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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to go to Australia for the weekend?!

920 replies

HufflepuffHarpy · 07/07/2019 07:16

My best friend (male if relevant) is getting married in the autumn. I'm in the UK (where we both grew up) he now lives in Australia.

I desperately want to go to the wedding.

It will cost £1000 for the flight plus accomodation etc over there which is in no way small money.

I have 4DC so would be asking my parents (very hands on babysitters, have had them for me and DH to go on holiday etc) to have the DC (all under 10) while DH is at work.

I would leave on a thursday AM flight and get back tuesday pm. SO literally fly in for the wedding, the day after and then back home.

Am I being totally crazy to consider this?! (Haven't actually asked DH yet!!)

OP posts:
GhostsToMonsoon · 07/07/2019 09:48

I think it sounds crazy. It's a huge amount of money and you'd probably be horribly jet-lagged. Not to mention the environmental impact.

KOKOtiltomorrow · 07/07/2019 09:50

HRTFT as in a rush to go out - I went to Australia (Perth) for 5 days once with work. It was fine. If possible, get a flight that gets you back home late evening so that you can go straight to bed. Don't drink anything on the flight - I used to think a few vinos would help me sleep but I did a long haul flight once during dry January and felt so much better after it not having drank anything.

sonjadog · 07/07/2019 09:51

I would go. It will be a memory for life. You will manage with the traveling and jet lag. I once went to Denver for the weekend (not quite as far but still 15 hours in a plane). Yes, it was expensive and a long way for little time, but it was also an amazing weekend. Will never forget it.

CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 09:51

If you can afford it why not? I've friends who have done it to other destinations. The mindset is - must be 14 days holiday to make it worth while blah blah blah but you're not going for a holiday you've going for an event. I would do it for sure.

lilpumpsmum · 07/07/2019 09:53

Do it! You only live once. And what a story
"Remember that time I flew to Oz for the weekend?!" Grin

Honestly, just do it. Life is too short for 'Ooh what if u get jetlag, you'll only be there a day etc etc'

Not quite the same but my (now) DH used to work overseas which was two flights and total around 8hrs of travel time. He used to visit me for LUNCH when we were courting 🥰

MarshaBradyo · 07/07/2019 09:53

Also agree on environmental impact as a consideration

81Byerley · 07/07/2019 09:54

You are mad to even consider this! It's a lot of money for a start, for a ten minute ceremony and a party. Jet lag will be awful.....and imagine how you'll feel if they break up...…..

BitchyArriver · 07/07/2019 09:56

I wouldn’t, for the only reason that if my flight was delayed and I missed the wedding I would be so pissed off I’d spent the money.

Tensixtysix · 07/07/2019 09:57

Also, by flying almost 'back to back', aren't you putting yourself at risk of DVT? You're not supposed to use compression stockings for long.
Not worth going for the lack of sleep, waste of money and health risks!
Can't you wait a few hours for the video of the day?

Original poster
HufflepuffHarpy · 07/07/2019 09:57

i just spoke to DH. his exact words are 'i have no fundamental problem,. if you can make the finances work, i can make the kids logistics work'.

Shock Shock

so i would now need to speak to my parents about after school care.

finances: we have about £7k in savings currently. i would be loaning myself the £1k and paying it back over the next year/18months ish. DH is on a career progression to be earning around £30k more than he is now within the next 8 years so money will get easier for us as time goes on.

god its mad but i so want to do this.

OP posts:
CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 10:00

Presumably those talking about the environmental impact never fly at all? It's no more has an environmental impact than any other return flight just because they're only a few days apart.

Original poster
HufflepuffHarpy · 07/07/2019 10:00

i recycle, i reuse, i do my bit in my everyday life for environmental causes and i do not fly regularly. environmental factors would not be a deciding factor for me i'm afraid.

OP posts:
Falafel19 · 07/07/2019 10:01

Do it, you only live once! It'll be a great memory, a crazy, lovely trip for your best friends wedding, not just a 10 min ceremony and a party as someone else so negatively described it!

Eemamc · 07/07/2019 10:01

I went to Australia for almost 4 weeks. The flight there and back is not fun in the slightest. The trip made it worth it, but definitely not for a weekend. I just couldn’t do it. Also the Jet lag was really hard for the first week. Difficult to stay awake past about 8pm and i’m a night owl! Would you really enjoy all the evening festivities? Need to be at least 2 weeks with that kind of flight IMO.

Durgasarrow · 07/07/2019 10:02

Could someone skype it for you?

lilpumpsmum · 07/07/2019 10:02

YAY! Your Dh is fab, get booking !!!!

WobblyLondoner · 07/07/2019 10:02

I'd not do this. I know people who have had very short business trips to that part of the world and have managed - but they were not flying business class.

And seeing as nobody else has mentioned it, what about the emissions and climate change - I just couldn't justify a weekend in Australia on those grounds no matter who was getting married. I've really tried to cut down on air travel recently and this wouldn't make the cut for me.

WobblyLondoner · 07/07/2019 10:03

Gar - they WERE flying business class.

Eemamc · 07/07/2019 10:04

Yes, also we were delayed by a day going out. Frustrating, but fine as we had the best part of four weeks, would be pretty bad if you only had a weekend.

CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 10:04

So you've "cut down" on flights having previously flown regularly but now you're lecturing others who don't fly regularly that they should not fly? Ok then Hmm

Peanutbutterforever · 07/07/2019 10:04

Go for it and have a wonderful time!

(I can't believe you managed to escape the carbon footprint brigade on here!)

Eemamc · 07/07/2019 10:05

Could you not try and extend the trip to at least a week?

Peanutbutterforever · 07/07/2019 10:05

Ahh, cross posts...

MrsMiggins37 · 07/07/2019 10:06

I think it sounds mental but then I remember once seeing a guy on the news who did similar to see Andy Murray play in the Aus Open final so no more so than that! Grin

MarshaBradyo · 07/07/2019 10:06

Carbon footprint brigade- ridiculous