any details of the original invoice/booking or amount paid for the holiday..................

Bob_the_Saver

Might take my youngest then

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/08/10/article-0-05FA3B7B000005DC-987_468x286.jpg

stephb34

nottslass wrote: »

I'm not for one minuite suggesting that anyone tries it,but they dont verify date of births at booking,nor would they know at check in that a "free"child was indeed traveling (it says nothing on travel documentation) and as for the hotel , my children's ages have never ever been questioned and I very much doubt that the hotel would have any details of the original invoice/booking or amount paid for the holiday..................

If you book a package nowadays your invoice and e ticket come together that specifies exactly what you have booked and you show that at the airport and the hotel check in desk. At the hotel you've probably never been questioned cause they don't need to they have all your passports in front of them with your dates of birth on.
Try using the kids club and they think your child isn't in the right age bracket they soon want to see their passport.

nottslass_2

stephb34 wrote: »

If you book a package nowadays your invoice and e ticket come together that specifies exactly what you have booked and you show that at the airport and the hotel check in desk. At the hotel you've probably never been questioned cause they don't need to they have all your passports in front of them with your dates of birth on.
Try using the kids club and they think your child isn't in the right age bracket they soon want to see their passport.

Even if the check in staff were inclined to scruntenise all booking documentation there is no way that they'd be aware of each individual accomodations age cut off point for free child places (some its aged 10,12,14 or even 16).
Again I'm not suggesting anyone tries to get away with the above - think you'd have a pretty rubbish holiday worrying about being caught out !!!!