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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I accept money for a cancelled trip?
Former_MSE_Nick
Posts: 463 Forumite
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...
Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.
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My son was invited on holiday to Florida with a friend and their family. They kindly sorted the accommodation, so I only had to pay for his flight. The night before, they realised one of the kid's passports had expired and had to cancel the trip. They've offered to pay me for the flight, and have also arranged a replacement holiday in the UK.
Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
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Comments
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I'd say accept the money for the flight, but not the replacement holiday. That way, you were put back in the position that you would have been, had the trip never been arranged in the first place.
That said, surely the family would have been better off to get a same-day passport for the kid (https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently), and fly out one day later if necessary with one of the adults. That way, they'd only be spending a passport fee and two one-way flights, rather than losing the cost of the whole trip - which given that they were OK with paying for a replacement holiday for your kid, might not have been the end of the world for them.0 -
it depends, is the holiday going to be something your son enjoys? if so then just consider the flight a write off and send him on the replacement holiday. if he doesn't want to go, take the money for the flight.CCCC #33: £42/£240
DFW: £4355/£44050 -
If your son would enjoy the replacement holiday then refuse the flight money. The money is already budgeted for and son gets a holiday,Some days you're the dog..... most days you're the tree!
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Since the cause of the cancelled holiday was the negligence of the parents over their child's passport expiry, I would gratefully accept their reimbursement of my outlay for my son's flight cost.
However I would, in turn, insist on contributing an appropriate share in the cost of the replacement UK holiday if my son was to take part.Evolution, not revolution0 -
My instinct is to accept both. You would not have paid that kind of money for a trip within the UK. You could probably have taken your whole family away for a weekend trip for the cost of one return flight to Florida. But then again, preserving good relations may be important so some gesture of good will is needed. Perhaps invite the friend along on your next family trip?0
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This is exactly why you should have to provide passport numbers as the the time of booking so their validity can be checked before paying.
I'd take the money and the holiday, you're out of pocket and also have a kid that was looking forward to going on holiday.
Who the hell doesn't check their passport are valid before booking a holiday?0 -
This is exactly why you should have to provide passport numbers as the the time of booking so their validity can be checked before paying.
I'd take the money and the holiday, you're out of pocket and also have a kid that was looking forward to going on holiday.
Who the hell doesn't check their passport are valid before booking a holiday?
Well, yes, especially as you have to apply for an ESTA for USA, but MSE Towers don't always think these 'dilemmas' through
Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear0 -
My thoughts exactly peachyprice, these dilemmas are so obviously made up! You also need to give Advance Passenger Information to the airline0
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This doesn't entirely make sense, as for the USA you have to do API 24 hours minimum in advance, and get regular emails from the airline if you don't do it. You also have to apply for an ESTA which requires you to have a certain validity on your passport.
Also, if you find yourself in a situation such as that, rather than cancelling a holiday surely you would just bite the bullet and get a same day new passport and try to travel late? I do know this might not be feasible though, but then that is where you would anticipate travel insurance coming into play (if it covers that!)
It seems like they have failed to do the basics, and none of them would have been able to travel anyway, so I would have no qualms about accepting the flight money. Re the additional holiday I would be somewhat concerned about their common sense and basic intelligence though, so might not want my child to travel with them in the future anyway :-)0 -
cheesetoast wrote: »I'd say accept the money for the flight, but not the replacement holiday. That way, you were put back in the position that you would have been, had the trip never been arranged in the first place.
That said, surely the family would have been better off to get a same-day passport for the kid (https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently), and fly out one day later if necessary with one of the adults. That way, they'd only be spending a passport fee and two one-way flights, rather than losing the cost of the whole trip - which given that they were OK with paying for a replacement holiday for your kid, might not have been the end of the world for them.
I think you need 72 hours or something tho to apply for the ESTA in advancetravelover0
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