Flight costs soar up to £400 in school holidays

AIRLINES are making the most of the school holidays by more than doubling their fares, according to a report.

In the worst case the cost of a long-haul flight rose by more than £400 per person.

Families are fined £60 for termtime holidays after the law was changed in 2013. But the sky-high fares mean it is often far cheaper for parents to take their children out of school and pay the fine than fork out huge premiums to fly after the term ends.

A return economy flight to Alicante in Spain costs £88 per person on average in the second or third week of July. The average price soars to £145 in August, during the school holidays, the report by price comparison website kayak.co.uk found.

Fares to Malaga rise from £81 in the second week of July to £144 just three weeks later, with hotel rooms hitting £154 per night in the third week of August compared to an average of just £107 in the first three weeks of June, before schools break up. Flights to Orlando, Florida can be £396 in June. But those wanting to go in August will pay an average of £626 and as much as £664 in the second week of the month.

The difference is even more extreme for Zanzibar in Tanzania. Average prices in June are £392 and bottom out at an average of £355 in the second week.

But in August the average flight prices rise to £747 and peak at £803 in the first week of the month. James Daley, of consumer site Fairer Finance, said: ‘It is unfair – airlines are taking advantage of the fact that most parents don’t have a choice.’

A spokesman for trade body Airlines UK said: ‘Fares increase with demand and the summer holidays are when most people want to travel so booking early provides the lowest prices.’