Latest news with #Megabus
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Bombshell study reveals the travel companies still ignoring new rules on dodgy add-on costs - and how they could be breaking the law
We all know how frustrating shopping for flights and holidays online can sometimes be. You're reeled in by a very low price – and then end up with a much bigger figure by the time you get to the check-out, thanks to extra admin and booking fees. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act – a new law that came into force in April – was meant to stamp out those pesky add-on costs. But, in a new investigation, Which? has found that many well-known travel brands, including Megabus, Wowcher and loveholidays, are potentially breaking the law by ignoring or at least dragging their feet on the new rules. In the most extreme cases, travellers could find themselves paying hundreds of pounds more than the upfront price. When looking at booking a hotel resort using comparison sites Kayak and Trivago, Which? found a huge variation in prices between the cheapest and most expensive hotel deals, including at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. The experts at Which? found a week's stay in July was just £371 on loveholiday, while and both said the price is closer to £700. Loveholidays claimed its price 'includes hotel fees and local tourist tax'. When Which? contacted loveholidays, it admitted the price did not include the full hotel fees that and took into account. Instead, there was a staggering £257 extra to pay when you checked out. Excalibur, like most hotels in Las Vegas and many other hotels in the US and the Caribbean, has what it calls a 'resort fee' – a mandatory charge for services you may or may not use. This allows it to advertise a price that you pay in advance, and another hefty sum when you leave. This is legal - although heavily criticised even in the US - but websites aimed at the UK market are required to tell customers about these fees from the start, under the new DMCC Act. Which? claim that after the consumer champion contacted loveholidays in February, it tweaked the listing very slightly, removing the claim that its price includes hotel fees and adding the caveat 'depending on your hotel's policy, you may also be asked to pay additional hotel fees'. Which? also claims that loveholidays said it will ensure it is compliant with new laws before they come into effect but when the consumer champion checked in May, it claims this had not happened. It adds: 'Unlike many of its rivals, it still did not show the resort fee for the Excalibur.' Loveholidays' listing now says: 'Your hotel may charge additional fees, which must be paid there,' but does not reveal that these unavoidable fees could add hundreds of pounds to the cost of your stay. When Which? contacted loveholidays again, the holiday site apparently didn't give a statement but did suggest it was looking into showing resort fees in its prices. Until it does, Which? says it believes the company is breaking the law. Experts at Which? add: 'Some other less well-known sites are also failing to include resort fees but most of the big ones - including Expedia, and do include them.' Which? found a similar problem when it looked at holiday deals on discount website Wowcher. A week's summer holiday to Malta, which initially appeared to cost £1,278 had a £9.99 'administration fee' at the point of checkout. In February, Wowcher told Which? it was reviewing how its admin fees were implemented and would make sure it continued to comply with any applicable law. However, in May Wowcher was still applying the £9.99 admin fee, according to Which? Meanwhile, when Which? looked at budget coach company Megabus, it also found issues. The experts initially found a one-way ticket from London to Birmingham for a bargain £5.99 on the Megabus website, only to be hit with an extra £1.50 booking fee at checkout – putting the price up by 25 per cent to £7.49. Megabus told Which? in February that it would comply with any new regulation. However, when Which? checked again in May for a journey on the website,it claims a £1.50 booking fee still appeared just before payment. The experts at Which? add: 'The fee is not mentioned anywhere earlier in the purchasing process on the site. 'On the National Express website there is a disclaimer that headline prices exclude a £1.50 booking fee. This is clearer than Megabus.' Megabus told Which? that it's 'committed to offering transparent and affordable travel' and it would update its prices to ensure the booking fees are clearly shown at the start of the booking process by the end of May 2025. The DMCC Act means the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can issue fines of up to £300,000 or 10 per cent of worldwide turnover (whichever is higher) without having to go to court. Trading Standards can also enforce the rules. In the first 12 months of its enforcement the CMA has said that it will prioritise clear infringements of the law and practices that are particularly harmful to consumers. This includes 'fees that are hidden until late in the buying process,' among other issues. Which? believes that travel brands are still using these dodgy add-on fees to squeeze more money out of customers, which would be against the law. