To Surprise OH At The Airport?

[ladybird30]

My OH is due back from being away for a week, for work.

It's the first time he's been away for more than a few days since we had our LO and I thought it'd be nice to surprise him at arrivals and pick him up.

I've mentioned this to a couple of people and some have said it'd be embarrassing and a bit cringe, as he's away for work with a few guys he works with and they're all travelling together.

Should I surprise him or just stay home?

Personally if he's traveling with colleagues I wouldn't do it, if he's traveling alone I would.

I used to think I'd love someone to collect me at the airport but now I'm usually looking forward to sleeping/listening to a podcast on the bus. Definitely becoming a grouch in my middle years!!

Happened to me with my boyfriend when I was 19… except I had gone to wave him off! He was travelling with his other woman who I knew nothing about. He saw me from a distance, went super pale and ran over to ask me not to tell her and ruin their trip 😂 so maybe I am scarred for life about airport meets..

He asked you not to say anything?! Bloody cheeky!!!!

Why not send him a message the day before he gets on the plane and ask him if he would like you to pick him up? You can still do the roast dinner, but this way you'll know if he'd like a ride.

Although I would be a bit 🙄at a man who is worried his coworkers will judge him for being welcomed by his family.

It would irritate me because I like arranging my plans myself and knowing what's coming up on my journey. I hate surprises. And I also hate being the centre of attention, which having a surprise greeting makes you automatically. I also find the surprise pick up infantalising and a bit egotistical. It's infantalising because I don't need to have my plans home be some big deal, and something I can't arrange myself. And it's egotistical because it's making out like seeing my spouse at the airport is some big massive amazing surprise for me, which I mean, why?

I also don't want to have to greet my spouse in front of all my colleagues, either, because I want to keep my home life and work life well apart.

Having said that OP, you know him best! It wouldn't be for me, but he might be into it.

I’m a woman who travels for work. It’s not that I feel my coworkers would judge me, it’s just that I like to keep work and personal life separate. Having my kids at the airport after a long work week and my colleagues there would feel weird. I get a bit emotional when I see them and I like that to be private. Would you still be 🙄

Plus it costs a bloody fortune to park at any airport these days - even for an hour

For me it's not about being judged, it's just the fact that a surprise "meeting" automatically puts you in the spotlight and at the centre of attention, and to me, that's the stuff of absolute nightmares

I also find the surprise pick up infantalising and a bit egotistical.

I agree. The person doing this would do it purely for their own sake, for feeling good about themselves being such a good wife who missed her dh so much after a week (guessing 5 days) work trip that she just had to turn up and greet him. For his work colleagues to see.

It’s a short work trip, you just want to get out of the airport quickly, go home and have a shower and then talk to your family.

It's £1 to park outside the door of ours for an hour. 30 minutes free in the main car park 100 yards away.

Perhaps that's why I don't think picking someone up is the enormous song & dance / imposition that some on this thread do 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you want to, then do it.
DH was on a stag do and I was joking about picking him up with flowers and chocolates. Well, I did just that. I was standing at arrivals with them when they came through. We all had a laugh, but I heard from a few of the other wives that their husbands said it was lovely and why did they never do that lol.

I wouldn't do any surprises.

@CheeseWisely Why the snarky comments? Can’t you just accept some people just wouldn’t like this?

You do know that there is more than one airport in this world? 😉

No. Not only because it's cringy, but also the logistics mean that he could probably rush straight through, into a cab, and miss you altogether.

Well bearing this in mind, I think you have your answer.

@crowandpigeon Yes, but I was replying to a comment that referenced 'all' airports as being expensive. They're not 'all' expensive, and therefore picking people up from the small local ones that aren't isn't necessarily a big deal.

The nearest airport to me, you pay £1 just for the privilege of dropping someone off, for 10 minutes max.

Me too. I Asked my dp and he also thinks it would be a nice surprise

Ok fair enough. The airport I usually go to is a bit of a hassle even to get in and out of. Smaller ones are usually not too bad, you can just park outside!

If he is with other people definitely no.
Otherwise I wouldn't even. Such a hassle. Flight can be early and you miss him, late and you are a fortune in parking.
We only pick each other up at 15min free mid term and at that we call when we are walking down so the other isn't sitting around.

I love that ❤️

Well since the OP would be meeting her other half, not 'some people' then that's by the by. As long as she thinks he'd like it then nobody else matters.

I just find it a bit sad that being excited to see a loved one after 'only' a week and doing something ostensibly nice in picking them up so they have an easy journey home is decreed as cringe or inappropriate or a hassle.

People take life too seriously. It must be hard work.

Feels a bit much for a week, I don't even go to the airport to meet DH when he's been away for 4 months 😂

I don’t understand how this would be “cringey”…sounds like a loving and thoughtful thing to do. It’s lovely to be in love, and lovely to express it. If you have both capacity and inclination, go for it. I know my Beloved would be enchanted and delighted to see me and our little ferals upon landing. In fact, he’d no doubt tear up 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🙈 if his colleagues are uncomfortable, that’s their problem. X