As the summer holidays begin, families across the UK are once again reminded that removing children from school during term time remains a fineable offence — while paying £3,200 for a five-day break in Benidorm is the only morally approved method of financial self-harm.
The government has reiterated its stance on school attendance, warning that parents who take their children out of school without permission face penalties of £80 per child. Meanwhile, travel companies have quietly quadrupled their prices and rebranded extortion as a “peak demand surcharge.”
“We understand families are under pressure,” said a spokesperson for the travel sector. “That’s why we’ve introduced our new Family Essentials Package, which includes printed boarding passes for the whole family and a complimentary welcome drink — for all-inclusive guests upon arrival at the hotel.”
Airline representatives refused to comment.
Travel companies have refined their summer strategy to a science: inflate prices, blame demand, and let the law handle customer retention.