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: 'Sneaky fees and add-ons can significantly change the final price people pay for holidays and the difference between the advertised price and the final total can reach hundreds of pounds in the worst cases. 'We've uncovered examples of brands ignoring new rules that are there to protect customers from being hit with unexpected fees and we believe they could be breaking the law.' In response to Which?'s study, Megabus said: 'We are committed to offering transparent and affordable travel for our customers. 'We are currently making updates to our website - due to be completed by the end of this month - to ensure that all fees, including our £1.50 booking fee, are clearly highlighted at the start of the booking process. 'We fully support efforts to improve transparency in pricing across the travel industry and will continue to ensure our practices align with the latest regulations.' Wowcher added: 'Wowcher has implemented various changes to its website to ensure compliance with the DMCC Act. 'This has included providing an estimate of its variable admin fee within its pricing 'splat' which appears clearly and prominently on our deal pages prior to the customer reaching checkout. 'Our intention is to ensure that our website is clear and transparent for customers, allowing them to make purchase decisions with confidence on the Wowcher platform.'
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside Shearer's relationship with daughter's boyfriend after he called him out
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer appears to have a good relationship with both his daughters' partners, even if he publicly called one of them out for an embarrassing mistake Rugby star Micky Young appears to be in the good books of his daughter's famous father, Alan Shearer, despite being called out by the Newcastle legend. The 36-year-old, who now plays for Gloucester Rugby after more than a decade with Newcastle Falcons over two spells, has been dating Shearer's oldest daughter, Chloe, for some time. Young is embedded with the Shearers and features in numerous family pictures on social media. The Hartlepool-born scrum-half made the effort to travel to London to cheer on Shearer's son, Will, at the recent London Marathon, even if he took a scenic route to get there after an embarrassing train station blunder, having attended a Newcastle football match. Shearer couldn't help but regale the story on The Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards. The Match of Day pundit and former England striker explained: "He was meant to get on the 5.59pm train from Newcastle to London to come and watch and support Will, as we all were down here. "He got there five minutes early, and then he got on the train. Then, [after] 15 minutes on the train, he heard the announcement, 'Welcome to everyone who's got on this train to Edinburgh.' And it was non-stop all the way to Edinburgh! He's had to go from Newcastle to Edinburgh, and that's the last train he could get on." To Young's credit, he didn't write off getting to London, catching an overnight bus from one capital city to another. Shearer added: 'He looked at different modes of transport, flight, car. 'He got on the f***ing Megabus, the 10pm Megabus, which costs him £30 from Edinburgh to London and he got in at 6.45am this morning into London. So I said to him, 'You are meant to be looking after my f****** daughter in the future!'" As Lineker and Richards praised Young for making such an effort, Shearer quipped: "He said he stopped at Dunbar, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield. I said, 'Oh, you idiot!'" While Young is unlikely to hear the end of the incident anytime soon, he has clearly formed a strong bond with his beau's dad. He is currently in the midst of his Newcastle Falcons testimonial year, which is supporting the Alan Shearer Foundation, which supports the lives of people with a wide range of complex needs, and the My Name's Doddie Foundation, an MND charity in the name of late Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir. A recent Pre-Lions Dinner, organised by Young's testimonial committee, raised funds for both charities. The Shearer Foundation expressed its thanks on social media, posting: 'Thank you Micky Young for choosing The Alan Shearer Foundation along with the My Name is Doddie Foundation as your chosen charities to support during your testimonial year!' Earlier this year, Young shared a picture from the Alan Shearer Foundation ball and wrote: 'We had a great night at the ASF ball on Saturday…we're proud to be supporting the Alan Shearer Foundation as one of our chosen charities throughout the testimonial year.' The picture featured Young, Chloe, Alan, his wife Lainya, Will and the Shearers' other daughter, Hollie, with her fiancé, Joe Marchant, who also happens to be a rugby player. Marchant, who has been with Hollie for more than three years, also seems to have the approval of her England legend dad, who once quipped on social media: 'I'm just glad he's not a footballer!'
