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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

College trip gone tits up

32 replies

Lolly49 · 08/07/2017 09:52

Ds driven to airport this morning with friend at 4.00 this morning.At 8.10 phone call from Ds to say only him his friend and 1 other got there in time to board the flight teachers did not get there either.
I am mightily pissed off that the trip has gone so wrong already.Told Ds he should have got on the plane with the others and gone as that would have served them right.
Now they have a flight for tomorrow so lost a day of trip and it could happen again.
I am right to be so angry ? DH tells me to chill.

OP posts:
Anasnake · 08/07/2017 09:56

Was there a reason eg. Accident on motorway ?

Trills · 08/07/2017 10:00

Something must have happened for ALL of them to be late.

Meeting at the airport seems a bit odd, were the rest of them all on one bus?

You are reacting in anger to say he "should have got on the flight" - what would two teenagers have done at the other end, give that they hadn't booked their transfers or accommodation?

Original poster
Lolly49 · 08/07/2017 10:01

The time they were told to meet hardly gave them enough time to organise and get to departure gate.Son and friend had could have got on plane as had got through.
Total incompetence.

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/07/2017 10:03

Were they checked in in advance, luggage? They may not have been able to board if the organiser wasn't there.

Original poster
Lolly49 · 08/07/2017 10:05

Accommodation already booked knew where it was.Short cab ride from airport.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lolly49 · 08/07/2017 10:07

There wasn't a problem with them getting on the plane they had to wait a hour to be let back out of departures,as they thought they better go back as no one else was there..

OP posts:
MancMum01 · 08/07/2017 10:08

You sound ridiculous to be so critical until you have the facts. Suggesting your son goes alone "to serve them right" is irresponsible. Suggest you calm down and find out what happened first and then choose appropriate response

happypoobum · 08/07/2017 10:08

How old is DS? Could he not just go anyway?

Original poster
Lolly49 · 08/07/2017 10:09

My son is 18 and would have been with in his right to go.

OP posts:
Anasnake · 08/07/2017 10:10

So why we're the rest late op ?

Anasnake · 08/07/2017 10:10

'Were'

WillowWeeping · 08/07/2017 10:10

Presumably your DC is 17 + if at college? In which case I'd have encouraged him to get on plane with mate and enjoy first day.

Assume something must have happened for everyone else to miss flight. If it was just poor organisation I'd be furious!

RandomName9 · 08/07/2017 10:11

I would be pretty annoyed my son & his friend had missed part of a holiday because of others being late. Was there a reason? Traffic? Crash on motorway? Or just them not leaving early enough?

LIZS · 08/07/2017 10:11

So he could have gone through to the gate? Where were they going to meet?

HerRoyalNotness · 08/07/2017 10:12

18yo's I'd expect to just get on with it and go, meet up with the rest out there

Original poster
Lolly49 · 08/07/2017 10:12

Thanks if he had phoned me I would have told him to get on the plane.
Yes it was poor organisation.

OP posts:
happypoobum · 08/07/2017 10:13

Oh dear, yes I would be very annoyed. I suspect my own DS17 would have been bloody delighted the teachers hadn't turned up and been excited about being away with his mate. No way would he have turned back!!!

Maybe focus on the fact your DS is probably far more sensible and forgiving than mine Grin

Tell DS to make sure he gets on the next flight no matter what happens. What will happen with regards to a partial refund?

Unless there were really good mitigating circumstances I would expect the college to reimburse me for the lost portion of the trip as it sounds very badly organised. Your travel insurance won't pay out for an 18 year old who chose not to travel.

ijustwannadance · 08/07/2017 10:14

I think your son and friend should've gone too. If everything was sorted at the other end, two 18 year olds should be able to be responsible for themselves.

Will you get refunded for the missing night?
What is the reason they were all late?

ophiotaurus · 08/07/2017 10:17

That does sound very badly organised. I would be very annoyed.

Original poster
Lolly49 · 08/07/2017 10:20

It appears the problem was the time they were told to meet didn't give them much leeway to get to departure gate etc before it closed.So left no wiggle room for late comers which at that age always are.

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/07/2017 10:23

Were any staff there in time? I would have expected at least one to travel with those who arrived in time.

brasty · 08/07/2017 10:27

This was a college trip for young adults? Yes he should have just got on the plane. Perfectly old enough to manage this without staff.

brasty · 08/07/2017 10:28

And the staff should just have gone without the late comers. They are not kids.

MusicForTheJiltedGeneration · 08/07/2017 10:28

Unless your son knew there was a good reason for the others being delayed then he may have thought it was best not to get on the plane.

(I'm probably only think that way as there was a horrible accident yesterday involving a minibus full of students on a trip) Sad

Squishedstrawberry4 · 08/07/2017 10:31

He should have got on the plane. He's 18 not 8.

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