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

Groom

So not only did you get a free holiday, but you also got the compensation for all of you, which presumably included them? Obviously if you had to pay for hotels, food etc that should be deducted otherwise, the least you can do is offer them their share. As you didn't pay, I wonder if legally you were entitled to the compensation? 

WorcesterParkWoman

NO!! The compensation is for inconvenience. (After dealing with specific extra costs, of course.) it’s for loss of earnings, missing your Pilates class, having to sit around bored in an airport lounge etc. 

I was in this position recently; our trip to Turin was cancelled the night before we were due to fly. We got £220 per person. I accounted for the museums and trains I couldn’t recover, and gave half the remainder to my travel companion, who was as upset as I was about the travel issue. That was what the compensation was designed to cover, surely?

jimbob6775

I think you should give the £520 to each person that you claimed for.  A fair compromise as the delay affected you all.

bikaga

I would only keep whatever expenses or losses I've had due to the issue, for example one day's earning's after tax for a lost day off, or any money spent on booking transport / parking / a hotel next to the airport / etc. It's called "compensation", not "screw your parents over money".

revrickyb

No. The compensation is for each person inconvenienced (that includes the kids). They should just get the £520 each and be thankful. After all if it was down to them then they'd get nothing.

samwardill

Why would the person who paid for the tickets expect the compensation? Did they experience any inconvenience, distress or loss as a result of the delay?

PennysIntoPounds

Ouch. I mean, yeah you should as technically it's their money this money has come from, but it's really unclassy of them to start getting pound signs in their eyes once someone else has done what they couldn't be bothered to. It would have been the decent thing to do to offer you a 50-50 split, as you also suffered inconvenience and stress, and actually did the claim they weren't going to.

If I'd offered loved ones a holiday then they had to be stuck in an airport for long enough to merit compensation, because of my suggestion, I'd feel terrible and would tell them to keep the money for their trouble- and if I'd cared enough/needed it enough to claim it myself I would certainly offer a 50-50 split.

To keep the family peace you're going to have to give it to them, asking if it's okay to keep any back for expenses incurred, but don't accept any freebies from them again in future as it's been made clear you are not 'financial mindset compatible'

LKAY

No, you shouldn’t give them ALL the compensation, just the compensation for each of them, and you keep the compensation for your family. The compensation is to try to “make good” the disruption caused to an individual. You each experienced the same disruption and delay. So you keep your family’s share and give them their share. It doesn’t matter who paid for the holiday- it’s who is impacted by the disruption/delay for which the compensation is paid that matters. 

Emerion

You’ve claimed back money that was never yours in the first place, and now you’re wondering if you should hand it over to the people who kindly paid for your holiday?! This must be a joke. 

Erica51

If you want to stay on friendly terms with your in laws and go on another holiday with them, give them the money: all of it.  Of course you may prefer to keep it and wave goodbye to a good relationship with them in the future.  Your choice!