To pay (or not?) for a city break offered to you last minute?

[Ilikeyoursleeves]

A friend had booked a city break to Amsterdam with her friends this weekend, Saturday to Monday. I don’t know the friend group (4 of them were going) as it’s a different friend circle but she’s just told me one of the friends suddenly can’t go for medical reasons.

If you were asked if you wanted to go in the friends place would you think you would be expected to pay for it in full / partially / not at all? For the hotel and flight that is.

Yes bc why would the new person be the one getting a freebie?

To add to that i wouldn't be going anyway. Unlikely I'd use precious annual leave and money on good friends let alone to be the replacement on a trip i want originally invited on.
I said this exact thing yesterday when there was talk of a girls trip abroad at work! A bit more tactfully but it's a big no from me

To add to that i wouldn't be going anyway. Unlikely I'd use precious annual leave and money on good friends let alone to be the replacement on a trip i want originally invited on.
I said this exact thing yesterday when there was talk of a girls trip abroad at work! A bit more tactfully but it's a big no from me

I wouldn't expect to pay full notice for a trip iwhere I was a last minute stand in and not part of the main group

I'd expect to pay around half

I’d expect to pay about half as you’ll need to pay for a name change. Unlike the others who booked you havnt had time to save for the trip so should be getting it discounted. If you don’t go then everyone on the trip loses out.

I would have thought it would have been on you to ask, and around 50% seems fair. If she hadn’t gone you would have got nothing.

If I was the dropper-out I’d probably be offering out this holiday at 50% of what I’d paid - just to claw SOME of the money back at this late stage.

If someone offered this to me I’d think about the other people going:

1. if they’re likely to be inclusive and kind
2. Whether these are people I’d be interesting in developing relationships with

The bottom line is you can pay full price to go to Amsterdam with people of your own choosing, any time you like.

Just ask, OP.

Yes. It wouldn't be fair to make the person who can't go for medical reasons pay for you.

I’d expect to pay something, but not the full amount (+ any name change admin fees presumably).

By agreeing to drop everything and join last minute you’re helping out the person who was going to otherwise lose 100% of the cost, so I think a 50/50 split of costs is reasonable.

Unless it was somewhere I really really wanted to go I wouldn’t if it were 100%. If I were paying in full then why would I not go at a time that suits me and with people that suit me instead.

I'd expect to pay towards it but I'd be a bit surprised (and unwilling) to pay the full amount or close to it unless that was a total bargain and the trip was something I desperately wanted to do but wouldn't have the opportunity otherwise.

I get that the person dropping out wants to recover some of their outlay, rather than treat you to a free trip. But you would also be helping them by stepping in and covering some of it so that it's not a total loss.

Add to that the fact that it is probably not your first choice of location, dates and travelling companions. I'd expect a "discount" for all those factors, maybe up to 50%? I'd also expect the dropper-out to handle the cost and admin of the name change on the ticket.

TLDR: I wouldn't expect to pay nothing as I'd be accepting a benefit I wanted but I wouldn't pay full price either as I'm also helping someone out.

A last minute invitation with your friend's friend, people you don't know, to my mind is less fun than going with your own friendship group. So how much you pay might depend on how much you think you'll enjoy the trip. For the person dropping out it's a great thing to get any of her money back. Not your fault she cannot go. In a similar situation involving expensive theatre tickets, I offered them for half price. They were eagerly taken up and everyone was happy. Although nice to have the holiday, this is an unexpected extra expense for you and a holiday with others you don't know isn't ideal. I don't think it would be unreasonable for you, in these circumstances, to offer half but ideally this offer should come from the person dropping out.

I think half would be fair if it is non refundable and would otherwise go to waste.

Thanks for all the replies and thoughts. They said only half would need to be paid but I’ve decided not to go after all. As much as I love an adventure and Amsterdam it’s not really for me at such late notice