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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To call off girl’s holiday on the day?

806 replies

whereismyhisband · 07/07/2026 08:38

I’m due to go on a girl’s holiday for a week with a friend, an all inclusive to Cape Verde.

This friend had warned me that she’s somewhat of an anxious traveller, but that it would be fine.

Our flight is at 4:45pm. Our airline has said be there a maximum of three hours early.

The airport is half an hour from my house and my job is 15 minutes in the other direction from my job.

I am working until 12, so that I only needed to take a half day of leave.

She has been texting me since 6am asking if I’m sure I want to work today, and asking if we should leave for the airport at 10! I can’t deal with this today, I have a lot to do before I finish at work and don’t see the need for it. I’ve never traveled with her before and to be honest if I’d known she was like this I’d not have booked it. AIBU to just not go?

OP posts:
professionalcommentreader · Yesterday 07:02

You’re both being dramatic.

Heylittlesongbird · Yesterday 07:08

ScaredButUnavoidable · 07/07/2026 11:39

I think you’re just as performative as your friend is 🤣

I love a good minute-by-minute unfolding saga on MN though. It’s more dramatic than the Eastenders Christmas special!

Hope you’ve managed to get all your work done on your super busy morning (in between your MN updates and reading your 100+ messages from your friend.

Looking forward to the upcoming updates of how you had to leave work late, how you got stuck in lots of traffic, how you got locked in a toilet and had to be rescued and you didn’t know if you’d make it to the airport in time etc etc etc - followed by letting us know how your hysterical friend had collapsed at the gate because the trauma of waiting for you and not knowing if you’d turn up or not was too much for her and so you went on holiday alone and had a great time!

Funnily enough, I did get locked in a toilet and had to be rescued on the way to the airport to go to Gran Canaria. So, I’d have to buy into that story arc 😂

Holidaymodeon · Yesterday 07:46

professionalcommentreader · Yesterday 07:02

You’re both being dramatic.

Agreed. This doesn’t sound like a chilled seasoned traveller , OP you sound insufferable and if this is true I think you’re grossly exaggerating your friend’s behaviour for effect.

Whiski · Yesterday 08:02

You know what OP I’m an anxious traveller. I love to be there at least 3 hours before. But I don’t bombard other adults I let them know what I’m doing deal with the what that’s too early and get on with it.

Im like this because of the following.

The national express coach broke down at the last pick up stop it was packed and they were being selective with who would be getting on the next fully booked one.

A different time the coaches tired popped on the motorway and we all had to stand and wait for the next one

There was an issue with the bag drop and the queues were 2 hours no lie. Had to run through the airport after security.

Issue with security being really busy.

So these things do happen so I get your friend. I also have GAD and have ha therapy for it. Again though I wouldn’t over burden someone with hundreds of messages.

paulinespecial · Yesterday 08:06

Having said that I have airline lounge access so I like to arrive as early as possible for evening flights to make the most of the food and bar….

k don’t see why you have to arrive together. Let her check in, bag drop and go through airside and tell you where she is and you’ll meet her there.

TheGrimSmile · Yesterday 08:25

Dont be ridiculous.

echt · Yesterday 09:04

XiCi · Yesterday 06:59

Yep. I imagine the OP is the type of person that rocks up late to everything and thats why the friend was super anxious about getting there. The only person that sounds 'hysterical' is the OP. Threatening to leave a friend in the lurch and cancel a holiday on the day just because shes a little anxious about getting to the airport. What a fucking drama queen. For future reference OP for international flights its a MINIMUM of 3 hours not maximum. This is for reasons your friend quoted to you. Sometimes there are hold ups, particularly at security and you can end up missing flights, particularly if you're stupid enough to not even know the time of your flight.

Your projecting is not reality - check what the OP says and does.

The threat to leave the friend in the lurch was to the MN audience, not the friend.

KatyaKanani · Yesterday 09:07

paulinespecial · Yesterday 08:06

Having said that I have airline lounge access so I like to arrive as early as possible for evening flights to make the most of the food and bar….

k don’t see why you have to arrive together. Let her check in, bag drop and go through airside and tell you where she is and you’ll meet her there.

They're already there, they flew out yesterday afternoon.

Chucklecheeks01 · Yesterday 09:13

She struggles with travel, you struggle with a basic level of empathy and understanding. Why is hers worse than yours?

Jardenalia · Yesterday 09:22

Grow up

LaliqueSaltGrinder · Yesterday 09:22

RampantIvy · Yesterday 06:16

I couldn't find any flights to Cape Verde from the UK yesterday.

There was a Tui flight from Birmingham. They fly that route every Tuesday.