South Wales Argus
02-05-2025
- South Wales Argus
Stagecoach South Wales to offer free travel on VE Day
This initiative is part of Stagecoach's commitment to recognising the 'heroic work and sacrifice' of the Armed Forces. The free travel offer is available on Thursday, May 8, across all Stagecoach South Wales services. This allows eligible individuals to attend VE Day events and commemorations. VE Day marks the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945, and this year is the 80th anniversary. Martin Gibbon from Stagecoach South Wales said: "We're incredibly proud to employ many veterans, and it's a privilege to recognise the bravery and dedication of our Armed Forces, cadets, and veterans. "Offering free travel on VE 80 Day is a small gesture of appreciation for the enormous contribution made by our service men and women, past and present." Eligible individuals include those in uniform or carrying a military ID, veterans with a veteran's badge or medal, and cadets in uniform. The offer excludes services operated by Megabus, TfL, and the Bee Network. Stagecoach South Wales operates a fleet of 293 buses, serving communities across Wales.
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Alan Shearer calls daughter Chloe's ex-rugby star boyfriend an 'idiot' after embarrassing incident
Alan Shearer calls daughter Chloe's ex-rugby star boyfriend an 'idiot' after embarrassing incident Alan Shearer was left fuming with his daughter Chloe's boyfriend, Micky Young, after the ex-rugby star got on the wrong train from Newcastle to London to watch his son run the London Marathon Alan Shearer has taken a joking aim at his daughter's partner Micky Young (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images ) Alan Shearer has playfully branded his daughter Chloe's boyfriend, former rugby player Micky Young, an 'idiot' for his shenanigans after Newcastle United's win over Ipswich Town. Shearer was focused on the London Marathon this Sunday as he visited the capital to support his son Will, who participated in the major event. Meanwhile, Young spent Saturday night celebrating Newcastle's 3-0 victory over Ipswich Town, and intended to meet up with the family at the marathon the following day. Unfortunately, the 36-year-old's plans didn't quite pan out in the best way, prompting a light-hearted rebuke from Shearer during an episode of The Rest is Football podcast. Co-host Gary Lineker discussed 24-year-old Will running the marathon and inquired about his condition after the race. Shearer said: "He's well, he's told us that he's got about four or five toenails that have gone and his feet - his feet look horrendous - but he did it. I mean, oh my, it's the first time I've been and watched the London Marathon. "And I have to say, it's just, it's unbelievable, the atmosphere and the coming together of everyone creating this amazing [atmosphere]. Yeah, it's just like, honestly, everyone's just like so happy." Shearer then launched into his story on Young's weekend antics, as he continued: "I've got to tell you a quick story about my eldest daughter Chloe and her boyfriend, rugby guy, ex-rugby guy used to play for Newcastle Falcons. He's been going out with her for a few years now. Article continues below "He went to the Newcastle game yesterday, and he was meant to get on the 5:59pm train from Newcastle to London to come and watch and support Will, as we all were down here. Chloe Shearer and Micky Young have been dating for some time (Image: Instagram/chloeshearer1 ) "So he got to the train station and he got there five minutes early and then he got on the train and then 15 minutes on the train he heard the announcement, 'Welcome to everyone who's got on this train to Edinburgh. And it was non-stop all the way to Edinburgh. "So he was meant to [come to London], he's had to go from Newcastle to Edinburgh and that's the last train he could get on." Shearer took the opportunity to have a playful dig at his daughter's partner, questioning his reliability. "He had to go all the way to Edinburgh, and he looked at different modes of transport, flight, car," the Premier League icon said. "He got on the f***ing Megabus, the 10:00pm Megabus, which costs him £30 from Edinburgh to London and he got in at 6:45am this morning into London. So I said to him, 'You are meant to be looking after my f****** daughter in the future!'" The Shearer family were out in full force at the London Marathon (Image: Instagram/willshearer9 ) Lineker and fellow host Micah Richards barely managed to contain their laughter when Shearer recounted that Young had opted for the long bus ride home, as the former quipped: "I mean, it's a good effort to go on the bus despite all that, though, to be fair." Shearer added: "Honestly, I said, 'Really?' and he said he stopped at Dunbar, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and I said, 'Oh you idiot!'" Article continues below Despite the travel mishaps, both Shearer and Young had reason to celebrate as Newcastle leaped back to third place in the Premier League after defeating the already-relegated Ipswich. However, they still have Nottingham Forest hot on their heels, who despite a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals, still have a game in hand in the league.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Alan Shearer calls out daughter's boyfriend – 'Meant to be looking after her!'
