Islander Darren Hodges, who is one of a number of customers to contact the JEP about the matter, said he was concerned that Condor was intentionally withholding places on sailings and blocking Jersey travellers from going to France for a day trip in order to make more money on other categories of bookings. Other customers have raised similar concerns.
Mr Hodges claimed that he was prevented from booking a day trip to France with his wife in May as all the sailings showed as fully booked. However, when he was searching for a one-way trip he said the dates were available.
He said: ‘It turns out there are indeed spaces on the boat and I can go to France on the 20 May. But only if I choose to book a one-way ticket at £113 to France then one-way ticket back to Jersey again at £132. This totals £245 for a privileged day trip allowing me to enjoy under five hours in France. A day trip is charged at £139, which is still expensive in my opinion.’
Responding to those concerns, Condor said it had always offered a limited number – albeit generally the amount is in the hundreds – of day trips per sailing.
It added that day trip sales have increased by 79 per cent compared to the same time last year but there were still lots available at the weekday return rate of £32 and £37 at weekends.
In a statement the company said: ‘The availability of such fares is simply greater on off-peak departures compared to peak sailings. The fares have changed slightly this year so for Jersey to St Malo they are £32 return per person on weekdays and £37 at weekends. If these are unavailable, the standard fare is between £50 and £60 return.
‘We do not withhold space on board to block Jersey passengers from travelling to France.’
Condor are becoming more reliable, according to new report: Click here.
