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

jimi_man

This isn’t cut and dried and there isn’t an easy answer. The argument that the in-laws paid for the holiday and so should get the compensation doesn’t necessarily follow - if an employer paid for the flights would people be passing the compensation on to their employer? 

Money always seems to cause these sorts of rifts. If you give them all the compensation then that’s going to to leave a nasty taste in your mouth for the future as you applied for it when they weren’t interested initially and they only became interested after you were actually granted the compensation. Equally if you keep it all then that’s going to cause discontent with them. 

You could give them their ‘cut’ and then put the rest into savings for the kids. If you applied on their behalf then there is an expectation that you’ll pass it on to them and I recall there might even be a bit on the paperwork in relation to this? 

You could just donate the whole amount to charity which would solve any issues of who keeps what though obviously you no longer would have any of it. 

Personally I think a neater solution would be to say that you should all pool the money, put it in the best savings account you can find and then all agree to use it to part fund your next family holiday with the in-laws. Everyone wins and gets something and no-one physically receives any actual money which makes it less tacky. 

jane59

Yes.  Why not.  You didn't pay for the holiday in the first place.

Isin2000

Interesting how everyone assumes the OP is a greedy man and that the in-laws are his wife's parents - inherent bias (at best) on show here. 

elsien

Isin2000 said:

Interesting how everyone assumes the OP is a greedy man and that the in-laws are his wife's parents - inherent bias (at best) on show here. 

I think that’s your own biases showing there  because all the posts I’ve just looked back at are gender neutral. 

9to5247

No question, you should absolutely give then the money. You wouldn’t want to cause a family rift when they paid for the holiday.

JayD

Why wouldn't you have given it to them straight away, without them ever asking you for it? 

They paid for the holiday for you all! That was expensive for them. The delays were unfortunate but you shouldn't be profiting from them! 

The compensation is just that! Compensation for the inconvenience experienced by those who has bought their holiday.You didn't!

Epsomdtc

It's your in-laws
Do you want the money or a quiet life??
  

lawriejones1

The compensation is for the stress and inconvenience of a delay. That was experienced by the family and I’d say keep the cash.

I’m not entirely sure why this would be controversial.

I booked a holiday for my dad and claimed the cashback through Quidco. It took me a few hours time to manage the booking so I see this as compensation.

Hardly a big deal.

Philip_P

You shouldn't have told them but now they know I'd suggest a 50/50 split. 

lmw1

I can't believe you would consider keeping the compensation for yourself. Your in laws paid for the holiday in full and you have received at least £3000 in compensation. You should deduct any costs you incurred directly due to the cancellation and that's it. I don't know why they didn't claim but if it was because they thought it might be too complicated for them then that would make you asking this question seem even worse. They seem extremely generous, please take a leaf out of their book.