Alan Shearer has jokingly chastised his eldest daughter Chloe's Newcastle-supporting boyfriend Micky Young while the rest of the family were at the London Marathon Alan Shearer has jokingly called out his daughter Chloe's boyfriend, rugby star Micky Young, for his antics following Newcastle's win over Ipswich at the weekend. Shearer's attention was on the London Marathon this Sunday as he was busy cheering on his son Will, who was taking part. Gloucester rugby star Young, who is dating Shearer's oldest daughter Chloe, was out on the Saturday evening watching Newcastle win 3-0 and planned to join up with the rest of the family at the race on Sunday. However, the 36-year-old athlete's well-laid plan went awry, leading Shearer to jokingly chastise him on the latest The Rest is Football podcast episode. Co-host Gary Lineker discussed Will, 24, running the marathon and asked Shearer how he was coping. The Premier League icon said: "He's well, he's told us that he's got about four or five toenails that have gone and his feet - his feet look horrendous - but he did it. I mean, oh my, it's the first time I've been and watched the London Marathon. "And I have to say, it's just, it's unbelievable, the atmosphere and the coming together of everyone creating this amazing [atmosphere]. Yeah, it's just like, honestly, everyone's just like so happy." He added: "I've got to tell you a quick story about my eldest daughter Chloe and her boyfriend, rugby guy, ex-rugby guy used to play for Newcastle Falcons. He's been going out with her for a few years now. "He went to the Newcastle game yesterday, and he was meant to get on the 5:59pm train from Newcastle to London to come and watch and support Will, as we all were down here. "So he got to the train station and he got there five minutes early and then he got on the train and then 15 minutes on the train he heard the announcement, 'Welcome to everyone who's got on this train to Edinburgh. And it was non-stop all the way to Edinburgh. "So he was meant to [come to London], he's had to go from Newcastle to Edinburgh and that's the last train he could get on." Shearer continued to poke fun at his daughter's beau, claiming that he won't be able to leave Chloe in his care if this is how scatter-brained he is. "He had to go all the way to Edinburgh, and he looked at different modes of transport, flight, car. He got on the f***ing Megabus, the 10:00pm Megabus, which costs him £30 from Edinburgh to London and he got in at 6:45am this morning into London. So I said to him, 'You are meant to be looking after my f****** daughter in the future!'" Lineker and co-host Micah Richards stifled laughter as the ex-England international replied: "I mean, it's a good effort to go on the bus despite all that, though, to be fair." Shearer added: "Honestly, I said, 'Really?' and he said he stopped at Dunbar, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and I said, 'Oh you idiot!'" Despite the transport antics, both Shearer and Young's weekends ended well as Newcastle climbed back up to third place in the Premier League with a win over the already-relegated Ipswich. However, they are faced with Nottingham Forest still having a game in hand, as they fell to a 2-0 defeat in the FA Cup semi-finals against Manchester City on Sunday.
