Friend has pulled out of holiday the day before we are due to fly out

[OkIy]

Hi,

I have had a ski holiday booked with my friend for the last six weeks. She is a bit flaky but I’ve never been in this position with her. I thought she was being unusually vague about the details and my suspicions have been confirmed today.

She has just texted me saying she doesn’t think she can’t come as she has pulled a muscle during yoga earlier this week and it’s too painful. I was with her last night and there didn’t seem anything wrong with her. I think she is either making this up or is really exaggerating (she can be a bit of a hypochondriac sometimes).

I thought she had been dropping hints she might not be able to come but I triple checked before the cut off for no refunds came. She told me to go ahead.

I have paid for everything and it’s nonrefundable (we have done this multiple times in the past with no issues so I wasn’t being overly naive). I haven’t discussed this aspect with her yet as I am too upset. We are meant to fly out tomorrow.

I am not sure what to do. My birthday is on Friday as well. It wasn’t originally envisioned as a birthday weekend just a cheapish off peak break :(

She needs to pay her half now even if she doesn’t go.

Call her and ask for her half of the money I hope!

She still needs to pay her share whether she comes or not!

That's an awful let down op. Could she not just come for the apres-ski if she's too injured to ski?

Hope you find someone else.

Is there any chance she's pregnant/having some sort of crisis? I know this is a classic Mumsnet question

And she should definitely pay her half at least

That's annoying.
Am I the only one who pays insurance to go on holiday, especially skiing? Can she get a doctor's letter?

I had to cancel a holiday with a friend due a family member being unwell - I paid for myself, but also paid for my friends flights because I had let her down (luckily hotel was refundable). I was out of pocket by about £600. But I would never have expected my friend to pay due to me pulling out.

Did you also sort out the travel insurance? Maybe call her and discuss what evidence she’ll need to claim
id just give her the benefit of the doubt given this is one time in 15 years and it’s a holiday that would be ruined by injury. She does have to pay though!

When you contact her about paying you can also tell her to let you know asap if she will needs any details to claim the cost back on her holiday insurance.

Has she seen a doctor who's advised her not to go? If so you could be able to claim

If you can't get anyone else to go with you, are you in a large shared chalet/chalet hotel? Worth seeing if there are any groups out in resort at the same time as you that you might be able to ski with eg Ski Club of Great Britain, the French one (i forget what it's called) etc. Google 'solo ski/group ski holiday' and your resort.

Also put a shout out on Adventure Queens (find them on Facebook)

Get her to pay and offer to another friend as a free holiday

Of course she does. You need to make this clear before you start trying to find someone else. Don’t make it your problem to fix. The charges to change names on bookings are usually extortionate anyway, it’s not just a straight swap.

I’ve done lots of ski holidays on my own, but if you’re looking for some company - it’d be worth logging on to the snowheads forum to hook up with people.

Most resorts run a “ski friends” thing so you can ski in a group with a guide - usually free.

Ring her say you’re sorry she’s not feeling 100% but you need her to give a final answer about if she’s going today.
remind her about the fun you’ll have and that it’s your birthday.
Say regardless as the no refunds cut off has passed can she transfer you the payment for the holiday.
I’d go regardless. Ring the holiday company/airline asap can they change the name so someone else can go with you? Is there anyone else who can go? Be quick if you want to do this.

Go and have a fab time and don’t let it ruin your birthday.

Thanks everyone for the support.

I do have travel insurance. Maybe this would be covered but I guess she would need to go and get a doctors note first. But, isn’t my insurance only for me? I believe she has insurance with her banking. I’ve no idea if we would be covered for this.

Thats not on at all. I’d say she’d better be joking.

Wow - that's appallingly bad form! Of course she could still go with a pulled muscle . It might be okay in a day or two; if not she can just relax while you ski.

Since she's potentially ruining the holiday for you too, if you decide not to go either she really ought to pay for both of you.

If she doesn't want to go surely she can think of a better excuse?

I can’t imagine your frustration. I’d be straight on the phone calling her to let her know that she still owes you half her share and that she could still come but sit out of skiing activities if her ankle is that bad.

I think that one person paying makes sense but then I would expect friend to pay me back her half straight away or at least by the day after. If you are going away tomorrow, when would she of paid you?

This happened to my friend and her other friend dropped out a couple of days before their city break trip. She asked me if I wanted to go instead and I did. I would see if another friend wanted to come in her place.

It's a silly excuse. I've never been a ski holiday but obvious you can do other things there. Or just hang out in a ski lodge or whatever is there. Whatever happens she needs to pay her half. I'd go alone or invite someone. You shouldn't suffer because of her.

What a horrible thing to do. She clearly never wanted to come, I'd have gone pulled muscle or not!

In fact I'll come with you. She has to pay her half plus amount to change flight ticket.

I can't ski and have no ski kit though...

I'd want the full amount from her if neither of you go. Good luck!

I'd say to her sorry you don't think you'll be up for skiing, but it's too late to cancel now and since she'll be paying anyway she might as well come and enjoy the break.

Do you think she ever intended to come? If not it's really shit of her to let it get to this point before backing out. I hope you can find someone else to go but it is very last minute for people to make work/family arrangements. I would be so cross and so disappointed. Needless to say get your money and never book anything with her again.

Your travel insurance will only cover you, so in this case would not pay out as you are physically able to go.

This is really bad behaviour on her part. So flaky. She saw you last night, but texted you this morning? She hasn't paid her half yet? Has she said anything about you at all, such as regret for the position it's left you in?

Perfect.

If she doesn't pay, then that would be the end of the friendship as far as I was concerned, especially as you checked with her before the point of no refunds.