Money Moral Dilemma: Should I accept money for a cancelled trip?

leylandsunaddict

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.

You can't get a same day passport for a child. The quickest service available is the one week fast track.

leylandsunaddict

If your child would like to go on the replacement holiday then that's what I'd go with. If not, take the refund for the flights. I wouldn't accept both.

It wouldn't happen for a US holiday though, unless the child already had a valid Esta so they didn't need to apply for one. That is presuming they knew they needed one and weren't just going to rock up at the airport and be refused boarding API can be submitted at the airport if they choose to check in that way.

crmism

Yes, you should accept their offer.

The cancellation was a result of their oversight, and the refund is a nice gesture of their friendship and to make up for disappointment.

If you still have any doubts, you could always offer to use the flight cost to pay your son's way for his rearranged holiday - then, everyone will be happy, your son can be with his mate, and there'll be no hard feelings either side.:)

happyinflorida

Are they offering because they can really afford to or because they are frightened you or your son won't go on another trip they organise for some reason?

It was their error - so they should pay but can they afford to do so and also to pay for a completely new holiday being booked in the UK, at a later date, so they may to pay a lot more now as they're booking later.

What is your financial position, do you need the flight money refunding? Why are you asking for our opinion?

More info needed

tallgirld

Yes! Accept it. It was an oversight on their part and they are willing to make sure you are not out of pocket.

Cathykjz

Take the money for the flight, after all it wasn't your fault in any way that the trip was cancelled.
However, I would offer the money for the UK holiday as they didn't need to arrange that, but your son must have been bitterly disappointed at the cancellation at short notice and deserves some form of compensation.
So he should go and you should pay in my opinion.

Robert109

If you have a new passport, you need a new ESTA, whether or not the previous one has expired.

curlywurly82

I would accept the money for the flight as it's not something you could have checked, and not something you could go ahead with anyway.

Regarding the UK holiday ot depends if they are driving and say hiring a cottage then it possibly doesn't cost them and extra to take your son. as a minimum I would offer to cover any direct costs such as food and activities

Glowboy

littlereddevil wrote: »

I think you need 72 hours or something tho to apply for the ESTA in advance

No you don't: I've twice completed the ESTA application at the airport. However, I don't recommend this approach if you want a low-stress journey. :rotfl: