National Express in half-term price hike: Passengers face increase of up to five per cent
FROM THE MAIL ONLINE
Coach giant National Express has been accused
of ripping off families by increasing fares over the busy school
half-term.
The price rises of up to five per cent are
being introduced on all its airport routes and routes to and from London. The
company is also suspending group bookings on half-term weekends.
The Mail on Sunday has seen a document headed,
‘National Express Fare Changes’, detailing increases of five per cent at
weekends and 2.5 per cent midweek on selected routes.
They apply from February 14th to February 23th
with a separate schedule of increases covering the Welsh half-term dates between
February 24th and March 2nd.
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Justine Roberts, chief executive of parenting
site Mumsnet, said: ‘Travel companies seem to be happily making extraordinary
profits out of families and, not surprisingly, many families feel ripped off.’
Suzie Hayman, a trustee at charity Family Lives, said the increase would affect
poorer families.
She said: ‘Those taking coaches are families
who can’t afford to drive. It is kicking families when they are
down.’
Tim Loughton MP, the former Children’s
Minister, said: ‘At a time when the Government is rightly trying to clamp down
on unauthorised absences, there’s no justification for unwarranted profiteering
by travel companies taking advantage of families already feeling the pinch.
They should be ashamed of themselves.’
The criticism of National Express – where
Chief Executive Dean Finch earned reported £1.45million and £1.36million
salaries in 2011 and 2012 respectively – comes amid anger over holiday price
rises.
Mother-of-two Donna Thresher has set up a
government e-petition calling for holiday companies to stop charging extra
outside of term time. Last night it had reached nearly 157,000 signatures –
enough to be considered for a parliamentary debate. Asked about its increases, a
National Express spokesman said: “As with every other commercial travel business
prices can vary.
‘But we deliver year-round value for our
customers with fares starting at just £5.’
Other coach companies are retaining their
normal fares. A spokesman for Megabus said: ‘We offer good value seats from £1
on all services all year round whether it’s half term or not. We haven’t changed
our pricing.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550291/National-Express-half-term-price-hike-Passengers-face-increase-five-cent.html#ixzz2s9TuPsjI
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