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?!

There’s worse things to get worked up about. How do you live each day with all these niggling issues?

Don’t overthink it - he’s just letting you know he doesn’t like it. Switch to “good journey” and don’t waste any more thinking about it, it’s clear you’re being nice and just showing your love for him.

I go for “hope you have a comfortable flight”. Covers everything from mundane travel discomfort to severe turbulence. Everyone hopes they have a comfy flight!

Don't worry about it - if he's not an anxious flier anyway then I doubt it will have made him anxious. It wouldn't remotely make me anxious, but I have to admit I'd find it mildly irritating, as it's kind of inane but simultaneously doom-laden ('hope you don't die darling!'). Whereas 'have a good trip' is much more sensible (as trips are always spread out on a spectrum of good to bad).

His answer is something I'd say, too. It's a binary outcome :)

Yeah it would me too. There's nothing he can do to make it a safe flight unless he's the pilot

As someone who really doesn't like flying, when someone says 'have a safe flight' I wonder 'why - are you saying it might not be safe?' 😆

I agree, "have a safe flight" is a horrible thing to say.

OP, it’s you that will be affected if the plane crashes, he will be dead and know nothing about it.
So it’s just in your interests that he has a safe flight, your the one that will be left to mourn.

Just wish people a good trip.

I'm one of those people who gets annoyed when people say the same thing over and over again and expect a different answer. For example DP will say, every evening, I'll just have a whisky and then I'm off to bed. EVERY EVENING. Grrrr

So could it be possible that is not the safety or lack of it on the flight that your DH is reacting to, but the fact you say the same thing, EVERY time. So possibly varying the goodwill message would be an idea ?

I agree ‘have a safe flight’ is a pretty common thing to say.

I don’t like to hear it though, and I never say it.

You didn't increase his anxiety.

He just heard it as a pointless comment and replied accordingly.

Well he landed, dare I say it, safely.

He said he wasn't annoyed by what I said and that he knew I was just wishing him a good journey.

Not sure I believe that, but ok 🙂

A lot of people overreact unnecessarily to comments like this when it's clear what the meaning is.

"Have a safe flight" = I hope your flight is ok because I love you and would hate anything to happen to you.

"Drive carefully" = I hope your journey is ok because I love you and would hate anything to happen to you.

"Be careful getting home" = I hope you get home ok because I love you and would hate anything to happen to you.

Have a good flight is fine, but not safe. It would annoy me too. At least with have a safe drive, the person has some control, can be cautious etc, but flight is absolutely pointless.

Just replace “safe” with “good.”

I say this to my husband, but he’s the one flying the plane so at least has some modicum of control over the safety of the flight. 😅 to everyone else I’d just say have a good flight as nobody wants to be subtly reminded of plane crashes on their way to board.

My family always say kalo taxidis. Greek for have a good journey. No issues for us.

I do not at all see the issue on the whole.

it doesn’t bother me really, it makes me think, hmm maybe it’ll crash exciting 😂

i am the sort of person that says, I hope your plane doesn’t crash, though 😂

so maybe take what I’m saying with a pinch of salt 😂

I do not like the phrase and never have. I worry about flying as it is.

I think "have a safe flight" is tactless and it would annoy me. Because a) I have no agency over how safe the flight is, and b) I don't want my attention drawn to the risks just before I fly. I know, I know, flying is safer than driving yadda yadda...but it's also a less commonplace experience, feels more dangerous (being 35k ft up in the sky) and if things do go wrong it's unlikely to be a bit of a prang/minor whiplash.

Yep I wouldn't want anyone wishing me a safe flight! I would think 'oh great that means I'm doomed now'

Yep I get the message all.

Has been a education. I will no longer be wishing people 'safe', flights. Thanks!

Cabin crew here. This is something the crew will always say to eachother before a flight. Just like an actor would tell their fellow crew to 'break a leg'.

It's said because our role is primarily for safety related duties and we know that anything can go wrong at any time. This is why we spend weeks/months in training. The customer service part of our job is a nice little extra for the passengers.

It's a completely normal saying in my circle and when we say 'have a safe flight' we really mean it.

It annoys me too. I always wish my DP an enjoyable journey.