Thinktank slams discounts for over-60s

Should older people get discounted tickets to tourist attractions when it’s younger people who often have less cash?

Discounts for people aged over 60 have been criticised as being ‘unfair’ by the Intergenerational Foundation (IF).

Its latest report, Baby-boomer Concessions: How ticket prices for a wealthier generation reinforce unfairness, surveyed 35 of the UK’s leading tourist attractions to assess their age-based price offerings.

All except the RHS organisations offered concession prices for the over-60s, yet only four had raised the ticket price concession threshold in line with the new State Pension Age of 65. The only ones that had done so were Chester Zoo, Stonehenge, Canterbury Cathedral and Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh Castle, the National War Museum in Edinburgh, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle all offered a concessionary price for the over-60s but no discount at all for students or young people.

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What’s wrong with that?

Offering older people discounted entry to attractions seems to make fairly straightforward sense (and it's clearly something loveMONEY readers support). People on retirement-level incomes are often viewed as being in need of financial support.

However, the IF is less convinced. It looked at the cost of tickets measured against disposable income and found that an average young person would spend 12% of their weekly disposable income (before travel costs) on a ticket.

Meanwhile, that same ticket for the typical over-60 person who gets free travel would cost just 5.6% of their weekly disposable income.

And other European countries do not offer the same uniform discounts for the over-60s. In fact, Italy has abandoned old-age discounts while France offers free admission to under-25s.

The co-founder of the IF, Angus Hanton, argues: “It seems that these UK attractions have simply not kept up with changes to the State Pension Age and we would urge them to look at their prices in both intra- and inter-generational fairness terms. 

“They could replace all old-age concessions with free entry for those on pension credit, or they could introduce under-30s discounts to mirror the over-60s. It is also quite possible that this pricing is unlawful.”

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But surely…

It’s surely possible, though, to criticise a lack of support for young people and students visiting such attractions without arguing for the removal of discounts for those nearing retirement age?

However, Chloe Wall, report author, thinks that the current set up sends a worrying message to younger people about who is valued and who is welcome.

“At the very least these attractions should remove these concessions for those below State Pension Age and introduce a student discount,” she comments.

“Such unfair pricing practice sends a damaging message to young people that they are simply less valued and that cultural attractions are only for older people.”

In fact, she’s scathing about the reasoning for older person discounts.

“In the past, concessions were used to help poorer older people to be able to afford to participate in society’s cultural life, but our findings show that these are increasingly bungs to wealthy baby-boomers,“ she says.

“Why then shouldn’t the under-30s also be offered the same generous treatment with concessionary ticket prices?”

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What kind of discounts are on offer?

If you’re reading this and you’re over 60 then perhaps you’re thinking that you damned well want your discounts. And if you’re under 60 then you might be wondering exactly what the IF is getting so agitated about.

So what else is currently on offer for this age group?

Lots, although the way you qualify varies. The National Trust offers considerably discounted membership to the over-60s; £51.48 a year compared to £69 standard.

To qualify, it’s necessary to have been a member of the trust for at least five years out of the previous 10.

Meanwhile, English Heritage gives people of retirement age the chance to enjoy cheaper membership. At 65 or above, membership costs £49 a year compared to £56 for a typical membership.

And the website Gransnet has a good list of other discounts. A National Rail Senior Railcard costs £30 a year but gives the bearer a  third off train tickets, plus special discounts. The average annual saving with the card is £119, not bad.

It’s also possible to buy a Senior Coach Card for National Express, for just £12.50 a year. That provides a third off travel and if the bearer doesn’t save at least that in a year then the coach company will refund the full cost of the card.

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Gransnet says that some airlines, including British Airways, Air France and Delta, offer senior discounts and that it might be worth checking before booking.

Many cinemas also offer discounts. For example, Vue cinemas provide Senior Cinema screenings, which are not just considerably discounted but also include a cup of tea and biscuit.

Odeon Cinemas have a similar deal, with a ticket, hot drink and biscuit all for £3, as do Empire cinemas. Showcase cinemas offer senior admission to any film before noon on a Monday for £5 and Picturehouse provide a Silver Screen Club, with free admission, hot drinks and biscuits.

That’s just a scattering of the discounts available. If you’re in that age group then checking for discounts before booking tickets or services can save you some real money.

However, this is now being viewed by some as yet another sign of intergenerational unfairness. There may even people within that age group who agree with the IF that this is simply a bung to a group that is typically very wealthy, at least comparatively.

Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s definitely worth older people taking the time to research the discounts on offer.

After all, if the IF have their say, then they might not be around for long.

Now read: who works the longest? Retirement ages around the world

What do you think? Are the discounts for older people fair or just cementing financial privilege? Have your say using the comments below.