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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I split flight delay compensation with my friend?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...
We had a flight delay and I alone have been working for months to get compensation for both of us. Now I've been awarded money, she's demanding half. Should I split the cash?

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

  • mgdavid
    mgdavid Posts: 6,711 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You want to keep her compo payment for yourself?
    Fine friend you are!


    Does no-one have any morals or conscience any more?
    The questions that get the best answers are the questions that give most detail....
  • mgdavid wrote: »
    You want to keep her compo payment for yourself?
    Fine friend you are!


    Does no-one have any morals or conscience any more?

    Erm, you know its a theoretical dilemma and not real, dont you? :j
  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 51,091 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    When you completed the claim for compensation, you did it with the agreement of those in your travelling party who you also put in a claim.

    Unless they agreed in advance then the money is theirs.

    Even the 'no win, no fee' firms don't take more than agreed in advance and that is generally about a quarter to a third the money claimed.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • Flight delay compensation is based on a number of factors and is claimed for "per person".

    Why MSE deem this to be a moral dilemma I have no idea. Are you trying to make arguments/situations/snowflakes?
  • photome
    photome Posts: 16,757 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Bake Off Boss!
    Flight delay compensation is based on a number of factors and is claimed for "per person".

    Why MSE deem this to be a moral dilemma I have no idea. Are you trying to make arguments/situations/snowflakes?


    Agreed, its a pointless thread
  • Pollycat
    Pollycat Posts: 36,342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Savvy Shopper!
    MSE_Sarah wrote: »
    IWe had a flight delay and I alone have been working for months to get compensation for both of us. Now I've been awarded money, she's demanding half. Should I split the cash?

    Do whatever feels right to you.
    We don't know you, your friend or the relationship you have between you.
    Be well. :)
  • Flight delay compensation is based on a number of factors and is claimed for "per person".
    That's my understanding as well, it's per person.

    Therefore, unless the claimant paid the whole flight costs themselves then he/she has no right (moral or legal) to take the full compensation offered - in fact to do so would be fraud IMO.
  • sew_what
    sew_what Posts: 267 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    If your friend paid for their own ticket and you offered to claim on their behalf then I think it's only fair your should divvy up (especially if you still want to be their friend)

    I claimed on behalf of our family, including our 18 year old son, and the money went back into our family finances as he'd not paid for his own fare - that seemed pretty straight forward.

    My husband was delayed on a work trip - he was 3+ hours late home and is in discussion with his employer about whether they get the compensation or he does - now that is possibly worth discussing!
    If it makes a difference he works in the public sector and was only able to book the 12+ hours travelling time as a regular 7.5 hour day, and they didn't know he could make a claim.
  • bagand96
    bagand96 Posts: 6,749 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 20 November 2018 at 9:46PM
    Therefore, unless the claimant paid the whole flight costs themselves then he/she has no right (moral or legal) to take the full compensation offered - in fact to do so would be fraud IMO.

    Even if the claimant had paid the entire flight cost themselves, I still think they'd be on very dodgy ground. EU261 compensates passengers for the flight delay/cancellation. I don't believe it makes reference as to who paid for the flights.
    My husband was delayed on a work trip - he was 3+ hours late home and is in discussion with his employer about whether they get the compensation or he does - now that is possibly worth discussing!
    If it makes a difference he works in the public sector and was only able to book the 12+ hours travelling time as a regular 7.5 hour day, and they didn't know he could make a claim.

    I think it's been discussed on this forum before.. if you're travelling for work, and they've paid for the flight, it's still you who are the passenger, so I think the consensus was that you are the one entitled to compensation.
  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 51,091 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    bagand96 wrote: »
    Even if the claimant had paid the entire flight cost themselves, I still think they'd be on very dodgy ground. EU261 compensates passengers for the flight delay/cancellation. I don't believe it makes reference as to who paid for the flights.



    I think it's been discussed on this forum before.. if you're travelling for work, and they've paid for the flight, it's still you who are the passenger, so I think the consensus was that you are the one entitled to compensation.

    I agree, it is compensation for the delay suffered, nothing to do with who paid for the flight.

    For a work flight I would say the worker is the only one who can claim and keeps the compensation.

    For a family, the children are entitled to their compensation as they suffered the delay. You could have a moral argument there on whether the money should go back in the family pot.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
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