KatyaKanani · Yesterday 09:23

LaliqueSaltGrinder · Yesterday 09:22

There was a Tui flight from Birmingham. They fly that route every Tuesday.

True, it was just an hour earlier than the OP thought! 😂

SoftandQuiet · Yesterday 09:24

Well, op gone very quiet. Hopefully there was no more drama and both having a lovely time!

Chocolateistheanswer2026 · Yesterday 09:44

Which airport is it? I'd allow a lot more time if going from Stansted as it once took us 2 hours to get through security and have now decided I won't ever fly from there. Other airports I'm pretty chilled.

KatyaKanani · Yesterday 09:48

Chocolateistheanswer2026 · Yesterday 09:44

Which airport is it? I'd allow a lot more time if going from Stansted as it once took us 2 hours to get through security and have now decided I won't ever fly from there. Other airports I'm pretty chilled.

They flew out yesterday afternoon.

Sartre · Yesterday 09:52

I don’t think your plan was unreasonable and your friend sounds really needy, 100 messages in a day is madness from anyone. Obviously cancelling would have been nuts too so glad you didn’t. Hope you still manage to have a decent trip.

SleepingStandingUp · Yesterday 10:37

whereismyhisband · 07/07/2026 08:45

I don’t think it’s unfair. She’s a fully grown adult and wants to get to the airport nearly 6 hours early.

i don't understand why you're going on holiday with someone you don't like very much, or have you only decided that today?

overnightangel · Yesterday 10:40

whereismyhisband · 07/07/2026 12:57

Who says I needed to wash my hair? I did all that last night. I just needed a quick freshen up, and into my clothes that I’d laid out last night.

You sound much more mentally draining than your friend, like you’re desperate for everyone to pat you on the back for being oh so organised and independent. You sound needier than her.

LastOnePlease · Yesterday 10:57

But also, it’s months away? There’s literally no reason he can’t book it for a time he does not have the kids. So any other argument by him is redundant. There’s no reason it has to be on this day.

theemmadilemma · Yesterday 11:10

whereismyhisband · 07/07/2026 11:17

Oh, oops! Still doesn’t change my plans to be honest. Two hours is plenty and realistically I’ll be at the airport by 1 at the absolute latest, so 2 hours 45 minutes early. Absolutely no need for her to be this hysterical.

😂

She does sound OTT given your follow up messages, but ... I've flown multiple times every year for years alone. You know what, I still prefer to just get to the airport with plenty of time, get through security and then just chill.

I have been caught a few times, where for various reasons I'm hitting the gate as it's boarding.

My DH also a frequent traveller with work, leaves it all to the last minute and has in fact missed a few flights because he just didn't leave enough time for the 'opps'.

Neither of you is right. The ideal is somewhere in the middle.

BagaChips · Yesterday 11:16

LastOnePlease · Yesterday 10:57

But also, it’s months away? There’s literally no reason he can’t book it for a time he does not have the kids. So any other argument by him is redundant. There’s no reason it has to be on this day.

Wrong thread?

YourAquaLion · Yesterday 13:03

You say she’s making a big deal about travelling but you’re actually making an even bigger deal about her hysteria of it.

How have you even got time to vent on MN if you have so much work to do?

Be kind!

Let her know you can’t be in touch as you’re at work and what time you will meet her there.

And never go on holiday with her again if she does your head in that much.

Lesson learned.

LivelySquid · Yesterday 13:27

@whereismyhisband are you having a nice time now op?

OneSparklyGoat · Yesterday 14:59

I can’t fathom purposely getting to the airport more than 3 hours early under any circumstances when I can avoid it.

But that isn’t the point, the point is that texting someone 100 times is unfair and bound to induce stress and anxiety for them.

OP did something wise - she used sharing her feelings on this forum as an outlet rather than putting it back on her friend. She could have wigged out in response and made the situation infinitely worse.

I hope the difficult part is behind them both and they are having a good time.

RampantIvy · Yesterday 17:11

OneSparklyGoat · Yesterday 14:59

I can’t fathom purposely getting to the airport more than 3 hours early under any circumstances when I can avoid it.

But that isn’t the point, the point is that texting someone 100 times is unfair and bound to induce stress and anxiety for them.

OP did something wise - she used sharing her feelings on this forum as an outlet rather than putting it back on her friend. She could have wigged out in response and made the situation infinitely worse.

I hope the difficult part is behind them both and they are having a good time.

Edited

Unfortunately, where we live, we have to allow more time to get to airports than we need due to not living near any. A road closure due to a (not infrequent) traffic accident could mean missing a flight. Alternative routes are miles out of the way.

Public transport is too unreliable or not available to use for getting to an airport.

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