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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

thatdearoctopus · 05/12/2016 17:01

Some of the deals include car-parking too, which helps on costs.

unlucky83 · 05/12/2016 17:03

I would find out if when you get to the hotel you can actually get in your room at 10am ...I know on our summer holiday you couldn't get into your room before 12 noon. Check out was by 10am and it was busy so I guess fully booked. There were people waiting with their bags in reception to get into their rooms every day.
We got there in the evening so could go straight to our room but on the last day we were leaving in the late afternoon so had to leave our bags in a luggage room then could spend the day in the pool etc and get changed for the flight home etc in the communal facilities. Not ideal but fine and I think that is preferable to hanging around after a long journey when you just want to get into your room and settle in and relax.

Original poster

chendol · 05/12/2016 17:03

thatdearoctopus - it doesn't make sense to stop the car in the middle of motorway just to swap drivers? also it doesn't matter who drives, we'll both be tired!

OP posts:

Original poster

chendol · 05/12/2016 17:05

thanks unlucky83 they did say they will try their best, guess it's good to have a plan B.

OP posts:

Cackleberry4 · 05/12/2016 17:06

Tour operators, package holidays, just what you have to put up with cheap as chips operators.

I do think you are being unreasonable the Ts&Cs are clearly set out.

WyfOfBathe · 05/12/2016 17:07

I'm surprised you got any compensation at all btw, I thought it was fairly "standard" knowledge that flight times do change - although I don't think my flights have ever changed more than about 30 minutes either way.

I would have said an overnight stay as well. I always do that if I'm getting the ferry because I live quite a long way from the port so would have to get up v. early.

atticusclaw2 · 05/12/2016 17:17

You're choosing to do your own transfers because you're choosing to change your flight rather than use the alternative they've offered.

rumpelstiltskin43 · 05/12/2016 17:22

Good grief, your being exceptionally precious.

You can't drive across town because it's bedtime ?
You can't change drivers half way?

RusholmeRuffian · 05/12/2016 17:26

You're being ridiculous. This has happened to me several times, with scheduled flights as well as charter. I have never been compensated. It's in the T&Cs so they don't have to give you a penny. Suck it up.

Guitargirl · 05/12/2016 17:28

I stayed at the Gatwick Hilton (right next to South terminal) on my own with my 7 and 5 year olds when we had a 5:30am flight to Lapland. We travelled to the airport by train from Victoria so no probs with traffic or parking. It was nice and easy and they loved the buffet at the hotel. Am also surprised that they have offered you anything.

5foot5 · 05/12/2016 17:29

Agree with others about the Premier Inn. We have stayed at the Premier Inn for Gatwick South a number of times and it is only minutes from the airport and the £80 would more or less cover it.

It seems like a good option to me - I don't understand your objects to this solution. Minor disruption to DCs sleeping pattern for one night surely nothing to being somewhere different for a week.

Idiotxit · 05/12/2016 17:29

Honestly OP, the kids bedtimes, driving at night, driving across two etc. doesn't have to be such a drama, and I say that as the knackered working mother of 3 young DC, two of whom aren't great sleepers.

You've got a bit of recompense, and a nice holiday to look forward to. All of the stuff you're getting stressed about isn't worth getting stressed about. It all sounds well within 'perfectly normal stuff' to me!

Relax about it and have a great time.

Pestilence13610 · 05/12/2016 17:29

I think you will find it is illegal to stop in the middle of the motorway to change drivers. Try changing at a service station like normal people. Sorry I tried to be empathetic but youare being a bit drama queenish

SoupDragon · 05/12/2016 17:30

you would have had to wake the children at 4am for the original flight. At 1am they are more likely to go back to sleep in the car or on the plane aren't they? Not sure why you'd wake them half an hour beforehand you go anyway - they can travel in PJs and you can use the dead time at the airport to get them dressed.

However, I would book a hotel for the night before.

Trifleorbust · 05/12/2016 17:36

You are being a bit grabby to expect to be compensated so you can change to convenient flights, when you would know if you had read the terms that changes to flight tuimes are normal. They are under no obligation to pay for you to change to new flights, as much as it is inconvenient for you not to.

YorkiesGlasses · 05/12/2016 17:37

Their sleep is going to be messed around for that first night anyway, why not make things a bit easier for yourselves and sleep at the airport?

Original poster

chendol · 05/12/2016 17:44

Thanks all - sounds like night before at the airport is what we should do! And appreciate all the feedback that this seems normal and part and parcel, good to adjust our expectations.

Agree we shouldn't too precious with the kids, they prob will cope better than we expect. We are all just coming off a months worth of illness with the kids and adults while both of us working long hours so was not looking forward to staying up all night!

OP posts:

thatdearoctopus · 05/12/2016 17:52

I know this isn't the issue, but you said you were driving across "town," by which I presume you mean London. As the motorway section of the journey is only the last 15 minutes or so, any changeover of drivers could take place beforehand.

But I suppose my point was that there is always an assumption on here (and in life generally) that driving is "the man's job." Is that really the case, still, in 2016?

Hulababy · 05/12/2016 17:55

TBH you might find it better to be waking them at 1am, and them then falling asleep again in car/pushchairs, than the originally planned 4am - when it is much closer to their wake up time and more likely to stay awake.
Then naps when you arrive, and an early night all round on your first day.

Way back is more of a pain really, but no worse than what yo'd planned for your way out there originally I guess.

Due to the minor flight time change I not think they are legally obliged to give you any compensation - its less than 3 hours after all. The £80 is just a gesture of goodwill rather than compensation.

mygorgeousmilo · 05/12/2016 17:56

Premier inn overnight before pretty much any morning flight is something I include in most of my holiday planning. If booked ahead, you can get family rooms for as little as £39 per night. Kids usually eat free, too! We do this a lot when we go to France, drive to Dover at our leisure after work/school - then ferry the next morning.

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