Is this cheeky?

[LettyBriggs]

Is this cheeky?
Two friends and I have pencilled in a weekend away in May to a European city. Two of us live in the UK, Friend 2 lives in a different European country. Flights are roughly £400 irrespective of whether we are flying from the UK or from Friend 2’s country of origin.
Friend 2 has booked her flights. Friend 1 and I have not, for no reason other than we hadn’t gotten around to it.

I spoke to Friend 1 last night re booking flights but mentioned general concerns due to corona virus. Friend 1 thinks we should hold off from booking flights until we know more about the situation in the country we are planning to visit (not Italy but is a common tourist destination for British people). We either book closer to the time, presumably the flights will be even more expensive then, plus there is the likelihood that we won’t actually be able to travel (directives from our respective work places/government etc). The alternative was we don’t book until we have clarity on whether it’s safe to do so and if we can’t travel ie we don’t go at all and that the 3 of us split the sunk cost of Friend 2’s flights. So roughly £135 each.
I didn’t respond to Friend 1’s suggestion, primarily because I don’t agree with it but now she has put it in our group whatsapp and Friend 2 has agreed. The reason Friend 2 booked in the first place – a few weeks back - was because she thought we were also booking our flights.
If the situation were reversed, I don’t think I’d expect my friends to split the cost of my flights and I’m a bit annoyed that Friend 1 made the suggestion without me agreeing to it.

However it’s one of those situations where I can’t decide if IABU or not. I suspect that I am though but wanted to garner others’ opinions.

(side note re Corona Virus, apparently flights won’t be refunded by airlines unless there’re actually cancelled)

Yanbu, she should claim from her travel insurance if the trip gets cancelled.

Yabu. She may not be able to claim on travel insurance unless the government's implements a travel ban. If you're cancelling because you don't want to she may be stuck. She only booked because you had agreed. If you back out then yes you should contribute towards her flight.

If you back out then you split the cost.

But surely you wait until you know whether you are going and then decide whether to cancel her flight and split the cost. May is a long time away.

If she can't claim it back from her insurance, I would split the cost. As you said yourself, she only booked because she thought you were all booking.

If you back out you should split the cost. She booked because you said you were booking.

You can't claim on travel insurance for this kind of thing. Even if the government bans travel they may still not pay out, for the same reason they often don't pay out for other government-related issues like travel bans due to terrorist attacks.

I would split the cost.

There should have been more communication regarding flights from the start by all of you.

I'd split the cost, she booked cos she was under the impression you were booking too.
If it was me, I'd be quite hurt and perhaps distance the friendship. Not for the money but for the attitude.

I would book a flight and go with Friend 2 (work permitting).

Friend 1 is a presumptuous busybody, she had no right making the decision herself and you should pull her up on it.

YABU. You agreed to go. You can't then change your mind and leave someone £400 out of pocket.

YABU but friend 1 should have checked you were ok to split friend 2’s costs first.
It’s not fair friend 2 is £400 out of pocket.

Friend 1 should have discussed with you before making the offer, but if friend 2 ends up out of pocket because you changed your minds then you should contribute towards compensating her.

YABU.....really bad form.

I think friend 2 should be helped out if the holiday is cancelled through no fault of hers.
Why would you not want that?

Of course yabu

Agree with the majority of the PPs I would be highly pissed off if my friends and I agreed on booking a holiday, I booked my tickets then they didn’t bother. Friend 1s suggestion Of splitting sunken costs was sensible and fair.

Of course you should split the cost. Friend 2 can't claim on her insurance because her friends have let her down, so she is either stuck going by herself or paying £400 for a flight she booked in good faith but won't be using.

Tbh I am absolutely gobsmacked that you are even questioning whether you should split the cost.

Yes Yabu op.

Friend 1 is a proper friend. You’re not.
Friend 2 only booked because you committed!

Obviously other things could happen... and for European flights, £400 doesn’t sound like a non-refundable fair, for example. But if it comes to it and you really can’t go - yes, I think decent friends would split the cost.

You should split the cost.

"Friend 2 booked in the first place – a few weeks back - was because she thought we were also booking our flights."
Oh, yeah, then you should definitely pay

So she only booked because she thought you and Friend 1 were booking, and now you arent?? Of course you share the cost! Why wouldn't you?
Very odd that you are waiting to book but didnt tell Friend 2 that .
At least Friend 1 has some compassion and not wanting her to be out of pocket

Yes, split the cost. That's the nicest way to do it with friends.

it's a bit cheeky to make plans, leave others go through with the arrangements, and tell them later you change your mind. It takes no time at all to book tickets, it sounds like you were not that committed.

YABU you should cover costs if you back out.
(Unless she’s not a friend but a nemesis)

I would wait and see if the flight is cancelled, in which case no one will be out of pocket.

You sound like my friend, flaky and last minute! Which is infuriating as I go ahead and am organised thinking we are all doing the same because we will have had a conversation about it!

However if your friend has only booked and you have not, and the trip doesn't happen, then I would stump up a split of the sunk costs as I think that is only fair.