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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect more compensation?

45 replies

chendol · 05/12/2016 15:59

We booked a week long packaged family holiday this Xmas with a tour operator for me, my DH and DC 3 and 1 years old.

The flight was originally due to depart at 8.00 am from Gatwick, and we've just been informed with 3 weeks to go that the new flight is at 5.20 am instead. This means we would have to leave the house at 1.30 am (waking the kids at 1 am), DH would have to drive in the middle of the night to Gatwick. By the time we get to the hotel it will be 10 am ... so pretty much no sleep for everyone for the start of the holiday.

Likewise return is now 9 am which means we'd be up at 5.30 am to catch the flight back in time due to distance from the airport.

They've given us £20 x 4 by way of compensation. If we rebook the flight for more reasonable time, we'll have to get our own transfers and all up we will be out of pocket £600. We deliberately picked this company because they are supposed to be baby friendly (and offer babysitting, playroom etc).

AIBU to expect more than £20 x 4 compensation?

We've been on many packaged holidays of similar type and never had this type of change of flight before.

OP posts:
Fiveandahalfweeks · 05/12/2016 16:08

Couldn't you stay at the Premier Inn at Gatwick. We always do that for early flights, there's no rushing around in the morning, and I love getting to the resort early. This may not be practical for you though.

Unsurechicken · 05/12/2016 16:10

Thomson?

Trifleorbust · 05/12/2016 16:10

Yes, YABU. It is in the t&cs of all airlines that flight times are subject to change. It happens rarely but when it happens it is up to the airline, really.

Happyoutlook · 05/12/2016 16:12

I wouldn't have expected anything

JennyOnAPlate · 05/12/2016 16:14

It's really annoying for you but it will have been in the t&c's at your time of booking that flight times are subject to change. I'm surprised you got anything out of them actually.

Can you travel to the airport the day before and stay in a hotel?

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 05/12/2016 16:16

You've got £80 and fights; legally they don't need to offer you anything for such a (legally) small change. It's inconvenient but I think it's probably their "baby friendliness" that means they've offered you anything. I'd second the premier inn.

expatinscotland · 05/12/2016 16:17

Stay at Premier Inn the night before. I have to do this every year on my own with my two, one of whom has SN, because I need to first fly to Europe to then catch an international flight that leaves only once a day. The flight leaves at 6am so we stay at Premier Inn, get up at 3 and are at the airport to check in our bags at 4. I print our boarding passes out the evening before after checking into the Premier Inn.

baconandeggies · 05/12/2016 16:18

Spend the comp on a hotel room

NancyDonahue · 05/12/2016 16:19

We've never had any compensation for flight time changes.

On your outward flight, you'd have had to drive in the night anyway if you flew at 8am. You'd need to be at Gatwick by 6am at the latest, add on your driving time plus at least an hour or so for road delays.

I'd just suck it up. Get to the hotel and all go for a nap then get up at lunchtime and enjoy your holiday.

Bluntness100 · 05/12/2016 16:21

I'm surprised you got comp to be honest, minor changes like this are normal for all airlines. It's not done to pee people off it's done for operational reasons. Yes it's annoying. Use the comp and book into an airport hotel for the night.

hungryhippo90 · 05/12/2016 16:26

I can't see this change of times costing you anything, i think you are being a bit grabby.

atticusclaw2 · 05/12/2016 16:30

£80 will more or less cover staying at an airport hotel the night before. I think YABU and grabby.

KimmySchmidtsSmile · 05/12/2016 16:34

Don't think you are being grabby at all. You chose flights that would give most, take least and yes, I can well imagine you now losing day one and final night of vacation. But you can do sod all about it, sorry. Best bet as others have said, use 80 quid on hotel room and go down early night before/make a relaxed night of it.
Happened to me on recent trip, outgoing, flight changed from early to lunchtime: meant a four day city trip effectively became 3 and a half.

YelloDraw · 05/12/2016 16:36

They often do this... and say in their T&Cs they can. Annoying when you book packages based on the flight times!

I am v surprised you managed to get any comp out of them as it is in T&Cs normally.

Just book into an airport hotel. Anyway you can sleep on the plane and transfer. Stop making such a drama out of it.

Katy07 · 05/12/2016 16:37

I'd be awake anyway so I'd be chuffed I got some money back :)

harderandharder2breathe · 05/12/2016 16:37

Yabu, use the compensation you've got to stay at s cheap hotel the night before your flights

treeelights · 05/12/2016 16:38

The £80 will cover the cost of a hotel room.

rookiemere · 05/12/2016 16:38

I agree that it's really annoying when this happens, but yes I think you're lucky to be offered any compensation, usually you have the choice of accepting the flight change or getting your money back.

hotel room night before seems like a good idea.

BackforGood · 05/12/2016 16:41

I'm surprised you got compensation, tbh.
I've had it happen before and they just point to the fact it's in the T&Cs that is might happen.
You could use the £80 for a Travel lodge or Premier Inn or something nearby.
Most I've ever had is a voucher for a bit of food at the airport.

Iamtheresurrection · 05/12/2016 16:46

Very lucky to get the compensation. I had a change of airport and flight times and got nothing.

ChicRock · 05/12/2016 16:46

It's really annoying when this happens, particularly when you've chosen a particular company to book with because of the flight times .

But you're lucky to have got any compensation as they've got this well covered in their T&C's and as PP have pointed out, that's covered the cost of the airport hotel.

loobyloo1234 · 05/12/2016 16:49

Annoying but yes, this does happen with flights unfortunately

I always try to stay in an airport hotel if it's an early morning flight. Surely the £80 will just about cover an overnight stay?

thatdearoctopus · 05/12/2016 16:55

Why does your dh have to do all the driving? Share it.

Original poster
chendol · 05/12/2016 16:57

Thanks all, I think we must have been lucky that it hasn't happened to us in the past hence the shock!

True, if I was going to be awake at the hour I wouldn't have cared. But travelling with two young kids we've had to be careful about the times we fly. They are generally in bed from 7-6 am, so waking them up at 1 am to go take a flight with two overtired kids (plus two adults who've been up all night) is going to be nightmare.

Thanks for the suggestion re: overnight stay. We looked at the overnight option at Gatwick but we'd have to drive out across town at peak hour in order to get there in time to settle the kids at reasonable hour.

I don't think we are being grabby at all - we are only getting £100 refund + £80 compensation back for doing our own transfers/flights which is coming out at £800!

The airline is Thomas Cook. I think the next time we will book flights + accom separately (as we've never had this problem with scheduled flights!). Or hopefully it will get easier when the kids are older!

OP posts:
JagerPlease · 05/12/2016 16:58

It cost us £90 to stay in a family room at the Premier Inn at Gatwick including dinner and breakfast - definitely worth spending your comp on and starting the holiday a day early!