Money Moral Dilemma: Should we give my in-laws the flight cancellation compensation we claimed?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

My in-laws took us and our kids to Greece for a lovely family holiday, which they paid for. Our flight out was cancelled due to a technical issue, and we didn't fly until the following day, after much stress rebooking our flights. The in-laws weren't bothered about claiming compensation for the cancellation, but we ended up claiming for all of us and got £520 per person. Now my in-laws want us to pay them all the compensation as they paid for the holiday. Should we give it to them?

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Penguin_

Yes, 100% you should! They paid for you to go on holiday & the compensation is per person.

DE_612183

yes - why is this a dilemma?

QrizB

MSE_Kelvin said:

Now my in-laws want us to pay them *all* the compensation as they paid for the holiday. Should we give it to them?

I mostly agree with the previous posters, who have said "yes". However ...

Flight cancellation comenstion isn't just for the missed day(?) of your holiday, it's also meant to cover other out-of-pocket expenses. Were there other costs, like hotel accommodation, taxis, meals etc. that you wouldn't have otherwise incurred? Whoever paid for those should have their costs reimbursed.

Voyager2002

Similar questions have been posted when an employer had paid for the flight... in that situation, the view seems to be that when it was the individual who suffered inconvenience and disruption, the individual should keep the compensation. (Obviously if the flight delay meant missing meetings or other impacts on work performed then it is the employer who has suffered and should be compensated.)

By analogy with that situation, it seems that each person on this holiday suffered disruption and loss of part of the holiday and so should keep the bulk of their compensation.

mebu60

They're not going to pay for you all to go on holiday together again if you don't! 

Well done you for pursuing the compensation but a poor show that you didn't offer the reimbursed money to your in-laws who paid for the holiday.  

MeteredOut

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elsien

Oh I don’t know. I can well believe there are people out there who may feel slightly more entitled than others. 

Brie

So you got a free holiday AND £2k in cash?  

Honestjont

You shouldn't have told them… but yes I think you should give them part or if not all of the compensation depending if how much it in-convened you and your family 

pplummer

Split it between you? They weren’t going to apply for the compensation so would have gained nothing in that case. You applied for the compensation. You were all inconvenienced. Sounds like a 50/50 split would be fair?