The other option, in the future, is to get smart and start to make your own arrangements.
If you book scheduled with a full service carrier, such as BA, you can often request seats together and will not be fleeced. With BA in particualr, you can check in online 12 hours before (24 if you have an executive club card.)
The tour operators are experiencing a world of diminishing returns and are looking for ways of creating extra revenue streams, as woderick says.
Victims behave like victims, so next time, don't do that.
Do some internet research and package your own holiday - you may be surprised that you can often travel scheduled and stay in nice hotels for significantly less than the package you would have bought.
Our family (wife and I, 2 kids) are going to Malta for a 4 night break in November, cost of flights and 4* hotel for all of us is £644. Try buying that in a brochure and see how much it costs, if you can find a non standard duration break! Flights are with BA (GB.) ANd this one was dead easy, bought the flts and hotel together from a very expedient web site, if you know what I mean.