When free child places are not really free

Merymcs

We have recently booked a holiday and qualified for "free child" places in the group booking (5 adults and 2 children) for which we paid a total of £6315, but out of curiosity we checked the price to see if it had changed and found that the cost of the holiday with no free child places comes to £6461.

Meaning for 2 "free child places" we save £146.

Now I appreciate that the standard response to this complaint from operators is:-

"As we use a live pricing system, the costs of our holidays can fluctuate up or down."

But to see this is shocking to see even though you know that prices are inflated at times to offset the "free child place"

Now this claim of free child places had not been substantiated and was misleading as the app and website used automatically allocates these free child places giving you the assumption that you are getting a free child place but in reality the cost for the children are split by the travelling adults.

I appreciate that prices can be increased to offset a "free child place", but to the amount it has in less than 24 hours after booking and not being able to check both pricing mechanisms before booking (with and without automatically being allocated a free child place) is disgraceful.

Has anyone else experienced this?

couriervanman

So i presume you checked various sites for this holiday and if this was the cheapest price for 5 adults and 2 children why does it matter you've got the cheapest price

Merymcs

It is more to highlight the claim of free child places being used as a benefit when the reality is the cost for the children is distributed between the paying adults.

So in terms of total cost there are no free child places in this instance when comparing both packages.

zagfles

Free child places have always been a con, even going back to the days of brochures with prices in them. They used to charge underoccupancy charges instead which came to much the same thing.

It's no different to "commission free" currency with a large commission hidden in the rate, or most "sales" and "discounts" where the "full" price is artifically inflated so it can be discounted.

Just look at the bottom line ignoring any marketing tricks like "discounts" or "free" elements.

comeandgo

You get nothing free, it's just a marketing ploy. We used to get a free child place and then get a charge for under occupancy so it was just pennies you saved.

photome

What am I missing


the OP saved £146

Merymcs

A free child place is worth £73 per place on the booking.

Yes it is a saving, but it is more the false advertising on the free child places.

bradders1983

Merymcs wrote: »

A free child place is worth £73 per place on the booking.

Yes it is a saving, but it is more the false advertising on the free child places.

Well its not false is it? The child is free. If they wish to charge extra for the adults, then they can still claim the child is "free".

couriervanman

OP.......is the holiday cheaper elsewhere......if no whats the problem.....if yes do more research next time

bobbyliver

I've just done a search and found the same holiday £73 dearer with the 'Free Child' place with Tui. How can this be right?

Westin

Covered above from comments made before. Likely under occupancy in the room/apartment/villa.