To hate this reply to 'have a safe flight'?!

[Rizzo8]

So my partner often travels for work. I always wish him a safe flight and he never said anything apart from thanks. When I travel he does the same.

Well I wished him a safe flight today and he responded: 'It will be or won't be. Leaving soon anyway.'

What the hell? We are from different countries so sometimes have cultural 'what the hecks' but this is a strange reply right?!

Just because I can never forget saying this 55+ years ago to my pilot DF before he left for a few weeks earning the money:

"bye forever Dad" just because I was curious and just wanted to mix it up a bit....

Of course he looked mortified and calmly said "don't ever say that" and I felt dreadful (still do) and said sorry.

He'd been a very young bomber Sgt Pilot in WW2 and 'luck' did play a part in survival. I tend to say to people now have a 'good' flight/bon voyage but think nothing of it if people say to me 'safe' flight.

Yeah I dislike it when people say “Have a safe flight”, it’s out of my control. And unsafe flights are so unusual they will end up on news if not!

Have a good flight is fine … lots of things make a flight less nice, like delays, no catering, lost luggage, annoying other passengers!

I'm going out on a limb - I'm pro "safe journey"

Keep saying what you want, just don’t be surprised when people react to you in a way that doesn’t go along with your prescribed social rules. How about trying to be a bit more accepting and forgiving in how you interpret other people? Or sure take your toys home and sulk.

@Moonshine5 you're the first! And maybe the only by the looks...

Everyone is different. It doesn’t bother you. But his reply does.

’have a safe flight’ bothers some people and his reply wouldn’t. Just one of those things.

I mean, he's not wrong- it either will, or won't be 😂

Tbh I think it's probably his way of trying to gently let you know that it irritates him a little bit... Just switch to 'have a good trip' in future and all fine.

I usually say something like "Have a good trip" rather than have a safe flight...not really in anyone's control. My Mum always tells me to drive carefully....just in case I forget I'm a mum and drive like a maniac with my children in the car...it drives me round the bend.

Well his response is true.

It either will be or won’t be. Most of us have this thought when we get on a plane - it’s an unreal experience even though we have normalised it.

but flights are super safe so he will be fine x

Maybe he is having an off day.

He's probably mildly annoyed because you keep saying the one phrase. It's fine but I could see myself getting a bit annoyed by it after a while.

I don’t think the issue is about the content of the message per se. His response implies contempt for you. Regardless of your wording, and empathetic partner would understand that the intention is a good on and not feel the need to snap back in response. Like he’s fed up and has had enough of you. I know the feeling, from both sides. How is the rest of your relationship?

Why do people get so hung up on pointless things like this?

I don’t particularly like the phrase but I couldn’t get worked up by someone wishing me a safe flight. It’s a fairly pointless sentiment but it’s a bit of verbal, social lubrication, just one of those things intended to ease parting.

But I think you’re unreasonable to get upset(annoyed? A bit miffed?) at the response. No one owes you a cookie cutter response to a cookie cutter phrase. If someone veers from the script it’s a sign that you need to be a bit more genuine and not fall back on cliches. If my DH had done something like that it would be an indication he was a bit more stressed than normal and might appreciate either a reminder I loved him or a bit of space to calm himself down.

Agree with this. It seems a very pointless and aggravating phrase.

I agree that ''have a good flight!'' said cheerfully is better than a somber ''have a safe flight''. Yikes.

??? does it matter how he replied?

Maybe he's sick of you saying it especially if he flies frequently. I mean, he's right, isn't he?!

I wouldn't take offence, just don't say it next time.

My DH flies regularly for work - always has as did my DF . I would never have wished either of them a safe flight . It’s outside their control . I always tell DH I love him and wait for the what’s app saying he’s landed

I think his response indicates he's mildly annoyed at you keep telling him to do something he has no control over.

I'd say "have a good trip".

He's right though, isn't he?! He's going to get on board and it's either going to be safe or it isn't!

I grew up in a family where we always said safe flight. I honestly never questioned it.

This has been quite the education.

My DH used to travel hugely for business, as did I at one time, and I would wish him a good trip or journey as a farewell - it covers all the boring grind of travel from airport queues, flight delays, weather, what seat neighbours are like, getting a taxi at the other end, the actual point of the meetings etc. ‘Safe flight’ has got an element of anxiety about it and I would have got fed up with that being highlighted just before I went off.

I feel quite bad now.

I hate to think I made his day worse by causing him anxiety before he flies. Ugh.

He’s probably just making the point that other than putting on his seatbelt, he has very little control over whether the flight is safe or not.