Who should receive the compensation?

[Olanabunny]

An extended family holiday booked to celebrate somebody's big birthday
Birthday person's cost for the holiday was spread between the rest of the people attending. 2 free child places were also applied
Flight was significantly delayed
Compensation was claimed by the lead of the booking and received today.
How should it be split?
Should the children with a free place be awarded it? Should the birthday person receive a share even though they didn't pay anything towards the holiday or should those who paid for their holiday receive a portion of it back?

It should be paid to those who funded the holiday, in proportion to the amount they paid.

Well, despite what might appear to be morally/ethically obvious, the OP is asking because there is either the potential for a conflict, an actual conflict, or at least the possibility of different views emerging.

This.

Just the people who paid, obviously. But equally obviously, one or other of the party is raising the issue - probably saying that they were ALL delayed should all be compensated. But it's compensation for what people paid.

It’s only been paid out because people paid for tickets. Reimburse people based on what they paid.

Given what people have said on here about the law, I would.

1. Find out from the airline if the kids are included in the compensation.

2. Contact the group and say compensation has been awarded in the amount of £520 per person (or more if kids aren't included).

3. Hope that the people with kids flying free (if included) and the birthday person would have the decency to say 'Gosh, I absolutely can't take any money. I didn't even pay a penny for this holiday!'

4. If they didn't say this - hand out the money and think less of them.

If I had flights paid for me I would be fine for the person who paid to get it but technically the compensation is for the inconvenience so I would say all adults involved should split it. It’s not a refund for the ranking paid but compensation for the inconvenience of the delayed flight.

Infact if you want to be very technical it should be split across everyone who was inconvenienced which will include children because that was how it was claimed and paid.

What does the payment form say? If it says per person (kids included), then it should be per person. If just a block amount in refund, either among the adults or those who were paying, not the kids.

As others have pointed out - it's £520 per person. Doesn't matter who paid or their ages. That's the law.

I'd think less of someone who thinks they have any sort of entitlement to someone else's legally-prescribed compensation.

It's like saying the owner of a car, that got rear-ended, is morally entitled to the damages awarded to the injured, non-owner passengers.

It’s £520 per person - it’s got absolutely nothing to do with who paid. If work paid for my flight and I was delayed - I make the claim for the inconvenience of being delayed and keep the money. If I’ve suffered the delay I expect the compensation regardless of who paid for the ticket.

Reading the posts, I realized I did not understand about compensation. I thought it was just a refund of the ticket price, and didn't get the dilemma at first, but I understand now it wasn't a refund.

Our employers policy. They paid for the train ticket, so any money refunded should be paid to them. I mean they can’t police it, as it’s done voluntarily by the employee but it was shared recently so employee’s know that any refund should go to them. Otherwise employees are getting hundreds of pounds in refunded tickets (more than 1hr delay and 100% train ticket back and those early morning peak trains are expensive). Someone got £500 back one month. You think the employee should keep that money?

All adults who paid.

I guess it depends if it’s compensation for stress caused by delay the person should keep it, but if it’s a refund on ticket price, the person who paid for it should keep it. As I posted above our work policy states that any delay repay money for train companies should be paid to the employer. That was recently sent to staff. I know people who have have had more than £500 in delay repay in 1 month. I find it difficult as yes they were delayed, but they didn’t pay for the ticket and that’s a lot of money. Now it’s clear we should contact our employer via a particular email address to declare these delay repays. This is a new policy that’s come in recently. I did receive a couple of delay repays before this policy came out and I felt a bit awkward accepting £200 when I didn’t pay for the ticket. I donated some to a charity I support. But now it’s clear I should not be keeping it

I'd share between all the adults who were delayed because they all had the inconvenience.

Did the adults with two free child places pay the exact same as the couples? Or was there a bigger cost to them for plane tickets for the kids?

If each couple paid exactly the same for the holiday (apart from the bday couple) then I would split by each paying person. Not including the bday person. If the bday person has hol paid for then feel they don't need to get a cut.

Can you ask the whole family what they think the split should be?

This.

Just pay it out in the basis it has been calculated.

So if children have been included in calculation then they are included in the distribution.

I think it's different if it's for work as maybe You are losing work time too.

If I paid for my DDS ticket and she was delayed got compensation I would expect her to keep the money unless it meant she didn't go then I would expect the ticket money back but the extra she could keep.

Return the money to the ones who paid. The others are getting a free holiday already!

I have thought about it and I think morally you should pay the compensation per person. However I think you could get away with excluding the free kids.

Why should kids get compensated? Ridiculous

I’d exclude the free kids and then split by adult attending.

Because the company has given compensation per person for the issues . Not a refund.

It's intended for every person on the booking so should be divided accordingly.

Did you all benefit from the two free child's places?