Rory Sutherland

Why should I be compensated for a delayed train?

iStock 
issue 10 December 2022

In early 2020 my family and I were due to fly home from visiting a friend in Oman when the plane encountered a technical problem. We returned to departures and were rebooked on to a flight the following day. British Airways then sent us to a very decent hotel, where we were given rooms and a food voucher. The next day we were taxied back to the airport, and flew to London without incident.

What if money went on improving trains instead of pandering to whingers who claim for every minor inconvenience?

I then learned that under EU regulations, this relatively minor inconvenience entitled us to additional compensation of £600 each. We were in business class, but had bought all four tickets with frequent-flyer points. Given this, and since the airline had done all it could, I didn’t really want to claim. Alas, since I am not so flush that I can turn down £2,400 for 20 minutes of online form-filling, I ended up taking the dosh.

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