Kerre Woodham: How is compensation for ferry disruptions even a question?

I thought I'd start with the fact that Consumer NZ has come out and said that stranded Cook Strait ferry passengers have a strong case for payout.

And the thing that astonished me when I heard that story, that passengers may have a case for claiming reimbursement after having their ferry trips cancelled, is that there's any question at all of there being compensation.  

Interislander and Blubridge both operate ferries between the North and South Islands, but they have been beset with breakdowns and engine problems over the past few weeks.

Some ferry sailings have had to be cancelled, and given that ferries are already booked to full capacity, that's meant huge expenses for many passengers.

Some have had to abandon their cars, find somewhere, anywhere to park them -not necessarily a safe place, just anywhere, and then fly back a month later to pick them up. Others have had to find medium term accommodation while they wait for a place on the ferry.

The small town of Picton has been overwhelmed trying to find rooms at the inn for stranded passengers and it's not the fault of the customers.

I could maybe accept that if bad weather prevents the ferry sailing, well, that's just the way the cookie crumbles and you accept that as part of travel, safety first, you know you don't operate in bad weather, so that's fine. You suck it up and accept it.

But if a ferry doesn't sail because of a mechanical breakdown because they've got an engine that's pakaru, that's on the company, surely to goodness.  

Airlines have to compensate passengers for unplanned costs brought about by flight cancellations, they accept that.

People have plans and if you disrupt those plans then there's going to be expense involved.

But no, all ferry companies have to do is refund the price of the ticket, which simply does not seem fair; so many people have been affected by this.

And again, if the ferries aren't sailing because they've got crusty old ferries that are breaking down, that’s on the company. They're selling a service.

They're promising to provide a means of conveyance, and if they can't do it because of failings on their part then the costs of the passengers should be compensated.

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