Am I right to feel a little gutted?

[Brmmbrmmm]

Last xmas I was given a voucher for 2 by my DP, it's for a day out with like an afternoon tea at a hotel and a few hours using their facilities (hot tub etc) I've never done anything like it before and was really looking forward to going.

I asked my aunt if she wanted to come with me, we live near each other but life is busy so we dont always see each other often and I know it's something she'll love too, she was really excited to go.

I booked to go just when the beginning of this second lockdown happened so of course it was cancelled and rebooked now for a couple of weeks time. Aunt has now said she cannot make it as she already has an appointment booked for a manicure/pedicure.

I can't change the booking again and there is nobody else I would enjoy going with as much as I would her, I know it's her right to choose what she wants to do but I'm so gutted that she didn't choose to spend some time with me. I understand that beauty appointments have been scarce this year and people want to get in when they can but if the shoe was on the other foot I would have rearranged the manicure without a second thought.

AIBU to just feel a little gutted?

How old is your aunt?

Did you rebook it before checking the 2nd date with your aunt?

Did you check the date with her in advance?

It depends entirely if she knew beforehand

Can you take a partner or even a teen child?

YANBU if you checked the date you rebooked for in advance.

Did you check the date worked first?

should have checked with her first
are you able to change the booking IF she wants to go?

I get that it would be upsetting. My dp bought me a spa day for one, which I was really nervous about. It was amazing, had such a relaxing day, just doing what I want and quiet. Would much prefer to go on my own now.

Depends if you checked the date with her. Can’t you take your DP?

Tale your partner? But yeah, if her appointment was able to be rearranged I'd be a bit put out.

Couldn't she move hers to a month later and add on a mani/pedi at the spa?

*Take

Another one asking if you checked the new date with her before rebooking?

YABU if you didn’t check with her that the date worked - you can’t expect people to drop everything just because something works for you. Yes, in normal circumstances it’d probably be easy for her to reschedule an existing appointment but these days it’s a lot more of a faff.

It was rebooked by the hotel so I wasnt given any options they just presented me with a new date. It has to be used by the end of the year too. Obviously in normal circumstances I would have had all year to decide when to go.

I certainly don't expect her to drop everything for me but I'm just a little gutted that's all.

DP has to look after the DC so he can't go with me.

I'd be more hacked off at the hotel for slapping a set date down without any consultation with you.

YANBU to feel a "little gutted", but your aunt might not be able to cancel her appt that easily. With covid, a lot of business have tightened their cancellation policy (e.g. appt is chargeable when in the past they might have been more flexible) as they are going under otherwise.

Your aunt may be supporting a small business and not want to let them down by cancelling her booking. Beauty Therapists had a really tough time during the first lockdown, couldn’t work and many not eligible for furlough. I wouldn’t cancel a booking with mine at the moment as I know how strapped she is financially and I don’t want to make that any worse. I understand that you’re disappointed, but it isn’t your aunt’s fault that the hotel placed such restrictions on the use of the voucher and that the date they’ve set doesn’t work for her.

Maybe it's not enough like an afternoon tea.

They can’t force you to use it on a date that they’ve decided. It’s not how these things work. Talk to your aunt and pick a few dates that work for you both then go back to the hotel.

I think it's the hotel that is BU.
I would insist they move the expiry date of the voucher or offer a selection of new dates. It's not okay to mandate paying clients come on day X.
The aunt thing is a red herring.

The hotel is not being reasonable. Get dates from your aunt and propose them to hotel.

You need to tell the hotel the date they have given is not suitable and to rebook it. Get a list of dates from your aunt first.

Have you actually told the hotel the new date isn't suitable?

I would be going back to the hotel -
1 - they should give you a choice of dates
2 - they absolutely should and can extend the voucher for another year