Rip-off travel for seniors: Beware of traps when booking | Life & Knowledge
Those who can compare on the Internet have a clear advantage when booking trips. Seniors who are not so good at using smartphones or computers have a much harder time.
Retiree Elisabeth S. (78) from Swabia in Bavaria had booked a “senior citizen trip” through a catalogue. But the flight to Mallorca with doorstep pickup by bus ended with a nasty surprise.
To be clear: There are countless reputable providers of Senior travel: spacious, air-conditioned bus, decent hotels, good service. Word gets around among customers. They keep booking with the provider they trust.
But Elisabeth S. was unlucky. She booked with the provider PiT from Ehingen (BaWü.). The company advertises modern buses and door-to-door pickup, among other things. Senior citizen: “I had total trust in the provider. They will make sure that I get to the flight to Mallorca without any stress.”
Pickup in the middle of the night
She booked eight days from Stuttgart for 1199 euros – not exactly a bargain. What Elisabeth S. overlooked: PiT did not send any flight times after the trip was completed. They only arrived three weeks before the trip began. A letter said: Pick-up at 1 a.m. from her home in Swabia, as the flight left Stuttgart at 6 a.m.
Planned arrival of the shuttle at the airport: around 3 a.m. Elisabeth S.: “I was shocked and couldn't sleep for several nights. How can they pick up an old person at 1 a.m.? My doctor gave me a week's sick leave. I didn't travel.”
BILD checked the travel documents of the BILD reader: In fact, there are no flight times in them. When asked by BILD, PiT claims to have communicated everything. Didn't the travel agency pass everything on? The organizer blames the pensioner.
In response to a BILD query, a statement said: “The passenger is, however, completely free to ask about flight times in advance. Of course, we will then provide information about the currently available times that the airline has scheduled at that time.”
Insiders confirmed to BILD: Tour operators can significantly reduce their costs and increase profits if they book flights at off-peak times – i.e. early in the morning or in the evening.
Seniors should check this before booking
“Seniors in particular would probably not book a trip with a 6 a.m. flight. That would be too stressful. If the flight times are not communicated even after the contract has been signed, that would be misleading,” explains consumer lawyer Nicole Mutschke.
In general, retirees should – according to the expert – carefully examine the travel components of senior travel:
✅ Are all transfers included? ✅ Which airline am I flying with? Are there any transfers? ✅ How is the hotel rated locally? ✅ Is the transport of a wheelchair guaranteed? ✅ What exactly are the services for seniors like? Is there a doctor present at all times? ✅ Has a travel insurance certificate even been issued?