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

joolshs

Hand the balance over after costs you incurred.  They will be in your debt then, which is a good card to hold when it comes to in laws!

elsien

The in-laws paid for a free holiday for the OP and their family. Not sure how you translate that into the in-laws being in the OP’s debt? 

lewisiablue

I would give them half as you are the ones who actually bothered to claim it and were also inconvenienced by the delay.

kathill55

I literally can’t believe everyone is saying yes to this. The in-laws weren’t the ones sat at the airport. The compensation is for loss of enjoyment and time, and for expenses incurred whilst waiting, not for whoever bought the tickets.

ShinyStarlight1

The holiday was bought for you in a spirit of generosity and family love. Snaffling all the compensation for yourselves is in the opposite spirit to that.

MKCArchery

If you incurred any out of pocket expenses then take that amount from the total then give your kind in laws the full balance as any good person would without having to be asked.

Gothy666

Why do otherwise close family get irritated over money? Such a shame. I would split it down the middle for fairness tbh. Then put the whole thing behind you. Family again.

Pollycat

kathill55 said:

I literally can’t believe everyone is saying yes to this. The in-laws weren’t the ones sat at the airport. The compensation is for loss of enjoyment and time, and for expenses incurred whilst waiting, not for whoever bought the tickets.

Where do you get that from? 

mouse477

You don't say whether or not you paid for the rearranged flights, nor how many children you have. Assuming that you flew with the same company that provided the package for 4 adults and 'x' number of children, then you probably got the flights for nothing. If you paid then I doubt the flights were £520 each, so you have also received a measure of compensation for the 'lost' day - which you also didn't pay for. Looking at your photo, I am guessing that your inlaws are pensioners and it would have taken them a long time to save the money so that they could treat you so generously. I am also well aware that it would have taken some courage, on their part, to ask you if they could have the money. Ok, if you want to split hairs, keep £50 for the 'stress', but give them the rest. If you were forced to pay out for the fares, then keep what that cost you and give them the remainder. If you keep every last penny of it, you run the risk of losing them which will break the hearts of your wife and children. 

Pollycat

mouse477 said:

You don't say whether or not you paid for the rearranged flights, nor how many children you have. Assuming that you flew with the same company that provided the package for 4 adults and 'x' number of children, then you probably got the flights for nothing. If you paid then I doubt the flights were £520 each, so you have also received a measure of compensation for the 'lost' day - which you also didn't pay for. Looking at your photo, I am guessing that your inlaws are pensioners and it would have taken them a long time to save the money so that they could treat you so generously. I am also well aware that it would have taken some courage, on their part, to ask you if they could have the money. Ok, if you want to split hairs, keep £50 for the 'stress', but give them the rest. If you were forced to pay out for the fares, then keep what that cost you and give them the remainder. If you keep every last penny of it, you run the risk of losing them which will break the hearts of your wife and children. 

Just to point out that the photo is not of the person who had the holiday delay.
It is a member of MSE staff:

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

Unfortunately the MSE team can't answer Money Moral Dilemma questions as contributions are emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be a point of debate and discussed at face value.