Facebook rant about school holiday prices could lead to MP debate
A Facebook rant about the cost of family holidays outside term-time has gone viral, with more than 143,000 sharing the post online.
Supporters have also begun signing an online petition calling for the government to cap the price of packages during school holidays.
It has already attracted more than 133,000 signatures, well over the 100K needed for it to be considered by backbench MPs for a debate in Parliament. It has not yet been put forward.
Paul Cookson ranted on Facebook about being "sick to death" of "rip off" charges after he tried to book a holiday with his daughter.
The 41-year-old from south Devon told the BBC he was stunned by the response on Facebook, with many people encouraging him to "carry it on and fight".
Cookson has since set up a Facebook group called Holiday Price Increase in which many people have shared examples of price increases during the school holiays.
One of the group’s members, mother of two Donna Thresher from Essex, posted a link to the e-petition called "Stop holiday companies charging extra in school holidays" and Cookson has been encouraging others to sign it.
The petition calls for a cap on holiday price increases in the school holidays
Cookson told the BBC the petition’s call for price regulation might not be successful but it was raising awareness and increasing the chance that tour operators would change their policies.
"The ideal is to work with the holiday companies directly to advise them on the business of reduced-priced holidays in these set times – it can be done," he said.
New rules which came into force last September make it harder for parents to take their children out of school during term time and avoid the school holiday price hikes as head teachers are supposed to only grant leave in "exceptional circumstances".
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports