Grandparents can enjoy free travel with their families this year on EasyJet holidays to popular destinations including Spain. Described by EasyJet – which operates regular flights between the U.K. and Corvera Airport Murcia – as a “unique twist on the traditional ‘Kids Go Free’”, the offer was launched during the final week of the “Big Orange Sale”, with discounts up to £400 available until Monday (5 February).
According to the low-cost airline and holiday group, it follows new research indicating that 51 per cent of families have never holidayed with their grandparents abroad. The “first-of-its-kind ‘Grans Go Free’” offer will allow seniors to travel free of charge on family bookings to several European destinations, including Spain, Greece and Italy. To qualify, the grandparent must be travelling as part of a family booking with at least one child.
“We’re proud to offer thousands of free kids places,” said EasyJet Holidays chief operating officer Matt Callaghan, “but we feel it’s time to recognise the grandparents. This research shows how important grandparent and grandchild relationships are and how much can be learned from making time for them. We’ve launched our ‘Grans Go Free’ offer to tighten these important family relationships and allow travellers to get even better value, in addition to our Big Orange Sale.
“More families are choosing to holiday with grandparents, recognising the joy of a getaway is amplified when shared across generations. They are able to create new family memories which each generation will cherish – and for some of the parents they might even have a free babysitter on hand too.”
More information about “Grans Go Free” and how to book at: www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/grans-go-free.
Encouraging Multi-Generational Travel
In the poll of 2,000 British adults, more than half of those surveyed (56 per cent) said they regretted not spending more time with grandparents, and 54 per cent said they were hoping to bring them on upcoming holidays.
The aim of the new offer from EasyJet Holidays is “to encourage the nation to take a ‘3G’ holiday – the term for getaways with three generations or more – after seeing a rise in this trend”.
Three-quarters (73 per cent) would use the holiday opportunity to learn more about their grandparents’ lives, with 49 per cent seeking to benefit from their wisdom, and 23 per cent believing going on holiday with them helps to bring the family closer.
The most popular destinations for a multi-generational holiday abroad are Spain (18 per cent), Italy (13 per cent) and France (13 per cent). However, 54 per cent say they would likely let their grandparents pick the destination if they were planning a trip together.
“For nearly half of Brits (45 per cent), the grandparents in the family are the bigger earners – either their own, or their parents/in-laws – but despite this only 35 per cent would expect a grandparent to contribute financially if they came on holiday with them, wanting to treat them instead.
“If they were to contribute, 39 per cent of those surveyed would ask them to cover just their share of the holiday, but 21 per cent would only ask that they pay for a meal or two on the trip.”
