I am not disputing that there be necessity to the purchases - the OP was posting the question about getting compensation based on the flawed understanding that the airline was not responsible at a home location.

It is indeed, by definition, compensation - using Cambridge dictionary online compensation is defined as "money that is paid to someone in exchange for something that has been lost or damaged or for some problem:"

I would also be suggesting that the person simply claims off of insurance since it will be a quick easy way to go - Let the insurer claim back from the airline