Which? reveals ‘unfair’ policies for older travellers

Older travellers face additional hidden costs and restricted choices when buying holiday services such as travel insurance and car hire, according to Which?.

The consumer watchdog obtained figures from Moneysupermarket.com which show that since the pandemic, the amount older travellers are paying has risen disproportionately when compared with other age groups.

For a single-trip policy covering a week in Spain, those aged 25-54 would on average have paid around £7.98 in 2019, while in July this year, they paid an average of £10.65, an increase of 33%.

The amount paid by the 85+ age group rose 169%, from £40.15 in 2019, to £107.99 in 2022. Those in the 75-84 bracket saw the cost of policies rising on average by 60%.

The watchdog also highlighted how many car hire firms are “burying” age restrictions in their terms and conditions documents.

Even those companies that do accept older drivers often require a prohibitive amount of paperwork, or else add on ‘senior driver’ fees.

Which? also found evidence of older travellers being penalised because of digital exclusion.

Those in older age groups who may lack technological skills will likely end up paying more as a result.

Saga, which offers insurance exclusively to the over-50s, charges as much as 30% less for those who book online.

Airlines including British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet all charge customers more to amend a booking by phone, while Ryanair passengers will pay an additional £55 to check in at the airport. Even renewing a passport costs £9.50 more if using a paper application.

Guy Hobbs, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Legally, companies are often within their rights to adjust their prices and policies on the basis of age, if they have a justifiable reason, but we’re increasingly seeing cases where the outcomes for older customers seem disproportionate and unfair.

“If you are an older traveller, it’s important to shop around and compare the rates on offer, as there’s likely to be a great deal of variation between providers, both for insurance and car hire. It’s also worth seeking out firms that offer preferential rates for the older traveller.”

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