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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want my money back from the parents not from Flybe.

27 replies

Kendodd · 04/05/2011 14:27

We had a French friends 16 year old DD to stay for a week, she was a pleasure to have. When I was taking her to the airport Flybe said that she had to check her bag in the hold and it would cost £30 to do so. I argued the point (not for very long because I had to rush off) but the would not budge. Friend's DD did not have £30 or a plastic card so I paid this for her so that she could fly. French friend now says I should not have paid it and need to claim my money back from Flybe not from them.

AIBU to think French friend should reimburse me?

OP posts:
NoobytheWaspSlayer · 04/05/2011 14:30

Of course she should reimburse you - cheeky mare! Would she rather her DD didn't bring her bag back? Or didn't come back? YAsoooo NBU. Especially rude after you having her DD as a guest for a week.

GloriaSmut · 04/05/2011 14:31

It's not the fault of Flybe that she was carrying a bag too large to be taken into the cabin. So yes, of course your French friend should reimburse you.

Hammy02 · 04/05/2011 14:31

What a cheek. You should not be out of pocket, the parents should be. I am really shocked at their front. You looked after their daughter for a week and they are quibbling over £30. YANBU.

bubblecoral · 04/05/2011 14:33

YANBU, your friend is extremely rude. She should be thankful for what you did!

Tell ner not to bother expecting any favours from you in the future.

compo · 04/05/2011 14:33

I'd let it go but I'd never have her over again

MrsMoppet · 04/05/2011 14:34

Quel cauchemar.

Yes of course the French friend should reimburse you and then she can take it up with FlyBe.

Original poster
Kendodd · 04/05/2011 14:34

I think thats very good advice Compo, sometimes you just have to have a rant though.

OP posts:
redexpat · 04/05/2011 14:36

YANBU. Is it clear on flybes website what the restrictions are? If so ask her for the money. She might not have travelled with a budget airline before so may not be aware of how strict hte restrictions are. But that's not your fault so you shouldn't have to pay!

FabbyChic · 04/05/2011 14:37

Flybe do not allow luggage on the plane only a very small bag, it says so on their website.

The money should come back from the French girls parents no Flybe.

Tell her to check their website you never booked the flight did you? She or her parents did and it is their responsibility.

Groovee · 04/05/2011 14:37

YANBU that's just rudeness.

LindyHemming · 04/05/2011 14:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Kendodd · 04/05/2011 14:44

They let her travel from France with her suitcase as hand luggage though, maybe that is their argument.

OP posts:
discobeaver · 04/05/2011 14:47

I cannot believe the cheek of some people. Of course the parents should pay and gladly, with an apology for the fact you had
to fork out in the first place.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/05/2011 14:56

That's so rude of them. In your position, OP, I'd explain to them that Flybe's rules are strict, their daughter was over her allowance and she didn't have the money to pay. Their daughter decided she was going to take her luggage so accepted the charge of £30 as a condition to fly with her luggage. She didn't have the money so as a kindness to her and out of friendship to her parents, you paid. There is no option for you to 'claim' the money from Flybe so will the parents now please pay the £30 that their daughter owes them.

Tell them you hope that clears up any misunderstanding. Give them your Paypal address or bank account details so as to make your position quite clear.

I wouldn't say anything about having the daughter over again at this stage, decent parents would be truly embarrassed and would sort the debt out pronto. Let them do that and then decide for the future. :)

Original poster
Kendodd · 04/05/2011 15:10

I wonder what would happen if somebody decided " ok, I won't take my bag, I will put it in the bin" I assume they wouldn't let you leave a suitcase 'unattended' at an airport.

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 04/05/2011 15:11

Did she come in on Flybe? Easyjet let you take a small case, Flybe don't.

There is a difference.

GrimmaTheNome · 04/05/2011 15:43

Its clearly enough stated on Flybe's website:

You may carry 1 piece of hand baggage on board the aircraft. The maximum permitted dimensions (please ensure that you include the bag's handles and wheels) for this item are 50 x 35 x 23cm and it should not exceed 10 kilos in weight.

Unless they are pretty darned sure that the case was less than this size and weight, what basis do they have for thinking Flybe rather than them should reimburse you?

In any case, the parents should reimburse you and take it up with Flybe.

VictorGollancz · 04/05/2011 16:43

The parents should reimburse you, no question, but it does show up the difference in cultural attitudes even when the staff are employed by the same company. I used to fly to France with Ryanair quite regularly, and could never afford to check a bag in the hold. When the new security measures came in I had to crush my (tiny - essentially a pocket) handbag into my hand luggage sized case, wobble through security with the zip barely holding, then whip it out and fly as normal. The staff on the British side would never budge one inch on this - even though they knew I'd just get my handbag out again, I had to have ONE piece of hand luggage at the point of checking in.

On the return leg of the flight - same company, same aircraft - I'd bought some stuff and it wouldn't fit in the bag! I ended up putting on three layers of clothes in the loo before checking in, sweating with fear that my deception would be exposed and I would be flung from the airport: only to watch all the other passengers saunter onto the plane with large bags, small bags, multiple bags without the staff batting so much as an eyelid. One passenger was grappling with a portrait as well as two other bags! I remember thinking that they'd be getting a shock when they came to return.

Perhaps worth pointing this out to Flybe if the parents won't budge?

kaid100 · 04/05/2011 16:50

Yes, your friend should reimburse you and it's up to them, not you, to take it up with Flybe. I have a feeling that the charge was in line with what their smallprint says, so it's their fault for not checking.

alarkaspree · 04/05/2011 16:54

What horrible people. I'd send them a copy of Flybe's policy but even if they end up paying I don't think they'd be my friends any more. Their daughter is probably mortified, poor girl.

compo · 04/05/2011 16:58

Okay I'd ring and say 'really sorry flybe won't reimburse, how would you lime to pay the £30'? Or text/ email

Northeastgirl · 04/05/2011 21:05

Shocking! You could make a token call to Flybe and then go back to your friend to say that they've refused to refund so could you now please pay up?

VajazzHands · 04/05/2011 21:15

Ask the parents to argue the point they wont speak with you as it wasnt your ticket.

they were lucky to only have to pay one way!

Original poster
Kendodd · 05/05/2011 21:06

Had an email from the mum, I'm getting my money back.

OP posts:
LoopyLoopsBettyBoops · 05/05/2011 21:13

How did she put it?

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