UK: Airline phone booking charges 'discriminating' against older people, watchdog warns

Airlines are 'discriminating' against older travellers by charging extra to book over the phone, Which? has warned. An investigation by the consumer watchdog found that holidaymakers were being hit with surcharges of up to GBP20 for not booking flights online. Which? called the practice a “subtle form of discrimination” against older people, who are travelling more than previous generations. Rory Boland, Which? Travel, editor said: “The travel industry must urgently address this problem and stop penalising older generations who are more active and more determined than ever before.” The figures come as Which? found that older holidaymakers were being hit with increasing travel insurance costs, even when they had no health issues to declare. <br/>