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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not know how to get to/from the airport?

279 replies

cjt110 · 09/03/2016 13:41

We go away in June. Me, DH, DS(will then be 20m), DF and DM.

I am totally stuck on getting to/from the airport.

Easiest option - Train £80 return for us all. Fine. But coming home, we land at 00.50 and the first train back is at approx. 04.22. Bollocks. So thats 3 hours from landing time to getting the train. Say 1 hour to collect luggage, still leaves us stuck in a cold train station at that time of night with DS.

We have an estate car but we cannot all fit in with the luggage etc. Plus, DH doesnt really fancy being knackered and having to drive home.

So, taxi. Probably the same cost-ish as the trains but no child seat for DS?

Any suggestions? I can't see any way other than the train :(

OP posts:
DontCareHowIWantItNow · 09/03/2016 16:02

Many thousands of people manage to go on holiday in this country every year without all of this Shock

CrazyDuchess · 09/03/2016 16:03

CJ if it is stressing you out this much then leave it and let your DH or one of the other adults in the group to sort it

umizoomi · 09/03/2016 16:05

I don't think the train will help you - you have to get it all on there, off the other end, then presumably a taxi for 5 people or two taxis from station to home. At 4 in the morning with a toddler who will have had broken sleep. Sounds like the stuff of nightmares.

If your DH is insistent he won't drive on the motorway, then you have a number of options:

  1. He drives you all the (presumably that is not a problem) but just drives you home and your parents get a cab on the motorway
  2. He drives back via Stockport and Ashton under Lyne (harder if a bit tired IMO but that's me )
  3. A cab both ways, pre booked - it's not far really I reckon you could get it cheaper.
  4. A hotel on the way back (you can walk across the bridge to the Radisson)
  5. Train there (assume the outbound is a more civilised time) and taxi back.
  6. Tell DH to man up a bit Wink
molyholy · 09/03/2016 16:05

This is just getting ridiculous now Shock

OP. Surely it can't be this hand wringingly angst ridden to sort a 40 minute return journey. And to think that you would rather pay for a hotel and lug your suitcases to the station, on and off the train etc. Seems like madness.

Shutthatdoor · 09/03/2016 16:07

Not seen anything this crazy for a while. Shock

If you don't like driving on motorways just drive back on non motorway?

So much drama...

NickiFury · 09/03/2016 16:07

Does your husband make a habit of creating difficulties around arrangements that he then plops in your lap to sort out?

Roussette · 09/03/2016 16:08

Don't be sorry, you feel like you do about motorway driving and that's that.

However, if my DH said "I don't want to drive" I would not let him get away with that. It is absolute hassle to do anything but drive. Meet and greet, car outside arrivals, load it up and off. If you research properly it could be as cheap as chips and your little one will get home to his own bed as opposed to you having to faff about with him in an airport hotel.

Put a case to your husband that there is no other option. I live an hour away from an airport. I do it in the middle of the night. At that time I can do it in almost 35 minutes because it is normally a busy route and there isn't a car to be seen!

Honestly, yes, just make your DH do it, there is no valid reason he is coming up with apart from not fancying it. Sometimes we have to do things we don't fancy doing (like me getting up at 3am and driving to an airport which I do)

Original poster
cjt110 · 09/03/2016 16:08

Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

Nicki, please don't make comments like that.

OP posts:
Whathaveilost · 09/03/2016 16:09

How are you getting from the destination airport to your accomodation ?( and return)

Whathaveilost · 09/03/2016 16:10

Meant to add, sorry if you've said how you are doing the other end travel. I posted to soon.

NickiFury · 09/03/2016 16:10

Why not? Confused

It's a perfectly valid question. I wouldn't wish to stress my OH out to such an extent as you are now with having to deal with this. Why is he?

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 09/03/2016 16:11

OP, I've not RTFT, but just in case no ones mentioned it, you can buy these backpack/booster seats which means a piece of your luggage becomes a car seat for the taxi.

MyLocal · 09/03/2016 16:12

Jessie - I actually think you are being unfair. I have been driving 30 years, have not had any accidents other than once reversing into a low post in all that time. I drive 10k miles a year. I confidently city centre drive daily, my kids have grown to 19 and 21 in safety and been ferried everywhere.

I don't like driving on motorways due to a panic attack many many years ago when I was nearly being taken off the road by a truck. Does that mean I should never drive a car again? does it mean I don't have the skills to carry passengers, of course not, it means I prefer not to drive on motorways, I will if forced or the alternative is very long and slow but I prefer not to.

Until you have walked in someone else's shoes .....

Original poster
cjt110 · 09/03/2016 16:12

Whathaveilost By private transfer - I assume taxi/minibus.

Nicki He hasnt a clue Im stressing over this. I havent told him.

OP posts:
Original poster
cjt110 · 09/03/2016 16:13

UnderTheGreenwoodTree someone mentioned blow up car seats but not those. Those are a clever invention! And not all too costly. But I think we'd just take our own

OP posts:
RudeElf · 09/03/2016 16:14

Put one of your parents on your car insurance and let them drive home.

Original poster
cjt110 · 09/03/2016 16:14

Also, Greenwood he's only 20m when we travel so too little for that seat I think?

OP posts:
Roussette · 09/03/2016 16:14

cj Just tell him. If he is a reasonable man, he'll probably say... no worries, I'll drive.

NickiFury · 09/03/2016 16:14

So tell him! You're a team supposedly why should you have to be dealing with this alone if it's so worrying to you?

I deal with all this kind of stuff alone. I take my children on long haul holidays alone from beginning to end regularly, including getting to and from the airport. I do it alone because I am a single parent. If I had a DP/ DH, he'd be doing his bit.

ExitPursuedByABear · 09/03/2016 16:15

I do think motorway driving is very different to non-motorway.

DD (16) commented the other day that she cannot imagine every being able to drive on one. And I had a friend who flatly refused to use them and would avoid them at all costs.

Picking and choosing the time of day however ............

Whathaveilost · 09/03/2016 16:15

Ok, op, I thought you would have the other side arrangements covered. I thought I'd better ask, just in case. Have you requested a child seat?

NerrSnerr · 09/03/2016 16:15

I would get a taxi or drive home. You'll be home and in bed before the train has even arrived. Good idea about putting parents on the insurance (although I'm sure the op has a reason why they can't do that). Between four adults one of you can surely do a 40 minute drive?

MaxPepsi · 09/03/2016 16:16

OP - has your DH actually given a valid reason for not wanting to drive home? Or has he just said I don't want to?

I can't see one mentioned and you've already said he is normally happy to dive on the motorway, it just makes me think he's being stubborn for thinking it will ruin his last day if he can't drink?

If that is the reason, then he needs a huge kick up the backside and you need to tell him to stop being a selfish dick.

Original poster
cjt110 · 09/03/2016 16:17

Nicki You must be a damn sight more confident in yourself than me. I just like to try and tackle things on my own.... evidently failing with this one - actually being a fucking wimp and tearing up replying here.

Rude I assume, like your comments above, that's a sarcastic, and frankly, vindictive comment. If you had read the thread, you will see that they cannot drive. But I assume that's the nasty point you are getting at....

OP posts:
whois · 09/03/2016 16:17

What the fuck Roussette?? She is ok not to want to drive, but you think her husband is a dick for not wanting to drive?? How is that fair.

However, if my DH said "I don't want to drive" I would not let him get away with that.