To have booked the flights?

[Promptly2024]

Background: my DDad has an apartment in Spain and we have discussed going out there in July 25. We went this year around the same time for 10 days so naturally when you're away somewhere lovely and having a lovely time you want to rebook again. So whilst there we compare mine and DH shifts (his annual leave is already set for the year by his company unfortunately) so they only time we could go, for two weeks, would mean missing the last two days of school for my eldest DD.

Now I don't USUALLY advocate taking kids out of school but as it was for a family holiday and literally the last two days of term we thought it would be okay. I asked DD if she would mind missing the last two days of school as that would be her last days in juniors before going to seniors. Context: DD "hates" school and gets anxiety going so she naturally, at the time, said yes.

A few days ago I noticed easyJet were having a sale released flights today, so I reapproached the subject with DH and DD. DH still wants to go for 2 weeks , DD has changed her mind and is mortified that she will miss the last two days of juniors. Which me and DH understood, however DH still wants to go for two weeks.

I offered several options

1. Go for 2 weeks and DD misses school

1. DH goes out early and I stay back with DD and come out a bit later with her

1. I go out early and he comes out a bit later with DD

1. Book for a shorter break, 8 days after DD finished school

He wasn't really happy with any of it and there wasn't a conclusion to our discussions yesterday.

Fast forward to this morning, he's in bed after a night shift when EasyJet sale released, I noticed the flights we wanted were in the sale (and price creeping up as the minutes go by) so I took the decision to book the shorter holiday so all of us go out after DD finished school, meaning 8 days holiday.. these were the more expensive flights going out as they were IN the school holidays, and the earlier flights were much cheaper. I thought to myself well if we end up wanting to go out earlier (DD changes her mind) then I can change the flights to the earlier flights and the likely cost of the admin charges for changes will be negligible as the flights would be cheaper if we went earlier

Since booking that this morning the flight costs have gone up and up... So I was pleased with my decision.

However on texting DH while I'm at work to let him know what I did, he's now being rude and saying he's basically not going all that way just for 8 days and why have I overcomplicated it and why did I ask her again when she originally agreed and saying that it takes two days to destress after travelling with DD and my DDad (he is a bit of a PITA 🤣)

But I'm really upset by his attitude

AIBu to have done this?

If with your husband. He holiday dates get picked for him so what's he supposed to do the rest of the week? Your husband feels he deserves a proper holiday and for the sake of 2 days, I'd not be asking a child for their permission. They would be getting told that's when they're going.

But that does not explain it.

If your DH had enough annual leave to cover e.g. Thursday 17th - Thursday 31st July inclusive, that would be a 14 night holiday. If DD however only finishes school on Friday 18th July, why not fly out on Saturday 19th and still come back on 31st? That gives you 12 nights' holiday, still within DH's annual leave bracket.

Even if, as a PP said, the last two school days are Monday and Tuesday and you were wanting to fly on the preceding Saturday (e.g. Saturday 19th July - Sat 2nd August), you could still go on the Wednesday (23rd) until the 2nd August as planned, and that would be a 10 night holiday.

I am not following why it had to change to 8 days.

Sorry probably didn't explain

DH annual leave is set in stone he can't change it

In order to get two weeks we would have to go and DD miss two days school

If she doesn't we can only go 8 days as he will have to go back to work

And this is non negotiable

That still does not explain it.

If DH can be off work for a period of 14 days, but unfortunately DD has to be in school for the first 2 of those days, then you could go on the holiday for 12 days (just fly out on day 3) and DH can return to work on the same day as originally planned.

Why is that not the case here?

None of us understand how you're explaining it. So say your DH gets 2 weeks Mon to Sun x 2. Wait back for DD to do Mon and Tue in school, so then holiday Wed to sun plus Mon to Sun (12 days).

This doesn't make any sense though. Are the 2 contentious days not at the start of the holiday?? So instead of flying out for 14 days...why can you no fly out 2 days later for 12 days?

Because DH two weeks starts prior to DD leaving school, AND there are not flights everyday.

I'm not great at maths but trust me these are the only options!!!!

It's 2 weeks out there and DD misses two days of school

Or it's 8 days

You still haven't explained.

Your DH has two weeks off, which can't be moved. Fine.

Is the issue that Easyjet only flies to that destination once or twice a week from your local airport? Could you not fly from somewhere else, or with a different airline?

Edit: crossposted with OP

I didn't say Monday to Sunday

I said he has two weeks but they often bridge over weeks. His AL starts Friday before DDs last days at school the following Monday and Tuesday

It's annoying and hard to get head round but that's our lives and it leaves us with two options as there are not flights everyday

It's two weeks and DD loses 2 days

Or 8 days

That's literally it

Ok obviously no one understood, it makes sense now you've literally explained it that he finishes the Friday and she's in on Monday and Tuesday. Simple.

But there are flights with different airlines? And trains?

No because his AL starts BEFORE DD breaks up from school

So it doesn't matter who we go with, we have to go out the day after DD last day, and have to be back the day before DH due to go to work

Yes I know that 🤣

Did you originally want to fly on the Friday, or the Saturday?

Friday

So she would have missed three days of school?

I would never have given her the choice in the beginning as I don't think kids should miss the last day of juniors. But once you gave her the choice and she said she was fine missing it then you probably should have left it there. If I thought I was having 2 weeks away and now it's cut to 8 days it's a lot.

However, surely your DH can understand this is about your DD and not missing a core memory? Let him change his flight and follow him over 5 days later.

No the flight was late Friday night

I am definitely in the minority. I would have booked for the 14 day holiday and insisted my DD miss those two days of school.. I have never been able to understand why such hoopla goes with these "moving up" days.

Ok. So look for a flight Tuesday night, and you get 10 days?

It's really irrelevant tho

I know it's confusing but the options are limited due to DH AL and DD school and flights not every day

Go for two weeks
Or go for 8 days

Those are the options

So I booked for 8 days (with the option to change outbound flight to a (cheaper) flight to go out earlier if DD changes her mind

And getting the 8 days holiday at the best price

Coz we can discuss it till the cows come home but if we are only going to end up deciding on 8 days I'd rather pay the cheapest amount now while they're in the sale

So my AIBU was AIBu to book the flights for 8 days

It's not irrelevant - I'm trying to help 😆

It does show that you've just panic bought tickets without properly considering all the options, though.

Yes YABU when it hadn't been agreed.

Some people are so bloody difficult. It’s not hard to understand this OP.

There isn't any flights Tuesday night unfortunately

Thank u I thought I was going mad